Modern printing: what it is and its types. What is printing? Printing basic concepts

Among the various services offered to the population is printing - the production of a variety of printed products. But not everyone understands the importance of this type of activity.

The fairly common word “printing” evokes in different people an association with colorful posters or posters, or, in extreme cases, with a publishing house that produces a book. Those who are directly connected with it are far from indifferent. For them, printing is one of the main pillars on which the fame of the enterprise rests. Because maintaining not only your name, but also the image of the company as a whole depends on advertising printing products. And therefore for them this term has a slightly different meaning. According to its capabilities, it can satisfy the demand of any client: not only an individual, but also a large enterprise and organization that needs printed products.

Printing and its importance for advertisers

Modern printing is one of the industrial sectors that is engaged in the reproduction of printed material, as well as the production of books and magazines, newspapers, labels and packaging products. And the services offered in the form of releasing a variety of products are in demand among advertisers. Therefore, today printing is an opportunity to satisfy the demand of any client.

For many companies, paper business cards, various posters, and various advertising products that are in demand are a way to attract the attention of consumers. Therefore, for them, printing is an opportunity to get the right product according to their requests and needs; it becomes an integral part of their professional activities.

The role of design in printed products

In printing products, the main place is occupied by printing design, because the future of organizations in the distribution of goods depends on it. For people, for example, this is simply a colorfully designed invitation that is pleasant to hold in their hands, which lifts their spirits. Specialists working in this field provide a full range of services designed for any consumer audience. Because the printing design of any execution project carries a semantic load and plays the role of a motivating factor to purchase a product or service.

The importance of printing in people's lives

The term “printing” itself is a concept of a generalized meaning; it can be attributed both to a separate area of production of printed materials, and to goods produced by printing. But this does not change the meaning. And it all depends on the different areas of activity of the printing industry, as well as on the number of printing products that are used for various purposes.

The concept of "operational printing" is the release and production of a variety of printed products. It implies a small circulation of products in a very short time with the transfer of different colors of ink on the carrier and includes several processes of technology associated with the concept of “on-line printing”.

Printing from a finished product mockup is operational printing. And it can be offset and digital. The need for rapid printing arises in a variety of situations, for example, when additional runs of a finished product are required, or when there is a need to create a new one. also apply to online printing.

Advertising printing is the engine of progress

We inevitably see advertising products every day and everywhere: in everyday life, squares and parks, street avenues, offices. Accordingly, promotional products produced by the printing house are very wide in terms of assortment. Its basis is the idea, the level of design skills and high-quality printing. Therefore, the production of booklets, catalogs and posters requires careful preparation with the development of unique ideas, slogans and uniform styles.

What do printing services include?

Products of this type of printing include:

Various in format and quality of material used, which are the cheapest media in this area.
Calendars and posters differ only in size, but carry a wealth of information about the products.
Catalogs and brochures are designed mainly for the target audience with many color illustrations.
stickers are the expression of the company's face, protection against counterfeits and carrying information about them.
Notepads and various types of notebooks, postcards, serve as reminders and are excellent promotional material.

Surely many who have had to order printed products at least once in their lives have wondered how the two concepts differ - printing and typography.

Under the concept "printing" understand the industry that deals with the reproduction of printed materials.

There are several types of printing:

Deep;
Flat;
Stencil;
High.

In addition, there are different printing methods, which are divided into:

Digital printing;
Offset printing;
Digital offset printing;
Silkscreen printing;
Embossing;
Sublimation;
Flexography.

If speak about printing houses, then we are talking about a printing production enterprise. As a rule, everything necessary to send a print order is prepared there, the image is applied to the media, the circulation is printed, and printed products are processed.

Today, all over the world, both large printing houses and small organizations provide their services for the creation of printed products. Regardless of their size, they can specialize in all printing methods and types of printed products, that is, be universal, or in just one thing.

How does the printing house work?

This is a very complex technological process, so errors in operation can be irreparable or unprofitable for the enterprise. Fortunately, since the advent of computers and their stronghold in human life, the work process has become much easier, especially when it comes to the safety of information and images. After all, now all electronic versions of products can always be found in the data storage system.

Today, there are many companies that manufacture or supply server systems, computer equipment and comprehensive IT solutions for corporate enterprises, government agencies, and government agencies. Among them, the ASKOD company received a special place and recognition from customers.

