Printing Knowledge

1. Knockout
If blue text is placed on a yellow background, the area where the blue text appears must be left empty (knocked out) on the yellow plate. Likewise, the same area should be removed from the cyan/blue plate. Otherwise, the blue ink will be printed directly over the yellow, causing a color shift — the blue text may appear greenish instead…

a. Be aware of highlight dropout.
b. Use complementary (opposite) colors carefully — it’s best to use only one complementary color if possible.
c. Ensure the total ink coverage does not exceed the paper’s ink absorption capacity.
Application of spot colors
The use of spot colors should be analyzed on a case-by-case basis, depending on the design…

Trapping refers to a prepress technique used when two or more colors overlap in a design. During the plate-making process, slight adjustments are made to the size of one color area relative to another, based on the printing sequence. This helps ensure accurate color registration during printing and produces clearer, more realistic images.
For examp…

In offset printing, the four most common imposition methods are single-sided, sheet-wise (self-turning), work-and-turn, and work-and-tumble. Each method offers distinct advantages, and the appropriate choice depends on the product specifications, press capabilities, and production efficiency requirements.
1. Single-Sided Imposition
This method is u…

In the prepress stage, it is common to encounter images with distinctly different color blocks, where one color overlaps another. During printing, each color is printed separately, and due to mechanical inaccuracies, misregistration between color blocks often occurs. To address this issue, prepress technicians use a process known as trapping (also …

When preparing the layout for output, especially in traditional plate-making processes, two key factors should be considered:

Content Adjustment and Consolidation: The content should be adjusted or consolidated to fit within the layout, leaving minimal gaps between different sections. However, it's crucial to ensure that different parts can still …

1. Regular Cleaning
Perform cleaning regularly, refill with fresh developer solution, and carry out maintenance according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. All nozzles, tubes, brushes, and rollers should be cleaned frequently and replaced when necessary (their pressure should also be checked periodically). If required, wash the rollers with w…

Improving the durability of CTP plates is an important way to reduce production costs, minimize material waste, shorten production cycles, and increase overall efficiency. In modern offset printing, CTP (Computer to Plate) technology has completely replaced traditional PS plates. The following twelve methods can effectively enhance the printing lif…

When book design is expressed through printing techniques, it must manifest itself in a specific way — through its display. A single point on a plane can generate a sense of spatial tension around it; similarly, when a book is placed on a bookstore shelf, it radiates a kind of spatial tension through its own visual language. When this tension capt…

In modern printing production, CTP (Computer-to-Plate) has replaced traditional film-based plate making, but blurred images on plates can still occur. Blurred images directly affect print quality and are mainly caused during the plate-making process. The common causes can be classified as follows:
1. Blurring Caused by Contamination
Causes:
① Dust…

(1) Small Text and Fine Lines
When preparing files for printing, small text and thin lines should be designed as single-color objects to avoid misregistration during multi-color printing.
The minimum line width should be no less than 0.1 mm, otherwise the lines may disappear or look blurry after printing.
For text, the minimum recommended height is…

1. Pay Attention to Sample Sheets
① Sampling Inspection During Printing
After the start of formal printing, the preset ink supply and dampening levels determined during make-ready will change slightly. Frequent sampling and readjustment are required. When printing speed, ink supply, and dampening remain stable, perform sampling inspections at a fr…

When implementing green printing, one of the first areas that printing companies must focus on is the choice of consumables. In recent years, various eco-friendly printing materials — including green printing blankets, alcohol-free fountain solutions, and water-based adhesives — have become part of the sustainable procurement process for environm…

There are two main methods of printing and binding book sections.
The first method is called turnover plate printing, in which the same plate can be used to print both the front and back sides of a sheet without changing the plate. For example, in a 16mo (16-page) sheet, a 4-page-by-2-form turnover plate layout can be used for printing.
The second …

1. Ideality & Singularity
Typography design is not the ultimate goal; it is a means to better convey the client’s message. In the past, designers often indulged in personal styles or fonts and graphics unrelated to the theme, which usually led to mediocre results. A successful design must first clarify the client’s purpose, thoroughly understand …

In the typesetting of newspapers or magazines, handling color images is often required. When opening a color image, it may be in RGB mode or CMYK mode. So, when using Photoshop, should one work in RGB mode or CMYK mode for color image processing? This article shares my thoughts on this issue.
1. RGB and CMYK Modes Should Not Be Converted Frequently…

In modern printing plants, the plate-making department often marks the back edge of each printing plate with symbols such as Y, M, C, and BK to indicate the corresponding color separation — Yellow, Magenta, Cyan, and Black.
These marks are the most direct way to identify the color of each plate during the plate-making and printing process.
However…

Proper Attention to Ink Raising Treatment
The ink raising treatment of PS plates enhances the photosensitive properties of the coating, protects the image areas, and enables quicker inking during printing and proofing. The developer ink used in this process also acts as a light shield to prevent light exposure in the image areas, thereby extending …

A fixed palette algorithm refers to a method in image processing where the color palette is predefined before the image is processed.
There are many ways to predefine a palette, which can be based on specific applications and prior knowledge. Studies have shown that the human eye is most sensitive to shades of green and less sensitive to blue. Ther…

(I) Pre-press Preparation for Album Printing
Understand the Printing Process Requirements
(1) Familiarize yourself with the standard sample (proof), including its color characteristics, main image features, and key technical requirements.
(2) Review the printing color sequence and propose modifications if necessary.
(3) Understand the main properti…