1. What is Screen Printing?
Screen printing is a type of stencil printing, and along with flat printing, relief printing, and intaglio printing, it is one of the four major printing methods. Stencil printing includes techniques like direct stencils, perforated patterns, spray patterns, and screen printing. The principle of stencil printing is that the printing plate (made of paper, film, or another base material with tiny holes that allow ink to pass through) transfers the ink onto a surface (such as paper, ceramics, etc.) through pressure, creating images or text.
2. What is Offset Printing?
Offset printing is a form of flat printing. In simple terms, offset printing uses a rubber blanket to transfer the image or text from the printing plate to the printing surface. This method is named after the rubber blanket's role in the process. The rubber blanket helps to compensate for the unevenness of the printing surface, ensuring ink is fully transferred, and it also reduces the amount of water transferred from the printing plate to the printed surface. In southern China, this printing method is commonly referred to as "Koh printing."
3. How to Distinguish Screen Printing from Offset Printing
The biggest differences between screen printing and offset printing are:
Dots: Screen printing doesn't use halftone dots, whereas offset printing does. You can spot the difference by looking at the print under light at an angle.
Texture: Screen prints tend to feel thicker and may have slightly uneven edges when you look closely. Offset prints, on the other hand, tend to have smoother, more uniform edges, with perfectly straight lines.
Images: Screen printing is not suitable for multi-colored, detailed images like a photograph. Only offset printing can handle vibrant, complex images.
Simple Graphics and Text: Simple designs like single-color graphics and text can be screen printed. However, smaller text printed by screen printing may have some fuzzy edges if you look closely.
Which One is Better-Screen Printing or Offset Printing?
Choosing between screen printing and offset printing depends on the industry and the product. Different industries and products have different printing needs, so the method will vary accordingly.