Why is it so difficult to organize the process of creating printed products, and what is important to take into account at each stage of the work?

As a rule, all printing houses operate according to the same principle. Work on an order is divided into several stages, for each of which one or another employee, or a group of specialists, if necessary, is responsible.

Purchasing and delivering all the necessary consumables, processing them, organizing printing processes - all this requires a lot of effort and time. In addition, in order to start the workflow itself, it is necessary to pay close attention to synchronizing the actions of all printing house employees.
Like many other organizations, the printing house begins its work by searching for clients who want to order printed products, with whom they still need to agree on the type of service, cost and timing.

After all the nuances of future cooperation between the two parties have been agreed upon, the order is sent to the printing house for pre-press preparation. Very often the client has no idea what exactly he would like to receive and what it will look like. Here everything depends on the typography designer, who will come up with or select a design that meets the customer’s requirements and make a layout. After the customer approves the layout, the files are processed, after which printed forms are produced from them.

Next, the order goes to the printing shop, where paper is already cut for it, technical specifications are drawn up, which will accompany this order until it is completely manufactured. Only at this stage can the printing house printer begin work. As practice shows, finding a true specialist in this field is not so easy.

The final stage of order preparation takes place in the finishing shop , where the completed form goes.

As you can see, printing and typography are two closely related concepts, the meaning of which is quite easy to understand.

These are products produced by printing houses as a result of the production technological chain of the printing process: product design, pre-press preparation, post-press and finishing work.

To receive quality printing products, requires high qualifications and experience of many people, high-quality materials, modern equipment, as well as coordinated work of all departments whose goal is prompt production printing products high quality.

Modern printing houses are divided into two large groups. As a rule, large printing houses print products in large circulations (newspapers, magazines, etc.), while online printing salons offer urgent printing of small runs of printed products, usually of an advertising nature.

3. Promotional Products . This group of products is perhaps the most numerous in terms of the types of advertising printed products offered: these are both, and, leaflets with and without, and posters, etc. can also be classified as advertising printed materials that work directly at the point of sale and stimulate the buyer to purchase a product. Advertising products are the most diverse products in their implementation, because they have a very difficult task - to attract the attention of a potential client, interest him, and convey information about the product and service offered. Therefore, advertising specialists are forced to constantly come up with new types of advertising products that can interest and surprise potential clients of the company and attract their attention. Printing houses, in order to produce competitive advertising products, have to look for ways and possibilities to bring the most unusual design ideas to life.

4. Calendar products. - the most multifunctional. Calendars serve a variety of functions: time management and business planning, a wonderful office decoration, a wonderful gift and an effective advertising medium. No wonder the calendar is a very popular printing product. For 16 years, both individual orders and wholesale have been one of the leading activities of our company. We know the intricacies of the process, so we offer you the production of all types of calendars: desk calendars, the most popular calendars for the office - convenient and attractive and pyramid calendars, and, of course, our faithful little helpers -. We produce timesheets necessary for accountants, calendars for gardeners and gardeners, indicating all fasts and holidays. We also produce non-standard “image” calendars using die-cut forms and exclusive finishing.

PRINTING: BASIC CONCEPTS

What is printing?

As a rule, many people consider printing to be a branch of the production of printed products. Others call printing all the products produced by modern printing houses. In principle, both are right.

Printing is a general concept for both various areas of the printing industry and the huge variety of printing products that we use every day for a variety of purposes. We come across printing every day: at home, on the street, and in the office. The range of printing products produced by modern printing houses is incredibly wide: these are leaflets and booklets, books, magazines and newspapers, posters and posters, brochures and catalogues, postcards and invitations, packaging, labels, stickers, stickers and even ballots for elections to government bodies. . Without printing and printed products, in our time it is impossible for a business to exist, no matter what field it belongs to.

According to the definition, printing is the process of repeatedly obtaining an image (replicating it) on a printed material by transferring paint from any medium. And this process of reproducing printed products (in other words, printing or printing) is carried out by printing enterprises - printing houses.

Benefits of digital printing

Digital printing is one of the most popular modern printing methods in the printing industry. Using this printing method, it is possible to print documents directly from a computer, without additional pre-press processes. This significantly saves time in the printing production process.

