The difference between gravure printing and flexographic printing. These two printing methods differ in terms of principles, application areas, and printing effects.
Gravure Printing
principle
Plate making process: The plate for gravure printing is usually made of metal (such as copper or steel), and fine grooves are formed on the surface of the plate through chemical etching or laser engraving, which form the printing pattern.
Printing process: During printing, the plate is immersed in the ink tank, and the ink is only filled into the grooves. Then, a scraper is used to remove excess ink from the plate, leaving only the ink in the grooves. When the plate comes into contact with the substrate, ink transfers from the grooves to the substrate, completing the printing process.
application
High quality printing: mainly used for printed materials that require high precision and delicate effects, such as magazines, picture books, high-end packaging, etc.
Special printed materials: Due to their unique printing effect, gravure printing is also widely used in high security printed materials such as currency and stamps.
characteristic
High quality: capable of achieving extremely high resolution and color saturation, very suitable for the representation of fine images and gradient colors.
Cost: The initial investment cost and plate making cost of gravure printing are relatively high, but it is suitable for large-scale production, and the cost per piece will decrease as the quantity increases.
Flexibility: Although it is suitable for multiple printing materials, due to the complex plate making process and the longer time required to change the plate, it is not as flexible as flexographic printing in terms of quick design changes.
Flexographic Printing
principle
Plate making process: Flexographic printing uses flexible polymer plates, which can be made through traditional carving or digital plate making techniques.
Printing process: During printing, the plate is coated with ink through a mesh roller with uniform mesh holes, and then comes into contact with the substrate to transfer the image onto the substrate.
application
Packaging materials: Flexographic printing is mainly used for packaging printing of food, beverages, and other consumer goods, such as labels, paper boxes, plastic bags, etc.
Fast turnover: Due to the relatively simple and fast plate making process, flexographic printing is very suitable for situations that require rapid design changes or small batch production.
characteristic
Cost effectiveness: The plate making cost is relatively low, suitable for short to medium length live parts.
High speed: The flexographic printing machine runs fast, improving production efficiency.
Material adaptability: It can adapt to various types of printing materials, including paper, plastic film, metal foil, etc.
Environmentally friendly: Modern flexographic printing technology uses water-based or alcohol soluble inks with low VOCs (volatile organic compounds), reducing the impact on the environment.
summary
Plate making materials: Metal plates are used for gravure printing, while flexible polymer plates are used for flexographic printing.
Printing effect: gravure printing excels in details and color expression, while flexographic printing has advantages in cost-effectiveness and production speed.
Scope of application: gravure printing is more suitable for products that require high quality, while flexographic printing is more suitable for large-scale production in the packaging industry.
In summary, the choice of printing method mainly depends on factors such as the specific needs of the printed materials, cost considerations, and production scale. If you need high-precision and high-quality printing results, and expect a large production demand, then gravure printing may be a better choice. On the contrary, if your product requires fast turnover, strict cost control, or printing on multiple materials, flexographic printing may be more suitable.