SILKSCREEN/ PAD PRINTING
SILKSCREEN PRINTING
Screen printing - printing method allowing printing on materials of various shapes, thicknesses and sizes:
on plain or textured paper, fabric, plastic and silicone surfaces, wood, metals, ceramics, glass, etc.
In screen printing, a thick layer of paint extracts relief, ensuring color coverage and brightness.
Additional printing effects can be obtained by using special inks.
Screen printing is not afraid of the weather, so it is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
For the screen printing process, the desired image from the computer is printed on a transparent film, and a positive is obtained. Next, the image is transferred by exposure on a frame coated with a silk mesh coated with a light-sensitive photopolymer. Illuminated areas of the photopolymer harden and those that are not illuminated are washed. This results in a form that is used for the press. A separate print form is made for each color. Paint of a certain color is 'applied' to the surface through the washed areas of the mold.
We can:
-
print in different colors on different colors of paper, certain types of plastic, metal, silicone, etc. substances;
-
to produce plastisol for thermal printing on clothing;
-
printed directly on textiles with watercolor (single color);
-
print special inks for printing on silicone surfaces (bracelets, etc.).
PAD PRINTING
Pad printing is a method of indirect printing when with the help of a special swab paint is available transferred from the mold to the printing surface. Pad printing for printing on narrow or curved shapes therefore most commonly used for printing on business souvenirs, e.g. USB keys, pens, cups, reflectors, etc.
Suitable for pad printing PVC, ABS plastic, acrylic, polycarbonate, wood, paper, metals or metal surfaces, ceramics.
Up to 3 different colors available.
Pad printing is similar to screen printing because:
• also uses positives to make molds;
• applies a coat of paint of the desired color (only thinner);
• Each color is printed separately.
To prepare the file, make sure that:
• the file is monochrome and all the elements you want to compress in a certain color are 100%
black (C 0, M 0, Y 0, K 100);
• all elements, especially text, are curved;
• there are no extraneous points or lines (all extraneous elements left will appear in the press);
• the layout is 1: 1 to the actual size in the required position in the real format;
• there are no hidden “layers”, everything is in one layer;
• If different colors are required, the items must be separated, shipped differently
files;
• if any element is close to the edges, the file must be prepared with overlaps;
• a separate visual is needed to show what the final product should look like,
and specified colors.