Digital printing is a technology for producing prints using a variable printing plate. Changes in the printing press are controlled at every stage by the publishing system computer. Printing small runs using digital printing is very profitable and cost-effective due to savings on expensive pre-press operations.

Digital printing makes it possible to produce small runs of printed products and provide customers with a wide range of printing services for the production of one or another type of printed products. The quality of the prints is no lower than in offset printing, but at the same time, when using the digital printing method, it becomes possible to personalize the prints and quickly change text or images. Not only the cost of pre-press preparation is significantly reduced, because... printing plates and films are not produced, but there is also a risk of loss of quality at these stages of printing. Digital printing is characterized by the use of any medium - paper, self-adhesive backing.

Using digital printing, you can produce business cards, leaflets, booklets, calendars of various types, forms, self-copying documents, flyers, wobblers, stickers and much more. Speaking about equipment for digital printing, it can be noted that the market of offered printing equipment for digital printing is currently rich in various equipment (digital printing machines and printing systems for industrial printing houses, copiers, printers). Digital printing is widely used for printing short-run advertising or commercial publications, which may be subject to changes during the production process, even after each copy is printed.

Based on all of the above, the following advantages of digital printing over offset printing can be identified.

Using the digital printing method makes it possible to preview a copy or print a trial version of future products before the printing process itself. This will help you evaluate the quality and design of the products in advance and make the required changes in a timely manner.
Digital printing allows you to print small runs (up to one copy) in the shortest possible time (up to several minutes) without significant impact.
Digital printing does not require pre-press preparation in the form of production of printing plates and films. Thus, the printing process itself using the digital method becomes inexpensive and the risk of loss of image quality during the pre-press process is reduced.
Digital printing products are characterized by high image quality. A computer controls the amount of toner used to create the colors in an image, and precise color registration eliminates the need to overlay colors to hide defects—a feature unique to digital printing.
Digital printing allows you to personalize data and enter numbering, making changes after printing each print.

Production of printed products

The quality of advertising printing consists of three components - the idea, the level of design and the quality of printing. Therefore, with the right approach, work on an advertising brochure, catalog, or poster should begin with the development of an original idea, slogan, and unified style. After which, the designer’s task is to find the most optimal and accurate way to implement it (be it photography, three-dimensional images, hiring an artist, etc.). And only at the final stage is the selection of a printing house carried out in accordance with the design features and printing requirements.

The actual cycle of production of printed materials (printing) occurs in three stages.

Preparing the finished layout for printing
Seal
Post-press processing

The first stage is preparing the layout for printing: checking the finished layout, bringing the layout to the requirements for the production of a particular type of printed product, assembling the imposition strips (distributing the layout strips in a special way for subsequent post-printing processing), etc. The second stage is the actual printing process itself. Oddly enough, in most cases this stage takes the least time in the entire production cycle and is mainly determined by the technical characteristics and condition of the printing machine. Well, the last, third, stage of production of printed products is post-printing processing. This includes many types of processes to achieve the desired appearance of printed products. Trimming the printed sheet, folding (for booklets), stitching (for catalogs, magazines), bookbinding (folders, diplomas, diaries), die-cutting, etc. High-quality post-printing processing gives the product the individuality conceived by the designers, and distinguishes the finished product from others. Any type of printed product requires post-printing processing, at least cutting. In some cases, the time required for post-printing processing in the manufacture of a given product can be several times greater than the time spent on printing and even on developing and preparing the layout.

Paper formats and sizes

Paper size is the standardized size of a paper sheet. Different countries have adopted different formats as standard at different times. Currently, two systems dominate: the international standard (A4 and related) and the North American one. The international standard for paper formats, ISO 216, is based on a paper sheet having an area of 1 m². The standard has been adopted by all countries except the United States and Canada. In Mexico and the Philippines, despite the adoption of an international standard, the American Letter format is still widely used. All ISO paper sizes have the same aspect ratio, which is the square root of two, which is approximately 1:1.41. The most widely known ISO standard format is A4. This standard also assumes three series of formats - A, B and C.

