Expert answers: basic questions and answers about letterpress printing machine (2)

21. Question: How is your folder produced? Was it done in advance, or was it processed in a folding machine?

Answer: I am now printing on a large piece of paper and then processing it with a folding machine.

22. Question: What should designers pay attention to when preparing for letterpress printing?

Answer: They should first call the printing factory. We can discuss the preparation of the document together. We don't like InDesign files because it doesn't cut marks and alignments. Maybe some printers can use this file, but our company can't.

23. Question: Is there a special method that can be used to reduce the convexity on the back of a printed sheet?

Answer: There is only one way to control the bulge on the back of the printed sheet, which is experience and experimentation.

24. Question: Do you use a separate plate for each color?

Answer: Yes.

25. Question: Is there a big difference between the preparation of a magnesium plate and a photosensitive resin plate? We just started printing on a letterpress printer with a photosensitive resin plate, but our operators used only the magnesium plate before, so we think that there are many problems in production that are caused by the operator's improper operation of the printing press ( According to the method using a press for a magnesium plate, a printer using a resin plate is operated. Is this correct?

Answer: In my opinion, the reaction characteristics of the magnesium plate and the photosensitive resin plate are quite different. Only after the practice of the printing factory can the best solution be found. Our company prefers resin plates.

26. Question: What is the difference between relief and gravure?

Back: Gravure is a completely different production process than embossing. It is very attractive and can print colors with high opacity. In addition, it can also leave some marks on the back of the printed sheet.

27. Question: When you print an envelope bleeding, how can you prevent the ink from flowing to the entire drum?

Answer: Be extra careful.

28. Question: How can we avoid changes in the thickness of envelopes when using envelopes to produce envelopes?

Answer: We will compensate for the difference in the number of paper layers through a "job preparation" program. If the envelope finally achieved high quality and satisfactory consistency, then this method is very effective.

29. Question: When using a letterpress printing machine to print business cards, at least use thick paper?

Answer: I think it is cover number 100.

30. Question: Which printer do you use for printing envelopes with openings?

Answer: Heidelberg Windmills.

31. Question: What method do you use to color?

Answer: We define the color by traditional chromatography or color-pass chromatography.

32. Question: During the production of a business card, did you choose multi-link printing or precut the paper?

Answer: This depends on the specific situation of the job. We generally do four-up printing.

33. Question: Under what circumstances do you use engraving metal or photographic polyester methods?

I will choose the photographic polyester method when printing with ink, and choose the engraving metal method when embossing, bumping, or bronzing. Question: Can we use letterpress printing machines for textile printing?

Answer: Absolutely.

34. Question: Do you like to use soft paper or hard to print business cards? Which kind of paper has a deeper imprint?

Answer: I think paper above 130 is more appropriate.

35. Question: How to avoid paper cracking?

Answer: Be extra careful when preparing your homework.

36. Question: What is the difference between the production cycle of live jobs and lithographic offset printing?

Answer: This mainly depends on the size of the job and the printer you choose. Relief printing can be eagerly accomplished, but it can also achieve very high speeds when printing certain jobs.

37. Question: Is the color produced by the letterpress printing machine transparent or opaque?

Answer: Transparent.

38. Question: What is the minimum size of a job?

Answer: As long as the customer needs it, we can print it. However, the cost of printing 1 copy and printing 25 copies is the same.

39. Question: How many pages do you print at a time or at least?

Answer: I only print according to the quantity ordered by the customer.

40. Question: Do you think that the old C+P press can meet the production requirements of thousands of cards like a production press?

Answer: If the printing factory can receive good results, it means there is no problem with the production capacity of the C+P press. But they can't reach the quality of post-press processing like large presses.

41. Question: What should a designer use to judge the production level of a letterpress printing factory?

Answer: Clean and clear font edges, good communication, and attention to detail.

42. Question: Can you print in multiple prints (if you print in quadruple and then cut the print into four pages)?

Answer: Yes, I can.

43. Question: How much more is a letterpress print job than the same number of lithographic print jobs?

Answer: The cost of short-stem embossing jobs is similar to that of high-end lithographic jobs.

44. Question: How should a letterpress printing plant determine the depth of embossing? Is there still a fixed calculation method by observing proofs?

Back: We generally rely on feelings. But if the customer can provide a past proof as a reference, it would be better.

45. Question: If customers only want to add a one-click convex effect to the screen, do you still recommend them to use letterpress printing?

Answer: Yes, I think this printer is still their best choice.

46. ​​Question: Can I use a letterpress printer to print on translucent paper?

Answer: Yes. However, the effect is different from that printed on a lithographic printing press.

47. Question: Is the letterpress printing process as green as some "green" lithography processes?

Answer: Yes.

48. Question: Which kind of printing plate do you think can achieve the hardness needed to hit the convex effect?

Answer: Resin plate.

49. Question: Can we print the envelope and send it to your company for processing?

Answer: We usually print on processed envelopes.

50. Question: Do you use multiple sheets of paper to print envelope linings?

Answer: Ordinary media can be used.

51. Question: How can I stick an envelope lining to an envelope?

Answer: Use glue or tape.

52. Question: How do you achieve color registration?

Answer: We can keep the color registration on the brush machine.

53. Question: Does the customer often check proofs on the press?

Answer: No, but we very much welcome them to do so.

54. Question: Can a letterpress printer print on other substrates than paper? For example, plastic?

Answer: Yes. We sometimes print on vinyl, but we need to use a quick-drying surface ink.

55. Question: What are the similar limitations when using desktop flattening presses and standard flattening presses?

Answer: Paper size and emboss depth.

56. Question: Do you use non-toxic inks or soy inks - which ink do you prefer?

Answer: If there are no other special requirements, I will use acrylic ink.

57. Question: Compared with offset printers, is relief printing technology advantageous or disadvantageous to environmental protection?

Answer: I think it is an advantage, although its output is not as good as a lithographic press.

58. Question: Is there any less embossed ink?

Answer: Soybean ink.

59. Question: Can a letterpress printing plate be recycled?

Answer: Of course you can.

60. Question: Is there a letterpress printing association or organization in the United States?

Answer: As far as I know, no.

61. Question: How do you transfer a line drawing into an Illustrator or PDF file?

Answer: Scan.