Printing can be broadly classified into four basic categories: (a) letterpress printing; (b) gravure printing; (c) lithography; and (d) stencil printing.
Letterpress printing is one of the oldest printing methods. It uses a relief plate with a raised surface. During printing, ink is applied to the surface of the type, which is then pressed onto paper. The ink on the type surface is transferred to the paper surface, forming an imprint. Typesetting, Lenor typesetting, letterpress printing, electroplating, and photogravure all belong to letterpress printing.
Gravure printing is a printing method that uses manual or mechanical engraving to carve away lines, creating a recessed character or image on the printing plate. During printing, the lines or grooves are first filled with ink, and then prepared paper is pressed onto them. The paper absorbs the ink, forming an imprint. Etching, engraving, and photogravure all belong to gravure printing. Lithography is sometimes called chemical printing, meaning that the printed image and the printing plate are on the same plane. It is based on the principle of "oil and water not mixing" in printing. This type of printing involves mechanically or manually projecting an image onto a stone or metal surface, then chemically treating the surface to make the image areas ink-receptive while the blank areas are not. During printing, only the ink-receptive image areas are transferred to the paper, forming an imprint. Photolithography, photogravure, and offset printing all belong to planar printing.
Stencil printing includes stencil printing, die-cutting, inkjet printing, and screen printing. The principle of stencil printing is that during printing, pressure is applied to transfer ink through the perforations of the stencil to the substrate (paper, ceramics, etc.), forming an image or text. Stencil printing is the simplest form of stencil printing, originating in the late 19th century. This printing involves creating a stencil on specially made wax paper using a typewriter or stylus, then printing with an ink roller onto the stencil, achieving the desired printing effect on the substrate. Among stencil printing methods, screen printing is the most widely used.
Modern screen printing differs technically from the other three types of printing and is also the most versatile of the four. It can be printed on paper, cardboard, wood, plastic, textiles, ceramics, metal, fur, and composite materials of the latter. It can be used to print not only flat objects but also round, convex, concave, and irregularly shaped objects. Therefore, screen printing is an inevitable product. However, because its technical details are considered a trade secret, its development has been relatively quiet. Nevertheless, it continues to progress and develop, and its future is bright.
The development of modern screen printing originated in the United States. Starting with pioneers Harry Leroy Hiett and Edward A. Owens, screen printing began as early as the beginning of the 20th century (1901-1906). The first attempt at screen printing was made by Francis Willette of Detroit, Michigan, USA, who screen printed woolen pennants.
Screen printing involves attaching a stencil with an image or pattern to a screen for printing. Screens are typically made of nylon, polyester, silk, or metal mesh. When the substrate is placed directly under the screen with the stencil, the printing ink or paint is forced through the mesh openings by a squeegee (manual or automatic squeegees) and printed onto the substrate. The stencil on the screen seals some of the mesh openings, preventing the ink from passing through; only the image areas can pass through, resulting in an image only on the substrate. In other words, screen printing utilizes ink penetration through the printing plate for printing. This is why it's called screen printing and not silk screen printing or silk fabric printing, as not only silk can be used as a screen material, but also nylon, polyester fiber, cotton fabric, cotton cloth, stainless steel, copper, brass, and bronze.