Serie A	Size	Serie B	Size	Series C	Size
A0	1189x841 mm	B0	1000x1414mm	C0	1297x917mm
A1	841x594 mm	B1	707x1000mm	C1	917x648mm
A2	594x420 mm	B2	500x707mm	C2	648x458mm
A3	420x297 mm	B3	353x500mm	C3	458x324mm
A4	297x210 mm	B4	250x353mm	C4	324x229mm
A5	210x148 mm	B5	176x250mm	C5	229x162mm
A6	148x105 mm	B6	125x176mm	C6	162x114mm
A7	105x74 mm	B7	88x125mm	C7	114x81mm
A8	74x52 mm	B8	88x62mm	C8	81x57mm

Serie A

The largest standard size, A0, has an area of one square meter. The long side of the sheet has a length equal to the fourth root of two, which is approximately 1.189 m, the length of the short side is the inverse of this value, approximately 0.841 m, the product of these two lengths gives an area of 1 m². Size A1 is obtained by cutting sheet A0 along the short side into two equal parts, resulting in the same aspect ratio. This allows one standard paper size to be produced from another, which was not possible with traditional sizes. Preserving the aspect ratio also means that when scaling an image from one format to another, the proportions of the image are preserved. A1 format is A0 cut in half. In other words, the height of A1 = the width of A0, the width of A1 = half the height of A0. All formats smaller than A1 are obtained in the same way. If you cut the format An parallel to its short side into two equal parts, you get the format A(n+1). Standard values for the heights and widths of paper formats are considered to be rounded to the nearest whole value in millimeters.

Serie B

In addition to the A series of formats, there are also less common B series formats. The area of the B series sheets is the geometric average of the two subsequent A series sheets. For example, B1 is between A0 and A1 in size, with an area of 0.71 m². As a result, B0 has dimensions of 1000x1414 mm. Series B is almost never used in the office, but has a number of special applications, for example, many posters are published in these formats, B5 is often used for books, and these formats are also used for envelopes and passports.

Series C

Series C is used for envelopes only and is defined in ISO 269. The area of series C sheets is equal to the geometric average of series A and B sheets of the same number. For example, the area of C4 is the geometric average of the area of sheets A4 and B4, with C4 slightly larger than A4 and B4 slightly larger than C4. The practical meaning of this is that an A4 sheet can be placed in a C4 envelope, and a C4 envelope can be placed in a thick B4 envelope.

Types of printing products

Printed products are the main means of mass information and communication between people, a powerful tool for promoting political and scientific knowledge, a means of political struggle and expression of public opinion, as well as the custodian of the spiritual values of all centuries and all peoples. Currently produced printed products are very diverse in their type, specific purpose, publication time, and technical design. Listed below are the currently most popular types of printed products.

Form
Self-copying forms
Leaflet
Booklet
Brochure
Calendar
Business card
Folder
Notebook
Envelope
Kubarik
Label
Label

Form

A paper sheet, usually in A4 format or less, containing elements of corporate identity or information of a permanent nature (invoices, acts, etc.), is intended for subsequent filling out.

Self-copying forms

Several sheets of special carbon copy paper, fastened on one side with a special glue that allows you to easily separate the sheets.

Leaflet

A sheet of paper, usually A4 size, printed on one or both sides, in one or more colors, with advertising or information content. Assumes a slightly higher quality of printing than that of the form.

Booklet

Non-periodic sheet publication in the form of one sheet of printed material, folded (folded) into 2 or more folds.

Brochure

Non-periodical text book publication of more than 4 pages, connected together using glue, spring, sewing with a paper clip or thread.

Calendar

A printed publication that must include a calendar grid. There are calendars: pocket, quarterly, desk calendars on a crossbar, "house" and "leaf house" calendars.

Business card

A piece of thick paper or cardboard, usually 50x90 mm in size (sometimes in other formats), containing information about a person or company.

Folder

A product made of thick paper, cardboard or polymer, designed to hold a small number of sheets of paper. Mainly used as an element of corporate identity. There are several types: one-piece (made from a whole sheet of material), with glued pockets (the flap pocket is made from a separate sheet of material and then glued to the “crusts”), with a locking fastening (the folder can be laid out flat and then assembled again without tearing it apart), with adhesive bonding.

Notebook

A stack of paper, either blank or with corporate identity elements applied, with a cover, stitched or glued at the end.

Envelope

One of the types of corporate identity media. There is a wide variety of types of envelopes.

Kubarik

A small stack of paper, glued on one side for ease of tearing. Used for operational records. As a rule, it carries elements of corporate identity.

