Mechanical Printing

Andrew Williams
 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 its 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" (plates), linoleum blocks, wood engravings, etc.,
using such a press. citation needed]In the 21st century, commercial
Letterpress has been revived by the use of 'water-wash' photopolymer plates
which are adhered to a near-type-high base to produce a relief printing
surface typically from digitally-rendered art and typography.
 Gravure
• Diagram of rotogravure process Rotogravure (roto or gravure for short)
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, like offset and flexography, it uses a
rotary printing press. The vast majority of gravure presses print on rolls
(also known as webs) of paper, rather than sheets of paper. (Sheetfed
gravure is a small, specialty market.) Rotary gravure presses are the
fastest and widest presses in operation, printing everything from narrow
labels to 12 feet (4 m)-wide rolls of vinyl flooring. Additional operations
may be in-line 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 (cardboard) 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 of 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.