Home > CD Screen Printing and how it differs from Litho Printing

CD Screen Printing and how it differs from Litho Printing

Many would wonder why anyone bothers to print CDs when the case is well printed and labeled. One needs to realize that the case may get lost and at the same time, one needs to prove the authenticity of a given disc. It is for this reason that one invests in CD printing to be able to get details of the contents on the disc. The two main types of printing done on discs are litho printing and screen-printing. Each offers the chance to have color variety but the processes and result tend to differ.

When it comes to CD screen printing, one can print as many as over 500 discs which means it is a fast method to do large printing orders. The general idea is putting a thick layer of color on a stencil of the desired design and scrapping off the excess ink to let ink seep though the pattern. The process begins with the evaluation of the colors on the chosen artwork. The color layers are then separated onto different films. It is at this point that each film is imprinted on the disc, one after another, and this is done by use of what is known as a robotic squeegee.

Once this process is complete, UV light dries the colors and final artwork. There is the option to use what is known as a silkscreen or silk mesh because it is said to offer a clearer final product. The only problem is the fact that around text and shaded areas of the artwork, one will see graining or some kind of residue, which makes the finished product look blurry. It is then advised that one use this type of screen to print grayscale. Screen-printing is the same procedure used to print on t-shirts as well.

The other type of CD printing process is known as litho printing whereby one uses the color separation template known as CYMK, which stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black. Using this, one separates the color layers of the CD artwork and they are place on plates. The colors are then transferred layer by layer on to the CDs using what looks like a roller. The positive thing about this method of printing is the fact that one can add more detail like small text, widely shaded colors and other small details and the finished product will look clearer than and not as blurry as they would when done with a print screen. Litho printing is slower if used on a large CD printing order but the finished work will be clearer.

One of the main reasons that many would choose litho printing over print screen work is the fact that it is cheaper. It may take longer but the work done is clearer. One disadvantage to litho printing is that it is considered the inferior option when one is working with large blocks of color. If color is the focus of the print work at hand, then one should look to screen-printing.

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