Label

A small sheet of special (label) paper containing information about a product or product. Involves an adhesive fastening method.

Label

A small piece of cardboard containing information about a product or product and accompanying it, suggesting a hinged mounting method.

Post-press processing

Post-press processing refers to all operations with printed products that are performed after the printed edition comes out of the printing machine, and until the circulation is transferred to the customer. In other words, post-printing processing is the final stage in the production of printed products. Some types of post-printing processing are carried out only for certain types of printed products, and some - for all at once. So, for example, lamination is possible only for paper products, but die-cutting is possible for all types, including plastic products. Listed below are the main types of post-press processing in digital printing.

Sheet cutting
Creasing
Folding
Stitching
Foiling
Rounding corners
Die cutting
Punching
Lamination

Sheet cutting

The final size of the printed sheet in printing is formed using sheet cutting - a post-printing stage that cannot be avoided by any type of printed product due to a number of technological limitations that arise when printing both offset and digitally.

The finished sheets are stacked and cut on each side - this removes the white margins (the so-called unprinted area) and gives the sheets the exact dimensions and desired shape. This stage of post-printing processing is called trimming. Often, several future copies of printed products are located on one sheet (for example, this is how business cards are printed), and after printing they are also separated using sheet cutting - this will be called cutting.

As for models of brochures, catalogs and other printing that do not use spring binding, they are cut after completing all technological operations, including interlacing sheets. This is due to the fact that this results in a perfectly accurate sheet size and a neat, even cut of the finished printed product.

Creasing

A type of post-printing processing of printed products, in which a line in the form of a path pressed into the paper is marked on paper or cardboard at the future fold. With the help of creasing, paper products more easily take on the required shape, acquire additional strength at the bend points and avoid cracking of both the paper and the ink layer.

Creasing is performed on special creasing machines or using dull knives. After creasing, the products are folded along these lines. Creasing is used mainly for cardboard and all types of paper whose density exceeds 175 g/m². It is also used on laminated paper surfaces and where there is a continuous seal on the fold. In this case, the number of fold lines is not limited.

Folding

Folding is the application of fold lines to paper without preliminary pressing with a blunt knife and can be done either manually or using special equipment. The manual version is used when preparing small runs. Folding is performed on medium-weight papers (up to 150 g/m²), but if folding is necessary for paper over 170 g/m² or cardboard, a creasing operation is necessary, this will help maintain the good appearance of the product on the fold.

Folding allows you to design the final appearance of the finished product. These can be booklets, brochures, catalogs, all kinds of advertising products, drawings and much more. The simplest example of folding is an advertising leaflet folded at random.

Stitching

Booklet stitching is a technological process as a result of which a certain number of sheets are combined into a notebook, the so-called brochure. A brochure is usually called a publication of more than 4 interconnected pages. The number of sheets in the product is limited by the selected binding method and the purposes of the brochure itself. Stitching is used for printed products such as notepads, brochures, catalogs, notebooks, etc. There are three main types of stitching: staple binding (paper clip), adhesive seamless binding (hot glue) and coiling on a spring.

Staple binding is typically used for brochures, catalogs and magazines. As a rule, no more than 40 sheets are fastened in this way. If the printed publication has more sheets, then you need to use metal springs or hot melt adhesive (KBS). Depending on the design, format and number of sheets per block, 1, 2 or more staples may be used. Stitching can also be done with silk or polyamide thread and used as an element for multi-page publications such as books.

With adhesive seamless fastening, the elements of the book block are fastened with KBS glue along the spine. Using KBS, it is possible to staple products whose block consists of paper with a density of no more than 170 g/m², the spine thickness is up to 3 cm. This method of binding is usually used for products that can no longer be stapled due to the large number of pages and a thick cover. As a rule, these are various multi-page products: catalogues, magazines, books. Often, a similar method of binding is used when preparing annual reports, essays, and term papers. The binding design can be made according to the customer's wishes.

Very often, stitching is done using springs (combs). This method is most often used for fastening notebooks and notebooks, but it is also used for catalogues, abstracts, tablets, etc. The printed sheets of the block and cover are perforated (holes are punched along the edge) and fastened with a spring. You can fasten a block up to 100 sheets thick of 80 g/m² offset paper (depending on the diameter of the spring itself). The advantages of such binding are that the pages and covers in publications can be quickly replaced if necessary. Depending on the volume and purpose of the product, either a metal or plastic spring can be used. A metal spring looks less presentable and impressive, but its advantage is the strength and reliability of the fastening. A plastic spring has a more attractive appearance, it is practical and easy to use, but under any load (for example, a fall), the spring can damage bound sheets of paper with its sharp edge.

