Flexo printing CTP process
Apr 24, 2024
Flexo Printing CTP Plate Making Process
CTP is a turning point in the development of prepress technology. Playing a decisive role in printing, CTP technology has developed rapidly and has been applied in the fields of commerce, newspapers, and packaging and printing. Today, flexographic CTP has been applied to printing of different sizes in packaging, wallpaper, beverage boxes and other fields, and its quality has been widely recognized.
The water-based ink used in flexographic printing is an environmentally friendly printing method that does not cause a lot of pollution like gravure printing. Relatively speaking, the cost of flexo printing is relatively low, and the printing volume is large. It is suitable for printing on sheet paper and roll materials of different materials. It is most suitable for packaging printing, various labels and large-area substrates.
Characteristics of flexographic printing
Compared with traditional offset printing, gravure printing and embossed printing, flexographic printing has the following characteristics:
1. The range of printing materials is relatively wide, such as paper, plastic film, aluminum foil, self-adhesive paper, etc.;
2. High production efficiency. Flexographic printing uses roll materials, which can not only realize double-sided printing of printing materials, but also complete online glazing, hot stamping, die-cutting, waste discharge, rewinding and other tasks;
3. Shorten the production cycle, save materials and manpower, reduce production costs, and improve efficiency.
4. The print quality is good, and the printing accuracy can reach the number of printing lines of offset printing, which is especially suitable for the requirements of packaging printing;
5. Use new water-based inks and solvent-based inks, which fully comply with green and environmentally friendly printing requirements and can also meet the requirements of food packaging;
Traditional flexographic process
Computer document → digital proofing or blue paper pattern → adjust the corresponding dot expansion compensation curve according to the printed fingerprint → the imagesetter outputs the negative image film → the printing machine exposes the back of the traditional plate → vacuum seals the front of the plate and the film After closing, the main exposure of the film surface → remove the film and put the plate into the plate washing machine, wash the plate with solution → dry the plate and perform UVA, UVC and other post-processing → check the size and modify the edges → complete the production of traditional flexographic printing plates.
CTP flexo plate making process
Computer document → digital proofing or blue paper pattern → exposure of the back of the digital plate by the printing machine → main exposure of the digital plate on the front of the flexo CTP → put it into a traditional plate washer and wash the plate with solution → dry the plate and UVA , UVC and other post-processing → Check and complete digital flexographic printing plate production.
