What is the printing process of a Letterpress, Screen printing, Offset lithography, Flexography?
Letterpress uses a flat printing plate. This is a form of relief printing – meaning the image or type is raised above the flat printing plate. its used for the printing of large amounts of monochrome text e.g books and business cards. Letterpress is ideal for print runs of 500-5000 but can do fewer. Flexography uses a cylindrical printing plate. It is a similar method to letterpress, however the printing plate is made from plastic or rubber cylinders. Its a quick process and is used for large print runs making it ideal for packaging, carrier bags and wall paper. Lithography works on the principle of oil and water not mixing. An aluminium printing plate has a relief image transferred to it photographically using ultraviolet light. The plate is washed with a chemical that makes the image area attract ink, while the non-image area is kept wet, repelling oily ink. Lithography is an economical printing process ideal for print runs of 1000 copies and upwards, it is used to print books, poste
