Lithographic Printing: Unlocking the Secret to High-Quality Color Printing on Printed Films

In the printed film industry, offset printing, also known as offset printing, has become the technology of choice for high-volume, high-quality color printing due to its excellent print quality and wide applicability.

Lithographic printing, as an indirect printing method, its core lies in the design and processing of printing plates. Different from traditional direct printing, the graphic and non-graphic parts of the lithographic printing plate are located on the same plane. However, after special chemical treatment, there are significant differences in the physical properties of the two: the graphic part is lipophilic, It can absorb ink; the non-graphic part is hydrophilic and can repel ink and absorb moisture. This feature allows the ink to only adhere to the graphics and text parts during the printing process, while the moisture keeps the non-graphics and text parts clean, thus achieving a clear separation of graphics and text from the background.

The lithographic printing process includes four main stages: prepress preparation, plate making, printing and post-processing.
Prepress preparation:
The pre-press preparation stage mainly involves the production and adjustment of design drafts. Designers need to use professional design software to produce graphic design drafts that meet printing requirements based on customer needs. After the design draft is completed, color correction and color separation processing are required to ensure that the graphics and text are accurate in color and clear in layering.
Plate making:
Plate making is the core link of lithographic printing. First, the original film is made according to the design draft, and then the graphic information is transferred to the printing plate through steps such as exposure, development, and plate revision. During the chemical treatment process, the graphic parts are given lipophilicity, and the non-graphic parts are given hydrophilicity. The quality of plate making directly affects the final printing effect.
print:
During the printing stage, the printing plate is installed on the printing press and in close contact with the blanket cylinder. The ink is evenly applied on the printing plate, and the graphic and text parts absorb the ink, while the non-graphic and text parts repel the ink due to their hydrophilicity. When the plate cylinder is in rolling contact with the blanket cylinder, the ink is transferred from the graphic part to the blanket, and then from the blanket to the printing film. In this process, moisture plays a key role. It keeps the non-graphic parts clean and prevents the spread of ink.
Post-processing:
After printing is completed, the printed film needs to undergo post-processing steps such as drying, cutting, and finishing. The drying process ensures that the ink is completely solidified and improves the durability of the printed matter; cutting and finishing ensures that the printed matter reaches the specified size and shape to meet customer needs.
Technical advantages of lithographic printing
High precision and quality:
Lithographic printing is known for its high precision and quality. Through fine plate making and printing processes, the colors and details in the design draft can be accurately restored and high-quality color printing can be achieved.
Broad applicability:
Lithographic printing is suitable for printing films of various materials, such as paper, plastic film, metal foil, etc. At the same time, it can also adapt to prints of different sizes and shapes to meet diverse market needs.
Efficient production capacity:
Flatbed printing machines usually use automated production lines to achieve high-speed, continuous printing operations. This greatly improves production efficiency, reduces production costs, and makes mass printing possible.
Fine color control:
Offset printing offers significant advantages in color control. Through the professional color management system, the hue, brightness and saturation of the ink can be precisely controlled to achieve fine color matching and adjustment.
Dot printing expertise:
In the field of dot printing, offset printing also performs well. It can accurately present small dots and lines, keep images clear and delicate, and meet the needs of high-precision printing.

In the printed film industry, offset printing is widely used in packaging, labels, advertising, brochures and other fields.
Packaging printing:
Lithographic printing plays an important role in packaging printing. It can accurately restore the colors and patterns of packaging designs and improve the visual appeal of products. At the same time, through fine color control and dot printing technology, delicate image and text effects can be presented, improving the overall quality of the packaging.
Label printing:
As a carrier of product information, labels’ printing quality directly affects consumers’ purchasing decisions. Flatbed printing can ensure that the text, patterns and barcodes on labels are clear and readable, improving label recognition and accuracy.
Advertising and brochure printing:
In advertising and brochure printing, offset printing has become an important means of displaying brand image and product features with its high-quality color printing effect. Through fine color control and dot printing technology, rich color levels and delicate image effects can be presented, enhancing the visual impact and appeal of advertisements.
Special material printing:
Lithographic printing is also suitable for printing films of special materials, such as metal foil, plastic film, etc. These materials often have special requirements for ink adhesion and drying speed during the printing process. Lithographic printing can meet these special needs and achieve high-quality printing effects by adjusting printing parameters and ink formulas.

Lithographic printing plays a pivotal role in the printing film industry with its high precision, high quality, wide applicability and fine color control capabilities. With the continuous advancement of technology and the continuous development of the market, offset printing will continue to lead the printing film industry to develop in the direction of higher quality and higher efficiency.