Comprehensive Introduction to Post Printing Process of Album Printing Factory

Comprehensive Introduction to Post Printing Process of Album Printing Factory

Post press processing technology refers to the treatment of printed products after completion. Surface processing is aimed at improving the appearance and quality of packaging, mainly including lamination, polishing UV、 Processing techniques such as oiling, embossing, creasing, calendering, hot stamping, embossing, punching, rounding, cracking, die-cutting, creasing, folding, and binding.

Film coating is a process of hot pressing or cold laminating transparent plastic film onto the surface of printed materials. Its effect is smoother and brighter, with more vivid and eye-catching graphic and text colors. The surface is smooth, shiny, waterproof, stain resistant, wear-resistant, folding resistant, and chemically resistant. Protects the appearance of various printed materials and improves their service life. Film coating can greatly compensate for the quality defects of printed products. Many apparent defects that occur during the printing process can be covered after film coating (especially after sub gloss film coating).

According to the process used, it can be divided into two types: instant coating and pre coating. According to the different film materials, it can be divided into two types: glossy film and matte film. Due to the non degradability of plastic film, it is difficult to recycle and easily causes pollution. Therefore, plastic coating process should be used with caution when it can replace glossy film. From the perspective of environmental protection, coating process belongs to non environmentally friendly printing technology.

Hot stamping technology, also known as hot press printing, is the process of making convex patterns or texts that need to be hot stamped, and using certain pressure and temperature to print various aluminum foil sheets onto the substrate, presenting a strong metallic light and giving the product a high-end texture. At the same time, due to its excellent physical and chemical properties, aluminum foil can play a role in protecting printed materials. Therefore, hot stamping technology is widely used in modern packaging printing. Hot stamping refers to the process of hot stamping text and patterns on printed materials such as colored foil. Common types include hot stamping, silver stamping, gold silver, laser gold, antique bronze gold, and many others

Usually, hot stamping or silver is done after gluing; The relief hot stamping process is a method of hot stamping that expresses a stronger metallic and three-dimensional feel through changes in the hot stamping plate. Through the concave and convex changes of relief patterns, the graphics and text present a metallic relief like texture, making the hot stamping graphics and text jump out of the plane and bring stronger visual impact. There are various effects of hot stamping, but according to the substrate of hot stamping, it can be classified into hot stamping paper, hot stamping velvet, hot stamping plastic, etc.

The UV polishing, oiling, and waxing process is a processing technique that enhances the high glossiness and dazzling texture of printed materials by locally applying UV varnish to the graphic and textual surfaces of paper, making the surface of printed materials appear to be coated with oil, also known as "oiling". Polishing is the process of applying or spraying a layer of colorless and transparent coating on the surface of printed materials, increasing their luster and providing waterproof and oil resistant properties to the packaging. The purpose of applying a layer of gloss or matte oil on the surface of printed materials is to protect them from water and scratches. Additionally, gloss oil can enhance the brightness of printed materials, while matte oil can make them more high-end and form a glossy film. Waxing is the process of applying hot melt wax onto packaging paper. Polishing includes comprehensive polishing, partial polishing, glossy polishing, matte (extinction) polishing, and special coating polishing.

Concave convex technology is the process of creating a three-dimensional effect on the surface of paper that is higher or lower than the plane of the paper through pre made carving models and pressure. Divided into single-layer concave convex and multi-layer concave convex, various embossed graphics and patterns display different shades of patterns, with a distinct relief effect, increasing the three-dimensional and artistic appeal of the printed matter.

Concave convex embossing, also known as embossing, is a process in which pressure is applied from the back of the paper to make the surface bulge, commonly known as "embossing", while pressure is applied from the front of the paper to make the surface concave, known as "embossing". It is a common technique in the surface post-processing of printed materials, mainly aimed at emphasizing a certain part of the overall design to highlight its important position.

The concave convex embossing process is an environmentally friendly technology, and its production process does not cause any pollution. The concave convex process is widely used in the market, ranging from high-end fashion products to business cards. It has become one of the most common techniques in the printing, packaging, and graphic design industries. This process first requires the production of a set of concave convex printing plates (male and female molds) based on the designed graphics, using the high pressure of a convex plate press to press out three-dimensional graphics on already printed partial graphics or in blank spaces, giving the printed products a three-dimensional effect and rich layers in structure, adding more and stronger artistic value. Common printed materials include exquisite book and brochure covers, gift packaging, advertising flyers, posters, handbags, cosmetic outer boxes, envelopes and letters, children's calligraphy and painting books, etc. Concave convex embossing is also widely used in paper surface processing. Many manufacturers at home and abroad produce professional machines for paper processing, with diverse patterns and special artistic effects.

