Today, customization has taken over the world like a storm. Never before was printing on objects in such high demand. Printing has become essential for branding but also for personalization, today, people order customised party favours, posters, t-shirts, signage, and glasses. The printing technology has made it easier and quicker for customers to get anything customized. Ultraviolet ink (UV ink) gets cured within seconds which has decreased the time taken to produce prints from days to hours.
There are several different printing techniques, but we will focus on the two most popular ones, Screen printing and UV printing. Before choosing a printing technique for your product, it is necessary to understand the benefits of each technique. Let’s start with Screen printing.
Screen Printing
It falls under the traditional printing style also known as analog method of printing. Screen printing has been used for many years and has become the most commonly used form of printing. In this process, a screen (or a stencil) is made of very thin mesh. The mesh is made of polyester or fabric, it is cut out in the design you want to be printed. Ink is passed through the mesh and applied onto the surface; different screens are used for different coloured inks to create the final design.
Screen printing is good for thick and flat surfaces like glass, wood, metals, fabric, etc. The print output has high vibrancy which makes the colours pop. If vibrancy is what you’re after, then screen printing is the better option. On the other hand, the initial setup cost for screen printing is high as multiple screens must be custom made to print the design. The high setup cost for screen printing is justified only for large print orders.
Digital Printing
Digital printing is very different to traditional printing methods where there is a requirement of a screen/ plate to transfer paint onto the product. In this method, the image is created on the computer and then directly printed onto the product. Digital printing is used for designs that require high precision and detail. This method produces sharp and clean prints on the material. Digital printing uses variable dots which give excellent details and smoother gradients. It is perfect for complex design and the print result is photographic.
Digital printing can produce prints with a vast colour array. It is ideal for small batch one-off printing needs like a party or a display at a fair. Since there is no pre-printing such as screen making process, it is easy to show a sample of the printed product to the clients. The costs of setting up are low which allows the user to print very small quantities. Irrespective of the quantity, the costs for every digital print in a batch remains the same. Therefore, Digital printing is not ideal for bulk print orders.
UV printing has widen the digital printing applications. It allows direct printing on much more materials such as glass, stone, leather, wood, metal, canvas, etc. The prints are more vibrant and durable, the designs don’t wash away easily.
Each printing technique has its pros and cons, but with the advancement of technology it has become easier for digital printers to overcome the gaps, making digital printing more lucrative. At Apache, our printers are designed to include the best technology in this field to make the printing process more efficient for our clients.
Apache Digital Printers
Apache UV printers are fitted with @Ricoh printheads which deliver extreme precision due to small drop size of 3pl. Double staggers are available for higher production speed.
If you’re thinking that digital printers are only good for flat surfaces, then you’ll be happy to hear that Apache AP-Gen6045i UV printer has a rotary attachment. This printer is used for curved surfaces like bottles, vase, perfumes, etc. There is also another feature which controls the rotation of the product while printing to ensure high precision on curved surfaces. Our printers are also efficient, the design of the printers enables it to save on ink consumption with the help of Ricoh print heads.
curved surfaces like bottles, vase, perfumes, etc. There is also another feature which controls the rotation of the product while printing to ensure high precision on curved surfaces. Our printers are also efficient, the design of the printers enables it to save on ink consumption with the help of Ricoh print heads.
Today customisation is in high demand, people prefer uniqueness, and the digital printers provide the best value for cost when it comes to small batch customisation orders. With a wide variety of applications, Apache printers can fulfil your printing needs in a short amount of time. Click on the link below to connect with us.
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