How to Quickly Identify the Printing Method of a Printed Product

A Guide to Rotogravure, Letterpress, Offset, Digital, Gravure, and Screen Printing

Differentiating between various printing methods like rotogravure, letterpress, offset, digital, gravure, and screen printing is crucial for understanding the nuances of a printed product. Here's a quick guide to help you identify these printing techniques:

Rotogravure Printing:

Distinguishing Feature - Rotogravure printing is characterized by noticeable serrations along the edges of lines and text.

Screen Printing:

Tactile Identification- Screen-printed images exhibit a distinct raised texture upon touch.

Letterpress and Flexographic Printing:

Double-Outline Effect: Lines and text edges in letterpress and flexographic printing display a double-outline appearance.

Offset and Digital Printing:

Fine Detail and Accurate Registration: In the absence of the aforementioned characteristics, offset and digital printing produce high-quality prints with smooth color transitions, accurate color reproduction, and precise registration.

Detailed Identification:

Rotogravure Printing:

Example: Examine a mineral water label in detail. If you observe jagged edges on lines and text, it's likely rotogravure printing.

Screen Printing:

Visual Cue: Look for raised triangular patterns on the label, a hallmark of screen printing. Additionally, run your finger over the text or images; a noticeable raised sensation confirms screen printing.

Letterpress and Flexographic Printing:

Double-Outline Technique: Focus on the text within the red box. Observe if the text edges have a surrounding white border with additional lines seemingly enclosing it. This phenomenon, known as the "double-outline effect," is a prominent feature of letterpress and flexographic printing.

Offset and Digital Printing:

Magnification and Experience: While magnification aids in clearer identification, experienced individuals can often discern these methods with the naked eye. Digital printing is typically associated with variable data, personalization, and short-run printing, such as personalized calendars or photo albums. Offset printing, on the other hand, is widely used for books, magazines, and newspapers, and remains the dominant method despite the digital revolution.

By understanding these key characteristics and applying the provided techniques, you can effectively identify the printing method used for a given printed product.