Foiling

Foiling or foil stamping is the operation of applying shiny metallic foil in the form of individual letters or specific areas. This gives the effect of silvering or gilding, but foil of a different color can be used - red, green, blue, yellow, etc. Embossing is carried out using manual, semi-automatic and automatic presses for embossing under high temperature or in a cold way.

Foil stamping allows you to give the finished product a special attractiveness and a more expensive and elegant appearance. The embossing process is expensive, but very effective, which is why many customers prefer this finishing method. Embossing on designer papers and plastic looks very interesting.

Rounding corners

Rounding corners used in the production of small format publications to make the corners more round, which do not bend like sharp ones and do not break. In addition, after rounding the corners, the product acquires a more neat appearance.

Rounding corners is used for calendars, business cards, notepads, etc., and can be done not only on paper products, but also on plastic products (badges, tags), as well as on any other type of printed products. Depending on the size of the product and the equipment used, corners are rounded with a different radius (standard value is 6.38 mm). Rounding corners does not spoil the image, does not affect the structure of the material, and is a purely aesthetic stage in the processing of printed products.

Die cutting

Die-cutting (cutting) is used to give the finished image the required shape, other than rectangular. Die-cutting equipment allows, when using a press from a single sheet of cardboard, paper, plastic or leather, to obtain a shape of any complexity, ready for use or requiring subsequent assembly. Used for the manufacture of folders, boxes, wobblers, shelf talkers, and any printed products of non-standard shape. The simplest example of using rounding corners is a 100x70 mm pocket calendar.

Punching

Perforation is a set of holes arranged in a line in sheet or roll material, ensuring easy and accurate tearing of the material along this line. It is created using special perforation knives.

Perforation is used in the manufacture of various printed products: tear-off calendars, notepads, invitations, tickets, coupons, postage stamps, stickers, spring notepads, diaries with tear-off corners. The choice of hole shape when perforating: square or round holes depends on the overall style of the product. In addition, perforation is often used instead of creasing. Thanks to perforation, the folding of products made from high-density materials is neat and the paper does not break. As an example of the use of perforation, we can consider tickets for a concert with a detachable “Control” part.

Lamination

The process of covering images with a special transparent glossy or matte film with a thickness of 80 to 250 microns on the front side or on both sides of the image. This processing method allows you to protect the image from external mechanical, water, chemical, temperature influences, increase the image density and give an attractive appearance.

Glossy films significantly improve the image, perfectly convey colors, make colors contrasting, rich, rich and bright. Finishing with a glossy film is similar in visual effect to UV varnishing, but provides more reliable protection of the publication from external influences (especially in places of bending, cutting and creasing). The disadvantages of glossy films include the fact that in strong lighting, glare appears on the laminated surface, making it difficult to perceive small details and text information.

Matte films eliminate the occurrence of such glare, give special depth and velvety to the design, and allow you to make inscriptions on the surface of the finished publication. Matte film coating looks very respectable and is most suitable for decorating expensive advertising and representative products.

Lamination of printed products is carried out using special equipment - laminators. Based on the method of film attachment, it is customary to distinguish between hot and cold lamination. When hot, the printed publication along with the film is rolled between rollers heated to the required temperature. The heating strength is determined based on the characteristics of the materials used. With this method, an increase in temperature leads to activation of the adhesive layer, and the pressure exerted by the rollers promotes the attachment (pressing) of the film to the product. Cold lamination uses films with an adhesive system that responds only to pressure. This method is justified for materials that are particularly sensitive to temperature.

Literally translated, polygraphy means “to write a lot.” This is one of the industries whose functions are the creation and replication of printed publications. These include both sheet products and multi-page products. What is printing today? Technological processes never cease to improve. Now printing is carried out not only on paper and cardboard, but also on fabric, glass, plastic and other materials. It has become possible to use relief embossing to design cards and invitations. With the help of printing you can make unique souvenirs, surprise and delight your friends and loved ones.

