There are 5 main types of printing used for packaging. But what is the best type of printing for packaging?
Packaging printing is an extensive subject. So, instead of going into the technical details of how these printing processes work, I’ll focus on explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each with the aim of giving you an idea of what type of printing would best suit your budget and your packaging needs.
I realize that when you get a quote from a packaging manufacturer, your options are limited to what type of printers and printing processes they use. For example, you can’t get digital printing from a manufacturer that doesn’t have a digital printer. So, part of your decision making should be influenced by what type of printing the manufacturer uses.
The 5 Main Types of Printing Used in Packaging are:
- Lithography or “litho” or “offset” for short
- Flexography or “flexo” for short
- Digital (I’ve also heard it used interchangeably with “Ink Jet”)
- Rotogravure or “gravure” for short
- Silkscreen or “screen” for short
Click on each tab below to see the advantages and disadvantages of each type of printing method.
- “Retail” print quality for consumer products, i.e. food boxes, cosmetic boxes, multi-media/electronics boxes
- High print quality, more than just 4 color process is common i.e. 4 colors combined with 1 or 2 PMS colors
- Specialty coatings can be used for “higher perceived value” such as matte soft touch, or super high gloss
- Color gradients in the graphics are smooth and not noticeable (no banding) as with other types of printing
- Tooling investments (custom-made printing plates are required)
- High volumes are required for optimum pricing
- Many companies have high minimums
- Longer lead times
- The print surface must be flat
- folding cartons
- labels (often referred to as litho labels)
- Less costly per unit
- Lower tooling costs
- Faster turnaround time
- Can use both water and oil-based inks
- Noticeably lesser print quality than litho
- Has trouble with printing smooth color gradients (banding occurs)
- Has trouble with registration on 4 color process print jobs
- Can’t reproduce photo quality images convincingly
- stand up pouches (flexible packaging)
- corrugated boxes
- Minimum to zero tooling fees or set-up costs
- Quick turn around times (less than a week)
- Low minimums
- Print quality comparable to litho
- Large volumes are more costly
- PMS colors are difficult to match
- Scuffs easier, minimal coating protection
- Does not offer as many coating options as litho
- Can’t use metallic inks
- Per unit cost is high
- labels
- prototypes
- corrugated boxes
- folding cartons
- film for flexible packaging
- Premium print quality
- Can easily print photo images
- Can easily add PMS colors to the 4-color process similar to litho
- Printing cylinders last a long time, printing high volumes with no deterioration in image quality
- Not a lot of coating options
- High investment in tooling
- Very high volumes are required for it to make sense
- Long lead times
- Large minimums
- stand-up pouches (flexible packaging)
- folding cartons
- Great for using on pre-made packaging such as bottles and caps and also promotional items like mugs and shirts
- Low set-up costs
- Can be used on smaller volumes
- Doesn’t require a flat surface to print on
- Production may be slower than litho
- Human error during process
- Not as clean looking
- Can’t reproduce photo quality images convincingly
- Not good for high volumes
- labels
- prototypes
- folding cartons
- promotional items
✽ Read more about color matching for your packaging
There are no hard and fast rules about printing when it come to packaging. My aim here is simply to help you get a feel for the strengths and weakness of the various types of printing used in packaging, and how they can affect your decisions when choosing a manufacturer. But all manufacturers are different, so I hope this article serves as a good starting point for further, more in-depth, discussions with your perspective manufacturers about what type of printing is best for your packaging.
If you have something to add, or want to ask me a question, or if I’ve missed something, please feel free to comment below!
This has been a part of my tutorial series called How to Buy Packaging 101. So click the link below to head back if you haven’t finished reading it yet. 🙂
One Response
Very useful information presented in a concise manner. Thank you!