Relief embossing was introduced with the emergence of laser engraving technology, and due to its three-dimensional visual effect, the visual effect of printed products has been improved. Before using the relief embossing technique, the thickness and toughness of the paper should be considered first. This is because there needs to be a certain gap between the deepest and shallowest parts of the relief embossing to achieve a three-dimensional relief effect. Therefore, the weight of paper generally needs to be above 220g/m2, and the higher the toughness, the better

The types of concave convex are further divided into plain convex, which refers to the convex area and the absence of any printed patterns around it. Although the requirements for paper are not too high, paper with long fibers and high toughness is more suitable for plain convex impact; Seal inscription protrusion refers to leaving blank areas during printing, and then striking protrusions after printing; Oil painting convexity is a perfect combination and complementarity of various printing techniques and embossing techniques, which can produce printing works similar to replicating exquisite oil paintings; Engraving convex, can produce concave convex printing plates with different thicknesses or directions mainly based on lines, so that the image after embossing presents the engraving effect; Multiple convexity is achieved by laser engraving copper plates, with a large difference in upward and downward movement between the concave and convex surfaces; Hot stamping convex is a method of making relief hot stamping plates, which involves striking convex and hot stamping in one go. The height of the protrusion needs to consider the toughness of the paper and the impact strength that the gold foil can withstand

Die cutting indentation, also known as die-cutting forming, knife fastening, etc., is a process that can make printed or other paper products into die-cutting plates according to pre designed graphics for cutting. The paper is rolled into a certain shape on the die-cutting machine, so that the shape of the printed product is no longer limited to straight edges and right angles, and can also be used for hollow decoration.

The freezing point snowflake effect is an effect formed by ink screen printing on gold card paper, silver card paper, laser card paper, PVC and other substrates, which is wrinkled by UV light irradiation and cured by UV light, resulting in a fine sand texture and delicate hand feel on the surface of the printed product. Due to its appearance as a thin layer of snow or ice on the printed surface, it is commonly referred to as "snowflake" (with larger patterns) or "freezing point" (with smaller patterns) in the industry. This technique has the characteristics of fine patterns, strong three-dimensional sense, luxury and elegance visually, and is widely used in tobacco and alcohol box calendars, gift box packaging or other exquisite printed products.

Reverse sanding technology is a new type of printing process that has emerged in the past year or two. It requires several special primer or gloss treatments to complete; Some people also refer to it as the reverse polishing process, viewing it as a new technique for localized polishing. Creating two completely different gloss effects on the surface of the printed product, namely local high gloss and local frosted low gloss areas, achieves a high contrast effect in the local image, embellishing and highlighting the glossy mirror like graphics and text.

Laser transfer technology has dazzling visual effects and can effectively improve the quality of printed materials. This technology can print full or partial transparent laser effects on smooth surface ordinary paper, changing the previous processing methods that could only use laser paper printing or composite proprietary laser films on the paper surface to show laser effects. It can achieve flexible and varied laser patterns.

Laser engraving technology utilizes numerical control technology and laser as the processing medium to instantly melt and vaporize the processed material under laser irradiation, resulting in physical deformation without contact with the material surface, unaffected by mechanical movement, surface deformation, or the elasticity or flexibility of the material. This facilitates the engraving and processing of many materials. For example, organic glass, wood products, leather, fabric, plastic, resin, spray metal, artificial stone, PVC board, printing rubber plate, two-color board, synthetic crystal, cardboard, density board, marble, jade, etc. This process is inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and fast. It can be used to engrave text or patterns on the cover of hardcover books. The characters or textures carved using laser technology have no scratches, and the surface of the object is smooth and not easily worn.

The flocking process is to first treat the surface of the object that needs to be flocked, then apply glue, and use a flocking machine to spray the fluff onto the adhesive layer, followed by drying and finally removing the floating fluff. Materials that can be used for flocking include fabrics, ceramics, plastics, metals, etc. After flocking, the book cover has a strong sense of three dimensionality, a soft touch, luxury and nobility, no toxicity or odor, insulation and moisture resistance, no shedding, friction resistance, and is flat and seamless, suitable for collector's edition hardcover books. This technique is also applicable to craft gifts, craft calligraphy and painting artificial flowers, packaging industry, jewelry boxes, glasses boxes, marriage certificates, high-end certificate skins, luggage, etc.

Embroidery technique is the use of machines or manual embroidery. In China, there are traditional handmade silk thread embroidery and sewing machine embroidery, as well as shuttle type automatic embroidery machines and multi head electronic embroidery machines; In countries such as Europe, America, and Japan, machine embroidery is mainly done using automatic embroidery machines. Machine embroidery products are divided into two categories: daily necessities and appreciation products, and are also used in book binding. It has the characteristics of fast production speed, low cost, strong practicality, multiple colors and varieties, diverse needlework, novel patterns, and rich colors. Some machine embroidery is also supplemented with printing, spray painting and other techniques, which not only saves labor but also achieves good artistic effects.

The powder spreading process is a decoration process that is carried out on top of a pre applied colorless UV cover before the bottom layer is dry. In addition, multiple composite processes such as pasting decorations can also be carried out. In short, as long as it conforms to the characteristics of the book itself and plays a role in improving decoration, it can be applied to design.

Comprehensive Introduction to Post Printing Process of Album Printing Factory