Understanding Different Types of Print: A Complete Guide

When an innovation comes to life, it takes some time, after which the innovation starts to take shape into multiple types. For instance, when the first computer was invented, it was way different from what we see today as now it comes in multiple types and variations like a laptop, tablet and Smartphone.

The same is true for printing, as we have various types of printing technologies today. And that’s why most businesses get confused as to what kinds of printmaking are good for their purpose. If you have also left in a similar thought, then this guide to types of printing will help you understand types of print art and which one to choose for your business needs.

Understanding Types of Print Technologies

When we say types of printing, it’s not actually to elaborate on every single printing device but to understand the main categories of printing technology. For instance, both inkjet printing and laserjet printing are widely a part of digital printing technology as, at their core, the technology being used is quite similar but executed differently.

So, based on printing technology, there are not a lot of various types of printing but only three, which are Offset Lithography, Digital and Screen Printing. Let’s now dive deeper to understand all these three individual printing types in detail.  Additionally, materials like Foamex are often used in printing for signage, displays, and advertising due to their durability and versatility.

Offset Litho Printing

When it comes to mass printing, the widely used technology is offset printing, also known as litho printing. Offset printing revolutionised bulk printing and made it very economical to print for organisations. But what is offset printing?

In offset printing, the print is first put on a metal plate, and then it is transferred to a rubber sheet. Now, the rubber is inked and pressed against paper to get the print on the paper.

Now, coming to print quality, you can get very high-quality print for even very tiny designs and texts. That’s why it’s used to print books, newspapers, magazines, etc. However, as we talked about, the cost-effectiveness that this process provides is subjective to the quantity, as it’s not like buying a printer and getting started.

Digital Printing

Digital printing is a cost-effective method that doesn’t require metal or rubber templates. Unlike offset printing, it now delivers similar quality and is ideal for smaller print runs. Designs in digital formats like PDF or JPG are sent directly to the printer, which transfers them onto paper or other materials. Common types include laserjet, inkjet, and UV printing.

Laserjet and Inkjet Printing

• Laserjet Printing: Uses a laser to create an electrostatic image on a drum, attracting toner and fusing it onto paper with heat. It’s fast and smudge-resistant, perfect for text documents.
• Inkjet Printing: Sprays liquid ink through tiny nozzles, delivering high-quality colour prints, ideal for photos and marketing materials.

UV Printing

UV printing is another advanced digital printing technique that uses ultraviolet light to cure the ink instantly. As the printer deposits ink onto the material, UV light solidifies it immediately, preventing smudging and enhancing durability. This method works on a variety of surfaces, including plastic, glass, metal, and fabric, making it highly versatile. UV printing produces sharp, vibrant prints with excellent colour accuracy and is widely used in signage, packaging, and promotional products.

Screen Printing

Now, let’s talk about screenprinting, which is a technique widely used to print on fabric. It is one of the types of print art which still works similar to how it was invented and never changed drastically.

The way it works is by using screens or stencils, which have very fine pores. Each rectangular screen has pores in the areas where the ink has to be passed on the fabric. So, if there’s a design having three different colours, let’s say green, blue and red, then there should be three screens to transfer the design to the fabric. First, the fabric is put on a flat surface, and the first screen is put over it. Now, it has one type of paint, let’s say green, and the paint is scrubbed on the stencil once from top to bottom. So, the green paint will come on the fabric wherever the screen has the pores. This process is repeated for each colour, and the final output is a t-shirt, bag or any merchandise with a crisp design.

Other Types of Printing

While the three discussed above are the mainstream methods of printing today, there are a few other types of printing which are worth a shout-out.

Letterpress Printing

The result of efforts made by Johannes Gutenberg is what is known as letterpress printing today. It was the first printing press which made it possible to scale printing in the commercial landscape. The working of these types of press was simple where the metal letters are placed one by one to form sentences and paragraphs. Now, these letters are inked and pressed against the paper to get the imprint.

Flexographic Printing

Now, just as everything evolves, letterpress printing also does. The metal letters were replaced by rubber or polymer-based plates to transfer the ink onto materials like plastic, cardboard, and even fabric. Today, this printing method is widely used for packaging, labels and even newspapers.

Gravure Printing

When there are printing needs where a large volume of a single design has to be created, gravure printing is one of the best to go with. This printing method uses a cylindrical metal piece which is engraved with the design. Now, the ready to use cylinder is inked and rolled over the length of paper to get the design printed on it. It is used in industries like wallpaper manufacturing, magazine manufacturing etc.

Eco Printing

Last but not the least is eco printing, which simply means eco friendly printing. The agenda of this printing method is to get sustainable printing with minimised wastage. While it’s yet to be scaled for large volumes, we have managed to get eco-friendly inks based on soy, or waterless printing methods, and using recycled paper is also a eco printing effort.

Wrapping Up

With these printing technologies, you can fulfil any of your needs, from a hoarding board to a T-shirt. However what matters is to choose the right type of printing among different printing types. If you are looking for a printing partner to get your marketing print needs like hoardings, leaflets etc, then you can absolutely check out Foamex Hoarding Company today!