Painotalousjärjestelmä

Painotalousjärjestelmä refers to a system of printing where the image to be printed is produced by a plate that is inked. This inked plate is then pressed onto paper or another substrate to transfer the image. There are several types of printing systems that fall under this umbrella term, each with its own specific mechanisms and applications.

One common type is offset printing, which is a widely used method for high-volume commercial printing. In offset printing, the inked image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, and then to the printing surface. This indirect transfer process helps to create sharp, clean images and is suitable for a variety of paper types.

Another significant category is flexography, often used for printing on flexible materials like plastic films, packaging, and labels. Flexographic printing utilizes a raised image on a flexible printing plate, which is then directly transferred to the substrate. This method is known for its ability to print on uneven surfaces.

Letterpress printing is an older form of the painotalousjärjestelmä, where raised type or plates are inked and pressed directly onto the paper. While less common for mass production today, it is still used for specialty printing, such as fine art prints and invitations, due to its distinctive impression. Gravure printing, also known as rotogravure, is another method that uses an engraved cylinder to transfer ink. It is typically used for high-volume, high-quality printing like magazines, packaging, and decorative laminates.

The choice of a specific painotalousjärjestelmä depends on factors such as the desired print quality, the type of substrate, the volume of the print run, and cost considerations. Each system has evolved over time, incorporating technological advancements to improve efficiency and print fidelity.