ZXC Print Blog

Process Characteristics Metallic etching imitates a frosted effect using textured inks on gold and silver paper, where the texture's coarseness and feel depend on the ink used, allowing limited adjustments during operation. The fabric texture technique, based on metallic etching, incorporates elements from embossed techniques by using uniformly dispersed dot patterns instead of solid colors. This allows for a fabric-like texture effect similar to frosted finishes, with customizable texture size and shape through the film used. Various inks, including pearlescent and color-changing inks, can be employed, enhancing aesthetic value.

In color printing, the typical approach is to use four colors: yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, which are printed in a specific sequence. Theoretically, there are twenty-four different printing color sequences possible with these four colors, and any sequence should yield satisfactory results. However, different sequences can lead to varying color effects on the printed material. A rational printing color sequence enhances the colors, makes the image closer to the original, and can improve clarity and depth. Additionally, it protects the paper surface, increases product gloss, and facilitates registration. This is particularly important in color printing, especially in packaging, when using more than four colors, spot colors, or full coverage.

  Lithographic printing is based on the principle that oil and water do not mix. The image areas on the plate are oleophilic (ink-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repellent), while the non-image areas must first absorb water to become hydrophilic and ink-repellent. One of the characteristics of offset printing is that it uses an indirect printing process, with colored reproduction achieved through the transfer of ink dots. Mastering the ink-water balance is critical to ensuring the normal transfer of the print, the depth of ink color, accurate registration, print drying, and preventing ink smudging. Therefore, understanding and controlling the ink-water balance is key to maintaining consistent print quality. A skilled printing operator should not only understand the relationship between ink and water but also be adept at managing the techniques and essentials of ink-water balance.

  Packaging Inspection for Paper Currently, flat paper packaging primarily comes in two basic forms: wood clipboard packaging and wooden box packaging. Qualified flat paper usually has more than two layers of wrapping paper on the outside, further reinforced with wood paneling and tightly bound with metal straps. The wrapping materials used include wax paper, tar paper, kraft paper, and snake-skin paper. On the wood clipboard or wooden box, labels such as "Moisture-proof" and "Handle with care" should be displayed, and in some cases, the grain direction of the paper may also be indicated.

  Someone asked online: "Why does the ink layer not appear bright enough when silver ink is overprinted with other colors on black paper?" Here are my thoughts and insights on this issue for reference. The so-called "black paper" is a type of specialty paper, and its surface gloss is generally not very high. Therefore, when printing other ink colors on top of a silver base with offset printing, it's best to choose a high-gloss ink and increase the printing pressure appropriately. In fact, the glossiness of offset ink refers to the ability of the printed ink layer to reflect light in a concentrated direction after it dries through oxidation and film formation. It is a measure of the brightness of the ink layer on the printing surface after drying.

With the rise of on-demand printing, digital printing equipment has become increasingly prevalent in production environments. When digital printing equipment malfunctions, one critical factor is often overlooked: the choice of paper. Should specialized digital printing paper be used, or is offset printing paper sufficient? What factors regarding paper performance need to be considered? And how should paper be stored to maintain quality?