Hoshovsky Web Offset Lithography Facts

            Most of the information that I am finding is new to me, as well as interesting. While doing the research here are some of the facts that sticks out, as well as information that I found intriguing:

•  Mass-production printing in which the images on metal plates are transferred (offset) to rubber blankets or rollers and then to the print media. The print media, usually paper, does not come into direct contact with the metal plates.
• The main advantage of offset printing is its high and consistent image quality. The process can be used for small, medium or high-volume jobs.
• In the early twentieth century, the accidental discovery that a rubber blanket transferred images to paper more efficiently and with greater quality than lithographic stones (the "offset" in offset lithography) gave the printing process the impetus it needed for wide commercial acceptance.
• "Web-offset" presses are fed from a large roll of paper, which goes through the press in a continuous length of paper, called a "web." Sheet-fed presses are generally used for business marketing printing, while web presses are more cost-effective for high volume printing of catalogs, newspaper inserts and magazines (around 50,000 quantity or more depending on the size and type of piece).
• Web and sheet-fed offset presses are similar in that many of them can also print on both sides of the paper in one pass, making it easier and faster to print duplex.

A video explaining how it all works:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNZb7CXUjs0

Sebastian Wan Papermaking Proccess Facts

Hey guys, here are some facts about papermaking that I found interesting.

• The brightness of paper isn’t actually how white the color is, but how much light is reflected off the surface.
• To make archival paper, 2% more calcium carbonate reserve is added as a buffer. This makes the paper more resistant to environmental acidity. This also allows the life span of archival paper to stretch hundreds of years instead of tens.
•   A traditional variation of paper called Washi was introduced to Japan in the 8^th century. It was highly valuable and only used for Buddhist scriptures. Because white washi symbolized purity and holiness, papermaking was a form of spiritual refinement.
• Paper was first made in China in 105 AD using finely chopped mulberry bark and hemp rags.
• Pulp is refined with blades that give the fibers fibrillated ends, giving the fibers a “hairy” appearance and helps to strengthen their bond to other fibers.

Nicole_Screen Printing Process Facts

I’m quite familiar with the printing process of screen printing, also known as silk screening. I work in a warehouse that specializes in screen printing on a variety of different materials. I also went to a technical high school where I initially started learning about this process. The process itself isn’t very different than other processes, however the setup and materials are completely different. 

Interesting Facts about Screen Printing:

• Screen printing became a popular technique during the Song Dynasty in 960-1300 A.D.
• Screen printing is often used to print messages or logos on materials (mostly anything but paper) and is considered to be lower quality than most other printing processes (although there can be high quality depending on the material and number of colors.
• The process is broken up into sections that can vary from business to business: exposing the stencils on the specific screen mesh, aligning and inking up each screen, printing, and reclaiming the screen which is technically getting it back to the beginning again.
• In screen printing, every color is put on a different screen, therefore the ink is layered onto the  desired material once the design is aligned. 
• There are different types of screen mesh (mesh is the number of openings per square inch) where the more detailed the work is and depending on the viscosity of the ink, the higher the screen mesh count can be.
• There are two different processes to this type of printing. You can print on an automatic press where it does everything besides lining the design up for you, or you can use a manual press where you do everything from start to finish on your own.

Here is a link to a video that really shows you the screen printing process on a manual press:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNWS6DrDOEM

Eleni-Gravure/Rotogravure Printing Process

I have never heard of the gravure/rotogravure printing process before so everything about it was new to me. After researching I came to find out that the process of gravure printing:
First, in the gravure/rotogravure process, a negative image is etched into the surface of a copper printing cylinder in tiny cells and dots of various sizes and various depths. These constitute the type of characters and artwork with its tonal gradations. When the printing cylinder rotates on the press, ink is applied to it by roller, spray, or bath and a flexible metal blade called a doctor blade removes excess ink, leaving the surface clean, with ink left only in the depressions. Paper is fed between the inked printing cylinder and an impression cylinder coated with a resilient blanket, which pressed the paper against the printing cylinder. The intaglio areas then transfer ink to the paper.

5 facts:

- the gravure process requires careful preparation, but it produces good printing quality and color, even on less expensive paper
- The printing cylinder can be chromium-plated for durability in long runs and even replated if desired, therefore, gravure is used for long runs of magazines, catalogues, and color supplements for newspapers. The process was originally developed for high quality picture reproduction.
- The advantages of gravure printing are the photographic quality, bright colors, best possible appearance, and highest perceived value for your product.
- It's main disadvantage is the high cost and the time needed to engrave gravure cylinders.
- The process is also used in the manufacturing of food and non-food packaging, as well as, labels, wall coverings, transfer printing, and has a variety of further applications in the security printing, industrial, and tobacco segments of industry.


Here's a video to help better understand the process:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5hb3EKQv4ic

Farns_Research on LetterPress Paper

HI Coni! Here's some interesting facts I;ve found for Letter Press paper. There seems to be more than just one type. I can definitly search more if you want.

   For my choice of Paper for Advance Layout will be in production of Letterpress Paper. There are several different kinds of Letterpress Paper and Ive happened to narrow down to two on what interest me. It will either be Legion Bamboo or Matallic textured paper. The process of Letterpress paper is developed through A machine that can either engrave or embossed type on the paper, with different kinds of texture.

A small number of copies is to be made, printing can be done directly from the hand- or machine with set blocks of type assembled in forms, but for long press runs, duplicates—stereotypes or electrotyping—are also made to prevent wear and damage of the expensive types. More commonly you would see letterpress paper within Supermarkets as well. Gift Cards and Paper Brown Bags are often the most seen products from letterpress industries.

The most common cheap Letterpress papers people use every day are considered:

1.    Savory

2.    Neehah Blotter

3.    Cordenons Plike

4.    Colorplan

5.    Cranes Lettra

6.    Brown Paper Bags and

7.    Mohawk Superfine

I havnt really decided on the format, for the brochure I’ll be developing the paper on, but I decided what the name of my company will be. “BirdGate”.

Bamboo

 Paper Bags coated/Non-coated

 Cocktail