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The different types of printing: which are used and which are obsolete

 Currently there are different types of printing that have been able to adapt to new technologies. It can be printed on any surface, although traditionally it used to be done on paper. Knowing the different ways to fix a text or an image is necessary to achieve an effective job.



The different types of printing

We are going to review the main types of printing that are used today and some that have already fallen into disuse, overtaken by new technologies, and we will see some of their advantages and disadvantages.


Digital printing:

Digital printing has spread in recent years, thinking above all in the area of ​​graphic arts. It commonly uses inkjet or toner, by laser printing.
It is suitable for paper, the most demanded for its speed of drying, and other materials. Printers are becoming more and more professional, even for the textile market, which has managed to show its designs printed on fabric.

Offset printing:

Offset printing is very reminiscent of lithography. Although it can be applied on paper and any other surface, it uses a metallic plate and oily ink, which is slower drying than digital printing.

It is a type of printing that is distinguished by an excellent resolution, since it uses a rubber roller and a monochrome plate. Each plate will show the color of what is to be printed.

The roller takes the image of the plate or plate of what is intended to be printed, and later translates it onto the final material.

Flexography



Flexography is a very fast printing technique when it comes to drying. It is used especially to be carried out in cardboard boxes, which have an irregular surface. It is perfect for corrugated cardboard, as it uses a highly flexible plate, hence its name.

This method is easily comparable to that of a printer's stamp, especially the drying speed mentioned above. It is also perfect for printing on plastics. It is characterized by its low production cost and a good resolution on difficult-to-dry surfaces, provided that dryers are then used to speed up the engraving process.

In this case, this type of printing uses rubber plates, in addition to rotary ones, opting for water-based inks.

Letterpress printing:

Letterpress printing is one of the oldest types of printing in use. They are hardly found in large printing companies, being more typical of small stores.

It was what is used to print books, specifically the first ones that were not copied by hand. The letters were placed as a mirror (they were in bas-relief); they were filled with ink, so that it would pass to a paper that used to be on a plate. Over time, this printing method was improved after increasing demand for books, once the bourgeoisie proliferated, especially in the 19th century.

Nowadays, although some materials have changed, using photopolymer plates with higher quality printing and speed, it is normal that the fascination for old machines is maintained.

Other types of printing:

There are other ways to make an impression, either of images or texts. Some, despite the fact that they are no longer used, are still part of the history of the press. With the arrival of the printing press, the commercialization of the book began, although it was the novel that started with the greatest force.

The use of posters also required the printing press, especially when these were aimed at promoting an event or, above all, to encourage the patriot or discourage the enemy during the various wars that occurred in the 20th century.

Lithography is a print that is no longer in use today, becoming oriented in everything that had to do with posters. An image was drawn on a metal plate or a stone, and then it was captured with ink on paper, in order to make exact copies of a painting or engraving.

For its part, screen printing is one of the oldest printing methods, dating back to 3000 BC. C. Printing can be carried out on any surface. A certain image is transferred by means of a framed mesh, in order to be stretched. You can get countless copies, without losing resolution.

Gravure has lost its strength compared to digital and offset printing. It is characterized by being a bas-relief system, suitable for all types of materials, from packaging boxes to textbooks.

The types of printing have evolved through the ages. Currently the fastest are chosen, although the oldest continue to exist out of nostalgia.
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