Comparison of Printing Processes
- Date: 2007-03-08 - Word Count: 721
Share This!
When searching for the best way to get your product printed, you may be confronted with a series of confusing options; silkscreen, inkjet, thermal, litho printing, all with their own benefits and drawbacks. But which printing process is the most appropriate for your product and budget?
Inkjet Printing
CMYK Inkjet printers propel tiny droplets of liquid ink onto specially-coated CD-R and DVD-R surfaces with ability to absorb ink. They are usually integrated into automated robotic systems that load and deposit discs individually, allowing for unmanned operation after the initial setup. With a high-quality printing surface, inkjet results can be stunning printing in high resolution, and finished with a coating of UV-hardened lacquer that protects the finish against smudging and gives more vibrant colours. Inkjets are ideal for small runs with photographic quality print, or when you desperately need a fast job. In higher volumes the unit price does not face a substantial drop, which can be uneconomical compared to silkscreen, or lithographic printing.
Thermal Transfer Printing
The thermal transfer process is based on melting a coating of colored ribbon onto the surface of the CD-R or DVD-R. Each printer contains two ribbons; one containing panels of cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Each color is printed individually onto the second ribbon- the transfer ribbon. The media and the transfer ribbon move together beneath the thermal print head, sealing the surface of the disc with a highly durable coating 100% weatherproof and smudge free. The end result is a product that is highly cost-effective in small runs, with a stunning finish superior even to lithographically printed CDs or DVDs. Because the print process is done directly from supplied PDF artwork, the set-up time is very quick and allows for a very fast turnaround for urgent jobs. With great results, this process has become one of the most popular choices and feedback from clients has been overwhelmingly positive.
Silkscreen (Screen Printing)
Screen printing is a cost-effective method for larger quantities of CDs or DVDs printed as a part of full manufacturing process, but can also be applied to the printing of CD-R, 8cm CD-R/DVD-R, and 12cm DVD-R/DVD+R. Your artwork is transferred onto films each color is a separate film, with up to five colours. These films are used as 'stencils' across a monofilament fabric screen, with the coloured inks applied through them, onto the surface of the CD or DVD. The resulting finish can produce very vivid colours, and is especially effective at reproducing spot colours (Pantone). This may, however, leave a grainy effect around text and colour gradients. Silkscreen is most effective with simple designs of few colours. Please be aware that most companies will enforce a minimum run of 500 units, but with very little price difference when compared with 1,000 units.
Lithographic (Offset) Printing
Modern offset printing is the most common high-volume commercial printing technique, with a wide variety of applications. The printer will either have your artwork and layout set directly to the printing plate from the computer, or creates a physical "paste up" from your layout that they will expose to the plates using a process camera, film negatives, and chemical treatment. The plate is treated to receive an oil-based ink around the print area, while the non-print area is treated with water. The plate is then 'offset' to a rubber blanket cylinder that applies it to the surface of the CD or DVD. This process allows for highly detailed photographic images and small text to be applied to the media in great quantities. Please be aware that lithographic printing is tied in with a full manufacturing process, which requires the creation of a glass master, and an extended production run, upwards of ten days. It is the ideal option if you need upwards of 1,000 units based on highly detailed artwork, producing a superior finish to silkscreen printing at a relatively comparable price.
We always advise our clients based on their artwork and requirements, but hope that this greater understanding of the processes involved, and their benefits and drawbacks can help you make an informed decision regarding your specific project, as always we are here to help and answer any of your questions.
For further information on CD DUPLICATION, DVD REPLICATION, CD PACKAGING, CD MASTERING and RE-MASTERING, VIDEO TAPE CONVERSION & MASTERING, DATA & MEDIA CONVERSION services in UK contact A1Duplication at +44 (0)796 034 0386 or visit at http://www.a1duplication.co.uk
Inkjet Printing
CMYK Inkjet printers propel tiny droplets of liquid ink onto specially-coated CD-R and DVD-R surfaces with ability to absorb ink. They are usually integrated into automated robotic systems that load and deposit discs individually, allowing for unmanned operation after the initial setup. With a high-quality printing surface, inkjet results can be stunning printing in high resolution, and finished with a coating of UV-hardened lacquer that protects the finish against smudging and gives more vibrant colours. Inkjets are ideal for small runs with photographic quality print, or when you desperately need a fast job. In higher volumes the unit price does not face a substantial drop, which can be uneconomical compared to silkscreen, or lithographic printing.
Thermal Transfer Printing
The thermal transfer process is based on melting a coating of colored ribbon onto the surface of the CD-R or DVD-R. Each printer contains two ribbons; one containing panels of cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Each color is printed individually onto the second ribbon- the transfer ribbon. The media and the transfer ribbon move together beneath the thermal print head, sealing the surface of the disc with a highly durable coating 100% weatherproof and smudge free. The end result is a product that is highly cost-effective in small runs, with a stunning finish superior even to lithographically printed CDs or DVDs. Because the print process is done directly from supplied PDF artwork, the set-up time is very quick and allows for a very fast turnaround for urgent jobs. With great results, this process has become one of the most popular choices and feedback from clients has been overwhelmingly positive.
