Types of Printing Plates for Books
There are various ways to classify printing plates used in book production.Generally, they can be categorized in two major ways:
(1) By the materials used for making the plate
(2) By the surface structure of the plate
I. Classification by Plate-Making Materials
Common types include wood plates, metal plates, stone plates, resin plates, glass plates, mesh/screen plates, and polymer plates.1. Wood Plates
Wood plates are made from high-quality, fine-grained, and durable wood.
They were widely used in traditional woodblock printing and early movable-type printing.
Common woods: boxwood, jujube wood, pearwood.
Wood plates are ideal for strong line illustrations and classical book reproduction.
2. Metal Plates
Metal plates use materials such as lead, zinc, copper, and aluminum.Typical forms include:
- Lead plates
- Copper-zinc plates
- Electronically engraved plates
- PS plates
3. Stone Plates
Stone plates are used in traditional lithographic printing, which relies on the principle of oil-water repulsion.They are the predecessors of today’s offset printing.
4. Resin (Photopolymer) Plates
Resin plates are made from photosensitive polymers.They provide excellent hardness, durability, and high-precision imaging.
Widely used in modern flexographic and relief printing.
5. Glass Plates
Glass plates were historically used for photographic plate-making and specialty printing.Although less common today, they remain valuable in certain artistic applications.
6. Screen (Stencil) Plates
Screen plates use tiny mesh openings to transfer ink.They are used for fabric printing, promotional materials, and artistic book covers.
II. Classification by Plate Surface Structure
1. Relief Plates
The ink-bearing areas are raised above the non-image areas.Examples: movable type, lead plates, copper plates, zinc plates, and polymer plates.
2. Intaglio Plates
The ink-bearing areas are recessed below the plate surface.Types: engraved plates, photogravure plates.
They provide fine tonal gradation and are used for art books, illustrations, and currency printing.
3. Planographic Plates
Image and non-image areas lie on the same plane.Lithography and offset printing belong to this category.
Examples: offset plates, stone plates, collotype plates.
Modern book printing relies heavily on offset printing.
4. Screen (Stencil) Plates
Ink passes through tiny openings in the plate.Examples: silk screen plates, stencil plates.
Used for strong, vivid colors and special decorative effects.
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