Letterpress
Printing is one of the oldest printing techniques in use since the 13th
century. Johann Guttenberg is known to have introduced printing from
individually-cast, movable type-reusable letters set together in a frame
in the 14th century.Also known as Typographic Printing, this commercial printing technique, includes production of many copies of an image by repeated direct impression of an inked, raised surface against sheets or a continuous roll of paper.
Letterpress Printing Process
The process involves printing images by the "relief" type printing plates where the image or printing areas are raised above the non-printing areas. Ink is applied on the rollers, which further pass it onto a separate ink-bed where a fresh film is picked for the following sheet of paper. A sheet of paper is rapidly pressed onto a type and swung back again and finally removed, followed by insertion of a new sheet/roll of paper.
Type of Letterpress Printing Machine
- Flat bed cylinder Machines
- Rotary letterpress printing machines
Letter Press printing is still used in commercial operation and specialty operations including imprinting, stamping, die-cutting, numbering etc. This printing is widely used to manufacture high quality self adhesive labels in shorter time. Other applications of this type of printing include:
- Business Cards
- Company Letterhead
- Proofs
- Billheads
- Forms
- Posters
- Embossing
- Hot-leaf Stamping