Silkscreen (Screen Printing)
Screen printing is a cost-effective method for larger quantities of CDs or DVDs printed as a part of full manufacturing process, but can also be applied to the printing of CD-R, 8cm CD-R/DVD-R, and 12cm DVD-R/DVD+R. Your artwork is transferred onto films each color is a separate film, with up to five colours. These films are used as 'stencils' across a monofilament fabric screen, with the coloured inks applied through them, onto the surface of the CD or DVD. The resulting finish can produce very vivid colours, and is especially effective at reproducing spot colours (Pantone). This may, however, leave a grainy effect around text and colour gradients. Silkscreen is most effective with simple designs of few colours. Please be aware that most companies will enforce a minimum run of 500 units, but with very little price difference when compared with 1,000 units.
Lithographic (Offset) Printing
Modern offset printing is the most common high-volume commercial printing technique, with a wide variety of applications. The printer will either have your artwork and layout set directly to the printing plate from the computer, or creates a physical "paste up" from your layout that they will expose to the plates using a process camera, film negatives, and chemical treatment. The plate is treated to receive an oil-based ink around the print area, while the non-print area is treated with water. The plate is then 'offset' to a rubber blanket cylinder that applies it to the surface of the CD or DVD. This process allows for highly detailed photographic images and small text to be applied to the media in great quantities. Please be aware that lithographic printing is tied in with a full manufacturing process, which requires the creation of a glass master, and an extended production run, upwards of ten days. It is the ideal option if you need upwards of 1,000 units based on highly detailed artwork, producing a superior finish to silkscreen printing at a relatively comparable price.
We always advise our clients based on their artwork and requirements, but hope that this greater understanding of the processes involved, and their benefits and drawbacks can help you make an informed decision regarding your specific project, as always we are here to help and answer any of your questions.
For further information on CD DUPLICATION, DVD REPLICATION, CD PACKAGING, CD MASTERING and RE-MASTERING, VIDEO TAPE CONVERSION & MASTERING, DATA & MEDIA CONVERSION services in UK contact A1Duplication at +44 (0)796 034 0386 or visit at http://www.a1duplication.co.uk
Related Tags: cd duplication, cd mastering, dvd replication, data conversion, cd packaging, cd re-mastering, media conversion, tape to dvd transfer, tape to disk conversion, cd printing and cd packaging
Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- What Is An Sd Card? What Are Main Types Of Sd Cards
Manufactured as a competition offering to Sony's Memory Stick, the SD Card was developed by the SD C - Industrial Computers
In this day and age you can't afford to run an industry efficiently without a computer as it plays a - Computer Fix Services - Tips To Choose Good Quality Personal Computer Maintenance Online
Online computer repair services have become a fast and reliable problem solution for day to day tech - Reverse Engineering Romer For Aerospace
One of the most amazing things about reverse engineering is its significant contribution in any fiel - How To Buy The Best Projector Bulb
It is very important for you to know the right time to change the projector bulb before it will burn - Laptops Vs Desktops- Their Significance
Computers obviously are commonly used for more or less everything from entertainment to office work. - Cooling Your Laptop
It is common knowledge that laptops are commonly used by everyone but one must also know how to take - Dymo Labelwriter Fast Performance & Reliability
I don't think I'm the only one who has gotten tired of trips to the post office, standing in endless - Buying Dell Laptops A Long Time Investment
Today if you go to an office or a school, Dell laptops can be seen very commonly. Though we do not b - Hard Drives - Digital Space
The first hard drives (Hard Disk Drives, HDD) were developed by IBM in 1956. Since then the need for
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Video Killed the Beautiful View
"The sound brought our group to a stop; we turned around to see the ice mass collapse with a roar. A - Crossfire: The Dual GPU System Gamers Want
CrossFire is the new dual graphics card system from ATI. It offers remarkable image quality improvem - Canon PIXMA IP1600 Photo Printer Review & Its True Cost of Ownership
With Canon PIXMA iP1600 Inkjet Printer you can make high quality photo printings at home. No need to - Basic Information about Nero Burn DVD
Nero is a popular burning ROM designed to burn DVD's. The way this product got its name is very inte - The Development of the Vital IBM PC in Spite of the Corporate Culture of IBM
The public history of the PC began in August 1981, when IBM first announced "The IBM Personal Comput - PC Repairs
PC Repairs are often needed when we need our computer the most. One way to take away many problems o - Affordable Computer Printer Ink
The computer - once considered a luxury item - has easily become a staple in today's modern homes; a - Build your Own PC
Build your own PC! Simple and Fun. Just follow these instructions and you're on your way to a rel - Extending the Life of an Inkjet Printer with Proper Cleaning and Maintenance
Inkjet printers are becoming another "throw away" electronic device due to reducing costs and high i - Check Printers
A check printer is a printer that hooks up to a computer that has the capability of printing checks.