sügavtrükisilinder

Sügavtrükisilinder refers to the engraved cylinder used in the gravure printing process. Gravure, also known as intaglio printing, is a method where the image is etched or engraved into the surface of a cylinder. The areas to be printed are recessed, meaning they are etched below the surface of the cylinder.

During the printing process, the entire surface of the gravure cylinder is flooded with ink. Then, a doctor blade, typically made of steel or plastic, is used to scrape away the excess ink from the non-image areas, leaving ink only within the recessed cells. A substrate, such as paper or plastic film, is then pressed against the inked cylinder, and the ink is transferred from the cells to the substrate by capillary action.

The depth and width of these engraved cells determine the tonal value and density of the printed image. Deeper and wider cells hold more ink, resulting in darker tones, while shallower and narrower cells hold less ink, producing lighter tones. This inherent characteristic makes gravure printing ideal for producing high-quality, continuous-tone images, such as photographs, packaging, and magazines.

The production of a gravure cylinder is a complex process. Traditionally, it involved mechanical engraving using a diamond stylus. More modern methods utilize electronic engraving, where a stylus controlled by digital image data carves the cells into the cylinder surface. The cylinder is then often chrome-plated to increase its durability for long print runs. The accuracy and precision in creating these engraved cells are crucial for achieving the desired print quality.