I PICT PD

LO: Assess your understanding

of packaging functions PRINTING

CONNECTOR

STARTER

BIG PICTURE

LO: TBAT explain the printing effects (Grade B)

LO: TBAT describe the different printing methods (Grade C)

Learning Objectives and Big Question

LO: TBAT explain the quality control checks on printed products (Grade A)

•Graphic products can be printed in a variety of different ways. The designer

has to select the printing process that suits their product best.

•This will depend on the length of the print run, the quality required, the paper

or card needed, and the project’s budget.

•The designer will choose from the following printing methods:

KEY WORDS: Process, Print Run, Budget

ACTIVATE PRINTING METHODS LO: TBAT describe the different

printing methods (Grade C)

•The raised surface is coated with ink and

is then pressed onto the paper.

•It is an expensive process, as the plate

has to be specially made and high quality

paper is needed. It is used for high quality

books and stationary.

•Letterpress is one of the oldest forms of industrial printing.

Letterpress is known as a relief printing method, because the

printing plate is not flat.

•A printing plate is prepared with the image to be printed raised

above the surface of the plate, standing proud

of the non-printing area.

KEY WORDS: Relief, Prepared, Raised, Coated, Pressed, Expensive

ACTIVATE LETTERPRESS LO: TBAT describe the different

printing methods (Grade C)

•Lithography is the most commonly

used process in the printing

industry.

•The image is transferred onto the

printing plate photographically,

using UV light.

•The plate is washed in a chemical

that makes the image area attractive to the oil-based ink.

The non-image area is dampened with water to repel the ink.

•Lithography is used for medium to large print runs because the set-

up costs are high.

KEY WORDS: Transferred, Photographically, Dampened, Set-up

ACTIVATE LITHOGRAPHY LO: TBAT describe the different

printing methods (Grade C)

•Flexography is very similar to

letterpress as it uses a relief plate. As

the name suggests, the relief plate is

made from a flexible material, like

rubber.

•It is used to print on unconventional

materials, like polythene for

packaging. Flexography is ideal for

these surfaces, because the ink is

mixed with a solvent that evaporates,

causing the ink to dry quickly.

•Flexography is used on carrier bags and some wallpapers.

KEY WORDS: Relief, Flexible, Unconventional, Evaporates

ACTIVATE FLEXOGRAPHY LO: TBAT describe the different

printing methods (Grade C)

•Gravure is used to produce high quality photographic images. It is

very good for reproducing fine detail. However, gravure is a very

costly process due to the skill needed to manufacture the printing

plate.

•It is the opposite to letterpress – the

printing areas are in fact lower than

the non-printing areas.

•The image is engraved onto a

copper plate, creating cells that are

filled with a spirit based ink.

•The paper is pressed against these

cells to produce the image. The ink

evaporates quickly once printed.

KEY WORDS: Photographic, Engraved, Copper, Spirit, Evaporates

ACTIVATE GRAVURE LO: TBAT describe the different

printing methods (Grade C)

•Screen printing is completely different to any other printing

method. It works by forcing ink through a stencil. The stencil shape

reflects the image to be printed. The stencil can be made of paper

or card and is supported by a fine mesh.

•The ink is spread over the mesh using a

spreader, and then forced through the

mesh onto the surface to be printed.

•Stencils can be made fairly simply, but to

create more complex images, a

photographic stencil is required.

•These have to be made by

a professional or using a computer.

KEY WORDS: Forcing, Stencil, Mesh, Professional

ACTIVATE SCREEN PRINTING LO: TBAT describe the different

printing methods (Grade C)

KEY WORDS: Forcing, Stencil, Mesh, Professional

ACTIVATE Overview LO: Develop an understanding of

Printing Methods

•You can add interest and impact to a graphic product by adding a

printing effect. There are lots of printing techniques to choose from,

but they can restrict your choice of materials and add to the final

cost.

•The designer can choose from the following printing effects:

KEY WORDS: Varnishing, Embossing, Laminating

ACTIVATE PRINTING EFFECTS LO: TBAT explain the printing effects that

are applied onto packaging (Grade B)

•Applying varnish to a product has

two main functions:

•Varnishing is done after printing but before any cutting, folding

or trimming.

•There are several different types of varnishing. Oil-based and

water-based varnishes are sometimes used, but the most

important types of varnishing are spirit varnishing and

ultraviolet varnishing.

KEY WORDS: Protect, Cutting, Folding, Trimming, Spirit, Ultraviolet

ACTIVATE VARNISHING LO: TBAT explain the printing effects that

are applied onto packaging (Grade B)

•Applying varnish to

a product has two

main functions:

• to protect the

product

• to make the

product look

better

•Varnishing is done after printing but

before any cutting, folding or trimming.

•There are several different types of

varnishing. Oil-based and water-based

varnishes are sometimes used, but the

most important types of varnishing are

spirit varnishing and ultraviolet

varnishing.

KEY WORDS: Protect, Cutting, Folding, Trimming, Spirit, Ultraviolet

ACTIVATE VARNISHING LO: Develop an understanding of

Printing effects

•Produces a tough,

high gloss finish.

•The image is sealed

between two layers of

plastic. It is twice as

expensive as varnishing,

but the end result is of a

lot better quality.

Lamination is used for products like menus that

need to be easily wiped clean.

HOT LAMINATE

COLD LAMINATE

KEY WORDS: High Gloss, Expensive

ACTIVATE LAMINATING LO: TBAT explain the printing effects that

are applied onto packaging (Grade B)

•Embossing is when a portion of the surface is

raised above the surrounding area.

•It is used for two reasons:

•The required

shape is pressed

into the work using

a steel die.

•Embossing can give an expensive, high quality feel.

KEY WORDS: Portion, Raised, Impact, Texture, Expensive, Steel Die

ACTIVATE EMBOSSING LO: TBAT explain the printing effects that

are applied onto packaging (Grade B)

•Quality is essential in all products – printed products are no

exception. When a document or item is printed, a series of marks are

created that allow manufacturers to check that the printing has been

done correctly:

Registration marks

•These marks allow printers

to check alignment. If the

colour plates are aligned

properly, the mark will

appear black.

Colour blocks

•Allow you to check the

colour for correct tone

and equal density.

KEY WORDS: Registration, Quality

ACTIVATE QUALITY CHECKS LO: TBAT explain the quality control

checks on printed products (Grade A)

LO: Develop an understanding of

Quality checks

KEY WORDS: Registration, Quality

ACTIVATE QUALITY CHECKS

LO: Develop an understanding of

Quality checks

KEY WORDS: Registration, Quality

ACTIVATE QUALITY CHECKS

LO: Develop an understanding of

Quality checks

KEY WORDS: Registration, Quality

ACTIVATE Exam Questions

LO: Develop an understanding of

Quality checks

KEY WORDS: Registration, Quality

ACTIVATE Exam Questions

2010