Gravure Printing

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Gravure Printing

• Graphic Communication Processes

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Definitions

• Intaglio- sinking words, pictures, or designs
  into a printing plate or cylinder
• Process used before modern gravure printing
• Gravure-method of printing from cells or
  depressions that are engraved below the non-image
  area of the printing cylinder
• Cells are placed by using electronically
  controlled cutting devices or with laser imaging
  technology

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Definitions (continued)

• Rotogravure-uses a metal cylinder as the image
  carrier
• Base cylinder-refers to cylinder before being
  imaged
• Made out of steel or aluminum with a copper-plate
  added by electroplating

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History of Gravure Printing

• 1878-Karl Klietsch invents the modern gravure
  printing process
• 1890-First rotary cylinder press was built

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Four Basic Steps of Gravure Process

• 1-Ink is deposited on the surface of the image
  carrier and collect in the microscopic ink wells
• 2-The excess ink is removed from the non-image
  area
• 3-The substrate is pressed against the image
• 4-The substrate absorbs or attracts the ink to
  produce a printed image

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Picture of the Process
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Application-Three Major Markets

• Publishing/Advertising
• Newspaper supplements, magazines, coupons,
  stamps, etc.
• Packaging
• Wrapping paper, folding cartons, flexible
  packaging
• Specialty Products
• Wall/Floor covering, glass tints, decorative
  laminates

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Advantages

• Very Simple (no ink and water balance)
• Presses can run at higher speeds (30 mph)
• Uses fast-drying ink
• Capable of consistent, high-quality reproduction
  at low per-unit cost on long press runs
• Long life for gravure cylinders

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Disadvantages

• Main disadvantage Printing Cylinder
• If damaged, may have to be re-engraved
• Used to have long gravure cylinder preparation
  time
• Now, there is Direct Digital Engraving, which
  has lowered costs and reduced preparation times

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Direct Digital Engraver Machine
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Gravure Image Carrier Configurations

• Flat
• Small runs (ex. limited editions of paintings)
• Split (wrap-around plate)
• Designed to wrap around a cylinder
• Thicker than offset plates
• Cylinder
• Can print a continuous pattern
• Most common