Methods of printing

When it comes to the printing of my zine, I must explore the different methods of printing, as there are numerous ways in which to print, and each have their own pros and cons.
Some printing methods allow for a better quality of image, however can be more complex/expensive, and because I am on a budget, as well as on a limited amount of time to produce my zine, I must pick the best printing method for me wisely.

http://www.lcipaper.com/kb/wp-content/uploads/loading-paper-printer-right-aligned.jpg < image reference at this link.

Most zines are cheap to produce, and the reason for this is mainly down to the printing methods used.
Zines are commonly produced in a limited amount, and are also often produced by the actual illustrator/author.

http://40.media.tumblr.com/1a6eab961dd877334070e9905d84024a/tumblr_n2ddfiXEos1qf3rq1o1_1280.jpg < image reference at this link.

Because I am the person responsible for not only the zine's content, but also the production, this means that I am limited to a few methods of printing, as I do not have a wide range of methods easily available to me.
Below I will list a few of the methods that I have available to me in terms of printing techniques, and this primarily takes into account methods available to me at CCAD.

• Digital Printing
• Risograph
• Screenprinting

I want to go over each method listed above, and talk a bit about them, while providing both pros and cons of each method.

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Digital Printing

Digital printing is the most common method of printing, and uses a device called a printer, to transfer ink from small cartridges, to paper.
In digital printing, an image is sent to a printer via a computer usually, and is sent to the printer in a specific digital file type such as JPG, PDF, and TIFF.
This direct method of printing removes the need for a printing plate, which is what more traditional printing methods require.
This not only saves a lot of time, but it also saves money, and makes the whole process way easier.

http://www.cipuk.net/articlepics/toshiba-digital.png < image reference at this link.

Digital printing is usually quite cheap, and this method provides a quick way of producing images in mass quantity, something that is very common in today's market.
It is the method of printing that is most available to me, and I also have a digital printer at home, although it is not as high quality as the printers here at CCAD.

http://www.acesignsshop.co.uk/resources/6-myths-about-digital-printing.jpg < image reference at this link.

Pros:

• Cheap
• Easy to access
• Any colour range
• Quick

Cons:

• Colours may not be as vivid as other techniques.
• Requires a computer/digital appliance.

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Risograph printing

Risograph printing is a process of printing that is neither photocopying, nor screenprinting.
With Riso-printing, one can print in a variety of colours, however they must be applied one colour at a time, much like the method of screenprinting.

http://noma-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/content/ditto-riso3.jpg < image reference at this link.

Risograph printing has the ability to print from a digital file, and the digital image is applied onto a master sheet, which wraps around a colour drum.
The master copy acts as a screen in which the ink is pressed through, and this is applied onto the paper.

http://alfalfastudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Riso.Hennie.Haworth.jpg < image reference at this link.

Risograph printing offers a good level of colour, which the image above shows, and offers a tonal range that is very comparable to that of screen-printing.
Like digital printing, there are pros and cons of this method, which will be detailed below.

Pros: 

• Great quality of print
• Easier than screen-printing
• Risograph printing can achieve even higher print speeds than photocopiers.
• Can produce large print jobs at a much smaller cost per print compared to digital printing.

Cons:

• Slightly sower than pure digital printing.
• More complicated setup compared to digital printing.

I have never used this technique of printing, unlike the other methods listed in this blog.


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Screen-printing

Screen-printing is a process that was invented by the Japanese almost 2000 years ago, and the process involves the use of a silkscreen canvas, that contains a fine mesh which allows for ink and paint to seep through.
It is a printing process that requires several stages, however gives a very high quality of print, and allows for vivid tones.

http://www.dick-blick.com/items/434/27/43427-group2ww-m.jpg < image reference at this link.

I have experimented with the process of screen-printing before, and is a method of printing that grabs my attention for use in my project.
Last year, I created several screenprinted images of a rodent, and some examples of the prints that I produced can be seen below.

Illustrating onto the stencil, to be burned onto the mesh.

Using two different colour tones, at a slight offset, which allows for an interesting design.

With screen-printing, you need to be careful with the amount of ink used.

The below image shows a squeegee tool being used to push the ink through the fine silkscreen mesh.
When the ink passes through the mesh, it is applied crisply, and evenly onto the canvas.
This process can be very quick once the printing has reached the transfer stage, and it can be easy to get into a rhythm when printing.

http://www.tshirtbox.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/screenprinting.jpg < image reference at this link.

Pros:

• Great colour range
• Quick printing speed once mesh is setup
• No digital requirement

Cons:

• Slower than Digital & Risograph printing.
• Multiple stages
• Small problems during the printing of any single screen could create an issue that offsets or distorts the completed image.
• Either prints or doesn't print, which means this method can not do gradients easy.

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All methods of printing have their pros and cons, however some methods have more than others.
With this blog post, I hope that I have made the methods of printing seem a bit clearer, so that when the time comes to choose a method to go with, my decision can made made more clearly and more quickly, as I have a better understanding of the pros and cons of each method.







References used

http://graphicdesign.about.com/od/printproductionglossary/g/digital_print.htm
http://www.peowstudio.com/print/
http://www.whatisscreenprinting.com/
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/copier-vs-risograph-28296.html
http://www.slideshare.net/championprintstudio/advantages-disadvantages-of-screen-printing

Thomas.