Peculiarities

Printing can be done in different ways. This depends on the presence of text or graphic elements, the quality and specifics of the materials. Paper, for example, can be glossy and rough, and cardboard of a special density is chosen to create packaging or POS materials. The compatibility of coloring substances with them is important. What is ink in printing? This is a specific composition with varying degrees of viscosity and fluidity, including a pigment of a certain color and additional components.

Modern printing houses have learned to add capsules with aromatic oils to paint. This effect is often used in perfume booklets. Another new technology in printing is obtaining three-dimensional images. This stereo effect consists of printing two images on one plane. The combination of layers of paint creates a feeling of volume when viewing a picture.

Modern printing

Printing processes have become much easier since the advent of computers. Previously, there were only two printing methods (high and intaglio), there were many nuances and strict requirements for materials, and long preparation times. Later, an additional type appeared - offset printing, but even here replication took a lot of time, and the required number of copies significantly affected the cost of publications.

In modern realities, there is digital printing: fast and relatively cheap. Now it is possible to combine pre-press preparation and circulation creation into one process. Printing houses and publishing houses are engaged in printing - not only large concerns, but also small firms located in the same office premises. Customers now include not only legal entities, but also private individuals.

Promotional Products

Certain types of printing products are distinguished based on various characteristics. Its main classification is related to its purpose. Printed publications can be made as advertising - for a company, individual entrepreneur, corporation or product. For example, an organization’s brochure, business card, catalog. Some leaflets or flyers announce an upcoming event - another advertising option. To create a layout for such publications, they turn to a specialist, a printing designer. He pays attention to the color scheme and arrangement of elements. As a rule, bright, contrasting colors and fonts are used for advertising products.

When the layout is completely ready, the exact dimensions are calculated (taking into account fold lines, bleeds), it is sent to a printing and printing company. What are representative products? It refers to forms with the logo and details of the organization, as well as envelopes, notepads, and business cards. Their function is not so much advertising as informational, providing the interested party with brief information about the company, creating a certain image.

Volumetric editions

Book and magazine products are also published for informational purposes, but are intended not only for partners and employees of the company, but also for ordinary readers. Publishing houses, universal or specialized, handle the printing of books.

The draft of the future book is agreed upon with the author. The publishing house is responsible for any additions or design changes. Pre-press preparation of the publication includes editorial processing of the text, selection of illustrative material, and layout layout. This is followed by the testing and replication stage. Then the book is enclosed in a cover (or binding) and fastened in a certain way (with glue, paper clips or sewing). These printing processes are carried out in a printing house.

Wedding printing

Recently, printed materials have begun to be used as an additional element of room decoration for festive events. Wedding printing is especially popular. It helps create a festive atmosphere, set guests and newlyweds in the right mood, and notify about the upcoming celebration. This includes, firstly, invitations. The newlyweds choose in advance the color (one or several) in which the event will be held. Invitations for guests are issued in appropriate colors. This could be a background, font, small illustrations or ornaments. Most often, digital printing is used for such purposes. Cardboard is suitable as a material; the use of embossing would be an excellent solution.

Printing is also used to design seating plans, wedding album covers, and champagne bottle labels. It is worth noting that design elements must be repeated on all items and be recognizable. The font style and selected tones should be the same. A pleasant surprise for the invitees will be calendars placed in an envelope along with the invitation with a photo of the newlyweds and an indication of the wedding date.

For other events

You can also turn to the printing center for services to create a unique gift for the anniversary or birthday of a loved one.

This could be a photobook - a small printed publication containing mainly images from a personal archive, with a small addition in the form of texts (congratulations, wishes, names and dates). It is carried out on high-density material. The photo book format is selected from those provided by the printing house. The creation of a layout is entrusted to a professional designer (with the transfer of all necessary materials to him), another option is carried out by the customer himself in certain programs. The finished version in the required format is sent to the company’s email address.

Posters and greeting cards with unique designs are also popular. You can put photographs, beautiful poems or congratulations in prose in them.

Post-press processing

What is the final stage of publication preparation in printing? This is the stage at which sheet fastening, creasing, trimming, perforating and other operations are performed. With their help, the object acquires its finished appearance. Most operations require specialized equipment, which is available in full-fledged printing houses, such as Poligrafiya LLC.

This technique requires constant maintenance. These are expensive devices that can only be operated by qualified specialists.