Flexography

Flexography is the most common type

of printing used for packaging.

A flex graphic print is made by creating a positive mirrored master of the required image as a 3D relief in
a rubber or polymer material. A measured amount of ink (water-based, rather than oil based) is deposited upon the surface of the printing plate (or printing cylinder) using an engraved anilox roll whose texture holds a specific amount of ink. The print surface then rotates, contacting the print material which transfers the ink.

The flexible printing plate used in the final ink printing stage is light sensitive. A positive is placed over the plate, and is exposed to ultra-violet light. The plate is then ‘washed’ on rotating drum in a tank of Toluene solvent, which removes the layer of material that received the ultra-violet light.

The benefits of flexographic printing are:

• Better resolution and ability to print four color process
  (or more).
• Increased ability to reproduce highlight tonal values.
• Uses a wider range of inks, and can print on
  a variety of different materials.
• Inks have low viscosity to enable faster drying,
  which results in faster production and lower costs.