Plates are used to transfer images and text to the surface you want to print on. Whether you are printing bags, magazines, catalogs or clothing, it is common to use some form of printing plate or plate.
Because a plate is unique to the image or text it holds, it makes sense that it should only be used to print a specific piece of artwork. That's why if you make minimal changes to your next print run, you'll need a new plate. The good news is that re-runs of the same print information can use the same plate, which means no plate costs the second time around.
a printing plate
When printing, sellers include a separate plate fee in their quotes because the cost is really a different entity than the price of your luggage. Regardless of the quantity you order, there is usually a one-time plate cost if you are a new customer or request a brand new design.
Keep this in mind if you're shopping around for quotes - if plate costs aren't shown, be sure to ask for them. You don't want any nasty surprises.
Your print specifications determine the cost of the plate - as you might expect, full color printing means a more expensive plate than a simple logo on a plain bag. The number of colors you use also has an impact on this - the more colors you print, the more plates we need to use to achieve your design.
This means that an important step in the process is to make sure that the design you sign is one you'd like to use again for repeat orders - or if it's a one-off order, you need a large enough quantity to make the plate purchase feel worthwhile; that way you know you'll get your money's worth.
The only thing to remember is that you can't reuse your plates if you switch from plastic/paper bags to fabric, and vice versa, because these products use different printing methods and therefore require new plates to be made - even if your artwork is the same.
In terms of longevity, printing plates tend to last about three years - although this depends on how often they are used and how they are stored.
In this process, the plate or screen is made from a piece of mesh that is tightly stretched over a metal or wooden frame. Originally these plates were made of silk. You may be familiar with the term "screen printing". Today, the mesh is usually made of synthetic polymers such as nylon, polyester or even stainless steel. To create the image, a stencil is formed by masking off part of the screen, leaving open space where the ink will appear on the finished design. Before printing begins, the screen is covered with emulsion and the exposure unit burns off any unnecessary emulsion, leaving a clean, identical impression of your chosen image. The area to be printed is then coated with "tray tape" to prevent unwanted ink from leaking through the screen in the wrong place.
Once the screen is ready, it is placed on the substrate. The ink is then placed on the screen and a deflector strip is used to spread the ink out and push it through the holes in the screen. Once just a manual labor-intensive process, screen printing can now be produced using a mechanical screen printer. This is because screen printing can be used to print on a wide range of shapes and sizes of materials. It is an ideal way to print.
Manual Screen Stretching Machine
CTS 300 Computer To Screen 1270/2540dpi Raster 133lpi Laser Direct Imaging Device
For offset lithographic printing, the printing plate is usually a thin aluminum plate. In some cases, paper, plastic or rubber plates can be used. Although aluminum plates are a more expensive option, they offer greater accuracy, produce high-quality images and last longer. Images and text are transferred to the plate using graphics film or, more commonly these days, directly from the computer to the plate. A layer of varnish is applied to the image area of the plate to attract ink, while the rest of the plate is coated with an absorbent gelatinous substance.
Next, the plate is wrapped around a roller and pressed onto a roller moistened with water and brushed with ink, with the ink adhering only to the varnished areas. The plate is then pressed onto a softer rubber cylinder and the printed image is transferred to paper, plastic or card, providing you with the final print. This process can only be used to print on a flat surface.
Flexographic plates, often referred to as "letterpress", are usually made of a photosensitive polymer material, while some are still made of rubber. Relief plates mean that the image is raised above the non-image area. Printing is accomplished by creating a 3D mirror image using a photopolymer plate. When the plate is placed on a cylinder, ink is transferred to the cylinder using anilox rollers that touch the printed material and transfer the ink.
Named for its flexibility when printing on corrugated board, flexo printing offers advantages over lithography. The process can use a wider range of inks and is capable of printing on a variety of different materials. The flexographic process is most commonly used to print packaging, plastic bags, disposable cups, milk cartons or labels.
If you are considering printing for your business, we would love to hear from you. Our team of professionals will guide you through the process, advising you on design, plate costs. Why not get in touch today?
