Last Updated on March 15, 2024 by Ali Hamza
There are many processes involved in packaging printing, so picking the right type and the pros and cons can be quite confusing. Worldwide, the Packaging Pro offers printed and customized packaging boxes. You have limited options when asking your packaging manufacturer for a quote because they only have access to certain printing technologies.
You should, however, not let that limit your choice. Because cartons are rigid and flat, you can print them in more ways than you can on other flexible packaging materials. The purpose of this guide is to provide detailed information about printing technology.
The purpose of printing technology
There is no shortage of consumable products surrounding people, and most of those products come in packaging. Any commodity packaging provides information about the product, which is why it is an essential part of the product.
On the packaging of food or cosmetic products, details such as the date of manufacture, expiration date, and batch number are printed. Products and industries can benefit from custom printed boxes for packaging. The consumer must know these details. A high-quality printed product adds to its overall appearance and provides information. In addition to helping build the brand, it contributes to the reputation of the product.
A flawless printing process and superior packaging materials are used to prepare the finished product. The value of print may seem to have diminished in our digital age. However, that’s not the case. Whether advertising or packaging, print is essential to various sectors’ operations. In addition to increasing reach, it aids in spreading information.
3 Most Popular Printing Technologies
1. The Flexo Box Printing technology
In terms of printing methods, flexography is considered to be one of the more traditional ones. In flexo printing, relief plates and anilox rolls print directly to the surface. In flexo printing, raised images are pressed onto a flexible relief surface, similar to letterpress “stamping” in the early newspaper era.
As soon as the raised image is created, the plates are inserted into the press. Ink is deposited on the printing surface from tiny cups holding precise ink amounts.
2. The Lithography or Offset Printing technology
In modern bulk printing, lithography is the most commonly used method. Manufacturers use printing plates for lithography. Printing is done by inking the plates and pressing them onto paper. Instead of printing plates, rollers are used in modern lithography.
A negative image is made by exposing an emulsion to ultraviolet light contained in the rollers. In addition to folding cartons and labels, lithography is used to print folding cartons.
Printing with lithography provides retail-quality results. Food packaging, electronic products, and cosmetic boxes are all printed using lithography. The quality of printing with lithography is very high. In lithography, more than four colors can be used. In most cases, however, one or two colors are used. In addition to coatings, lithography is capable of applying special coatings.
An up-market appearance is given to the product packaging by this method. In addition to giving a soft matte touch, it can also give a high gloss appearance. Lithography also produces smooth gradients where banding is not apparent. Custom packaging boxes can be functional, attractive, and affordable without breaking the bank.
One of the biggest disadvantages of lithography is the tooling cost and lead time. Keeping costs low requires ordering large quantities of printing. You may have to order a large number of prints from many lithographers. It is also only possible to print on flat surfaces with lithography.
3. Digital or Inkjet Printing technology
The use of digital printing is widespread in small-scale printing jobs. It is common to use digital printing on paper products. These products are printed digitally, whether labels, films for flexible packaging, folding paper cartons, or corrugated boxes. Prototypes of packaging are also printed digitally.
The process of digital printing is quite straightforward. There are no costs associated with this process since there are no tooling costs. Setup requires no prior knowledge. The manufacturer can print your design if you bring it to them. Furthermore, many printing companies have a low minimum order quantity for digital prints. Printing quality is comparable to lithography when it is configured correctly.
It is inconvenient to print large quantities of digital packaging. In most cases, printing a single sheet takes a lot of time.
Conclusion
This is all about printing technology. In packaging printing, one of the increasingly important factors determining printing methods is the production’s environmental impact. At https://thepackagingpro.com/, boxes are made of a variety of materials and customized to fit your product and industry. The growing pressure on large corporations and small businesses to reduce their carbon footprint has led to the use of solvent-free papers and inks, as well as efficient printing methods.
