Screen printing - an effective label-printing method
A lot of technologies were created – literally – centuries ago. It is no different in case of a technique called screen printing. This method was used in the past in the Far East, and today it is one of the well-known ways of forming multilayered and small printouts, for examples labels. We will tell you more about it below. Enjoy your reading!
What is screen printing?
Firstly, let me tell you more about the technique itself. According to some resourses, its history dates far back to XVII centry, more specifically – Japan. Then the technique was used to decorate the textiles. The foundations for the current method were layed in XIX century, also by the Japanese. They were the first to apply templates similiar to the ones used today.
The history of this solution is naturally far longer and more complex. However, we would like to elaborate on the technique itself. Screen printing, thanks to which impressive labels are made, is also called seriography. It relays on the use of templates equipped with a special mesh with small holes. It can be made from a polymer (usually poliester or polyamide) or metal.
The previously mentioned template comes into being on the basis of the pattern. It is strengthened with special light-sensitive emulsions, set in places, where the paint is to be blocked. Because of this the label produced with screen printing can have a layered structure. We will tell more (briefly) about the process itself below.
How does the printing process work with this method?
The first step consists of preparing the design, which is created on special plates. Importantly, each design must have separate colours. This is due to the fact that the inks are laid down separately. The above-mentioned photosensitive emulsion is then applied to the grids and they are dried. Once dry, the prepared pattern is placed in the exposing machine and the mesh is placed over it. At this point, the preparation is cured in the exposed areas. Once this is done, the screen must be rinsed to wash out the emulsion where it has not been cured. This is how the stencils are created.
In the next step, they are placed in the machine, which applies the colours to the material. It is worth knowing that screen printing offers printing of labels on a wide variety of materials, including film, cardboard, paper, plastic and metal, among others. In this way, labels can be created for a variety of products.
The use of screen printing – not only labels
Sometimes the technique is considered as a solution suited only for big areas. However, it also works great in printing products markings and other, smaller projects. Because of the possibility of using almost every material in screen printing, it is implemented in numerous lines of business. It is helpful in the production of labels for cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. It is worth noting that the technology allows to locate writings in the Braille alphabet on the product.
If you are interested in the topic of screen printing, read more about it in our article about:
Technologies in label printing
Advantages and disadvantages of screen printing
One of the advantages has already been mentioned before. The prints can be placed on almost every material. What is more, it is characterized with high durability and excellent saturation of the colors, which in turn contributes to the quality and focus. Printouts are longlasting and resistant to atmospherical factors, including UV radiation. They also resist mechanical impact.
What are the disadvantages? Some of them depend, for example, on the amount. By smaller ones – screen printing appears to be uneconomic considering the initial costs. However, by greater amounts it is a resonable solution.
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