Five types of techniques used in the custom sticker printing industry.
1. Screen Printing
Screen Printing is an uncomplicated form of printing which is trendy for custom stickers printing. This is a type of printing with a still silk screen, is now also done with synthetic material screens. It can be done by hand and is usually monochromatic. For custom stickers, the inks used are identified as ultra-violet cured pigmented colors. The image selected for printing is cut out of a stencil, therefore creating a positive of the image to be printed. This stencil is place over the substrate or the material on top of which the image is to be printed. The screen is then place over the stencil; the suitable amount of ink is direct and then pushed through the screen with a rubber blade. For monochromatic prints this process is only done one time, for prints with several colors the process has to be repetitive for each color after the last color has dried out.
2. Flexography Printing
Flexography is another name for surface printing. This procedure is extensively used for commercial label printing as it let for swift and high volume printing. This is done to some extent like a stamp in that there have to be an inverted master image used to print. A specific quantity of ink is applied to the master for every print; the master creates contact by means of the substrate by gently sloping over it and leaving the projected image. The term “flexo” derived from the flexible character of the printing procedure itself. This method was firstly developed for printing on rough surfaces for instance cardboard, so as to have an excellent print on such a surface it is essential to have a technique of printing that permit regular and even contact with the print surface. Flexographic printing in the sticker manufacturing is largely projected for indoor or limited use; for example in packaging or shipping.
3. Letterpress Printing
Letterpress is another name of relief printing. This means that printed image is taken from a raised surface. The process means from the name itself i.e. you can press the letter to generate the image. This is the method used for portable type printing like bumper sticker printing and for set block printing as well. The first book ever printed was prepared with this procedure in 1456. Johannes Gutenberg was the individual who invented the moveable type block printer. For the next five centuries, this was the standard for printing. Letterpress is designed for easy, bunch printing projects. This process only permits one color to be applied at a time, so these kinds of projects are normally monochromatic or somehow to partial two colors.
4. Offset Printing
Offset printing is the next step in the printing process. The image to be printed is not applied straight; image being transferred goes from the plate drum to the rubber transfer cylinder before it is attach to the real intended print plane. The offset printing process is used in recital with the lithographic printing procedure. Offset printing offers a diversity of tough and vibrant colors that may be used for more striking designs; this effect is formed using a four color process.
5. Digital Printing
Digital printing is the latest development in printing. This kind or printing allows the most elasticity in handling of the print image prior to printing. The print is a duplicate of a digital image. Digital printing is totally customizable from one print to the next, permits for alteration in color, editing of the image and limits the quantity of wasted chemicals and paper used in the procedure. Digital printing inks are not absorbed into the print material so they are dissimilar from other inks used in other processes.
