Mechanical Printing

Michael Chidgzey
 Letter Press
• Letterpress printing is a term for therelief printing of text and image using a
press with a “type-high bed” printing press and movable type, in which a
reversed, raised surface is inked and then pressed into a sheet of paper to
obtain a positive right-reading image. It was the normal form of printing text
from the invention by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century until the
19th century and remained in wide use for books and other uses until the
second half of the 20th century. In addition to the direct impression of inked
movable type onto paper or another receptive surface, the term Letterpress
can also refer to the direct impression of inked printmaking blocks such as
photo-etched zinc “cuts”, linoleum blocks, wood engravings, etc., using such
a press. Citiation needed in yhe 21st century, commercial Letterpress has
been received by the use of ‘water-wash’ photopolymer plates which are
adhered to a near-type-base to produce a relief printing surface typically
from digitally-rendered art and typography.
 Gravure
• Diagram of rotogravure process rotogravure is a type of intaglio
printing process, that is, it involves engraving the image onto an
image carrier. In gravure printing, the image is engraved onto a
copper cylinder because, life offset and flexography, it uses a rotary
printing press. The vast majority of gravure presses print on rolls of
paper, rather that sheet of paper. (Sheetfed gravure is a small,
specialty market). Rotary gravure presses are fastest and widest
presses in operation, printing everything from narrow labels to 12ft-
wide rolls of vinyl flooring. Additional operations may be inline with a
gravure press, such as saddle stitching facilities for
magazine/brochure work. Once a staple of newspaper photo
features, the rotogravure process is still used for commercial printing
of magazines, postcards, and corrugated product packaging.
 Screen Printing
• Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh
to support an ink-blocking stencil. The attached stencil forms
open areas of mesh that transfer ink as a sharp-edged image
onto a substrate. A roller or squeegee is moved across the
screen stencil, forcing or pumping ink past the threads of the
woven mesh in the open areas. Screen printing is also a stencil
method or print making in which a design is imposed on a
screen of silk or other fine mesh, with blank areas coated with
an impermeable substance, and ink is forced through the mesh
onto the printing surface. It is also known as Screen Printing,
silkscreen, seriography, and serigraph.
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