What are the advantages and disadvantages of gravure

Date: Sep 26 2024 From: Star Color

Gravure printing is a printing method with a long history and mature technology, occupying a pivotal position in the printing industry. Its unique intaglio plate making technology and printing process make intaglio printing have significant advantages in color expression, layering, and printing resistance. At the same time, gravure printing also faces some shortcomings and challenges that cannot be ignored. Below, the advantages and disadvantages of gravure printing will be analyzed in detail from multiple perspectives.

Advantages of gravure printing

1. Bright colors and high saturation: The ink layer of gravure printing is thick, which can present a printing effect with bright colors and high saturation. This gives gravure printing a unique advantage in printing packaging, exquisite picture books, and other fields, which can attract consumers' attention and enhance the market competitiveness of products.

2. Rich layers and strong three-dimensional effect: The graphic and textual parts of gravure printing are recessed into the layout, and ink is filled in the recessed parts during printing to form a protruding graphic and textual effect. This printing method gives printed materials a strong sense of three dimensionality and layering, enhancing visual effects and tactile experience.

3. Printing plates are suitable for large-scale printing: gravure printing plates are generally made of metal and can withstand a large number of printing tasks without being easily worn out. This makes gravure printing suitable for large-scale printing tasks, such as packaging materials, securities, etc., which can reduce production costs and improve production efficiency.

4. Stable printing quality: The printing quality of gravure printing is stable and reliable, with a relatively low scrap rate. This is due to its precise plate making technology and strict printing process control, which enables printed products to maintain high quality consistency.

5. Wide applicability: gravure printing is suitable for various printing materials, including paper, plastic film, metal foil, etc. This makes gravure printing have broad application prospects in various fields such as packaging, printing and publishing, anti-counterfeiting printing, etc.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of gravure

What are the advantages and disadvantages of gravure

Disadvantages of gravure printing

1. Complex plate making technology and long cycle: The plate making process of gravure printing is relatively complex, requiring multiple steps such as design, plate making, corrosion, or carving. This makes the plate making cycle of gravure printing longer and the plate making cost higher. For small batch printing tasks, this high plate making cost may be difficult to bear.

2. Environmental issues caused by solvent use: gravure printing usually uses volatile solvents as ink diluents. These solvents will evaporate into the air during the printing process, posing certain hazards to the environment and workers' health. Therefore, gravure printing requires effective environmental measures to reduce solvent emissions and pollution.

3. High skill requirements for workers: gravure printing requires workers to have high skill requirements and master complex plate making techniques and printing processes. This poses certain challenges for personnel recruitment and training in gravure printing. Meanwhile, due to the fast printing speed of gravure printing, there are also high requirements for workers' proficiency and stability in operation.

4. Not suitable for small batch printing: Due to the high plate making cost and long cycle of gravure printing, it is not suitable for small batch printing tasks. For this type of task, it may be more appropriate to use other more flexible and economical printing methods.

5. High printing cost: Considering the above factors, the printing cost of gravure printing is relatively high. This includes multiple aspects such as plate making costs, ink costs, equipment depreciation costs, etc. Therefore, when choosing a printing method, it is necessary to consider and weigh the actual situation comprehensively.

Gravure printing has significant advantages in color expression, layering, and other aspects, but it also faces challenges such as complex plate making technology, environmental issues, and high requirements for worker skills. In the future development, gravure printing requires continuous innovation and optimization of technology, shifting from using solvent based inks to using more environmentally friendly water-based inks to adapt to market changes and environmental requirements, while reducing printing costs and improving production efficiency.

Zhongzhixing Color's gravure water-based ink is an environmentally friendly product that contains low levels of harmful substances such as VOCs, which can reduce environmental pollution. Meanwhile, its fast drying speed can significantly improve printing speed and production efficiency. This feature not only meets current environmental requirements, but also satisfies the printing industry's demand for efficient production. In practical applications, the drying speed of this water-based ink can reach 80-260 meters per minute. Welcome to your inquiry.