Copying business papers a hundred years ago / Sudo Null IT News

Carbonized blanks.

The most common way to copy a document (unless, of course, you just copy it by hand) is a carbon copy. However, using carbon paper is tedious: you need to place a copy sheet between two writing sheets, that is, align the boundaries of the three sheets.

It is much more convenient if the reverse side of the form is already a carbon copy, and the forms are stapled in one pack. In this case, you tear off the number of forms you need, fill out one of them and – oh the joy of scientific and technological progress! – you receive the required number of completed forms: two, or three, or even four.

In Russia they were also known:

Do you know what these forms were called? You know, of course, because you read the section title: carbonized forms.

Copy boards.

There have been more cunning inventions. I bet that the majority of Khabra residents have no idea what copy boards are. A little 80-90 years ago, this technique was widespread.

You probably thought that

copy board

is a copying device, and you guessed it right, although not quite. Copy boards were indeed used for copying, but not as simple copying devices, which are discussed below, but as a so-called form of accounting!

Between us girls, accountants solve problems more complicated than filling out several copies of the form. Often the primary data is identical, but it must be scattered across several primary documents or statements, the forms of which have nothing in common with each other.

Scientists of that time came to the aid of accountants. They came up with the so-called copy accounting (abbreviated

copy

), carried out using copy boards. The idea was that the accountant would write down one number, but as a result of using carbon paper, it would end up in several documents of different types at once. That is, the documents had to be placed not stupidly one under the other, but so that the identical indicator present in different documents would be one under the other, so that it would be possible to use carbon paper.

But since there were several indicators when filling out one group of documents, when filling out the next indicator it was necessary to rearrange all the documents in a certain way, and so on, until the last indicator was filled out. With some skill, there was still a time gain compared to filling out each document with identical indicators manually.

Scientists came to the aid of accountants in that copying boards made it possible, through adjustment, to align the documents being transferred in the required manner each time. Documents laid out with carbon paper were secured with clamps, then indicators were recorded in them, then the same documents were laid out in a second standard way, and so on until the last operation. There were variations in the use of copy boards, but in general, working with them seemed to be done in the manner described.

Copy boards were very varied – there were some like this, for example.

Here is a schematic representation of other models:

And here is a diagram indicating the parts of the copy board:

It is unknown who first invented the copying board: it happened in the West, and since the late 1920s. Domestic specialists got involved in the invention of copying boards and the methods by which the boards should be used. After some time, the number of forms of copywriting… however, judge for yourself. Classification table from a book from 1931. And only 66 forms of foreign copywriting, and there were also Soviet ones!

Now, since the pictures were promised, let’s admire them. So, devices for copying (copy boards and more complex machines)! I apologize for the lack of quality of the images: the images are taken from ledgers and journals from a century ago – better images may simply not exist. Copy board in the form “Definitive”:

Copybook form “Gebon”:

Copybook form “Meyerheim”:

Copybook form “Ideal”:

Two forms: “Ruf” and “Fortschritt”. At first glance, they are not very different from each other:

“Rufus-Mink-Drilling”:

Copy board in “Unograph” shape:

Copy board “Scraper”:

Copy board “Shlyand”:

No longer a copying board, but a whole copying machine – “Memofix”:

Now a couple of Soviet forms of copywriting – which we managed to discover. Here is the “Sovkopirbukh” copy board (I don’t think there’s any need to decipher the abbreviation) – a very simple device:

A copy board similar to it from “Orgstroy” – the Society for Organizational Construction, which existed from 1925 to 1931. An advertisement published at the same time gives an idea of ​​the activities of an important institution:

You can see the advertising agents of “Orgstroy” who are trying to install accounting in an enterprise using a clamping device of an original design! Over the course of a decade, copy boards were very common, the bibliography on them is impressive.

Copiers.

We’re done with copying and copying boards – let’s talk about more conventional copying.

Now we copy papers using copiers, although with the development of electronic document management, photocopying is becoming a thing of the past. A hundred years ago, business papers were copied… oddly enough, also using copiers, although at that time the copying machines were called differently. Probably, the principles of their action were also different – it’s not for me to judge, let the experts have their say.

Office copying began with chemical methods, as far as I can tell.

Blueprinting

. It seems that the work of modern devices is based on this method, but in the initial stages of development, blueprinting looked different:

Something else like that. The source stated that it was a gelatin copier. However, I’m not sure that this device is a representative of office and not printing equipment (we are not talking about printing machines in this post):

Copier press – it is possible that it is also from the family of printing equipment. I’m putting the drawing in the post because I’m not completely sure:

Below are two portable sets designed for copying. The first is called an opalograph.

The second, according to the inscription under the photograph in the original source, is the Greif breeding apparatus:

Here’s something else similar. The illustrations demonstrate the sequence of working with a mimeograph:

Although not everything is clear with the mimeograph. In the other picture, the mimeograph is quite an automatic copier. Perhaps the operating principle is identical or the manufacturer is the same?

We have moved on to complex copying machines reminiscent of modern copiers. Let’s continue. Frejo copiers of various models:

Roneo copier:

Rotafix copier:

Copiers “Multigraph”:

Probably, the “Multigraph” was a common model, and perhaps was used not only for copying, but also for printing. The picture below demonstrates the printing process on the Multigraph:

But here is a device from the same manufacturer, apparently, but from a different series (simplified version?). Copier “Junior-Multigraph”:

We continue our tour of examples of ancient technology. Zeiss Copier:

Rapid Roller Copier:

Also, apparently, there was a massive series. Below is a copier device “Roller” of another model:

Schwarzpress copier:

Copier “Rotaprint”:

Ormig copiers, manual and electric:

Rodertal copier:

Copy machine from the famous computer manufacturer of the time, Barrows:

I also identified the device shown below as a copier, although I am not sure. Its name is strange – “Manifolder Egri”:

The tour of examples of antique copying equipment is coming to an end. In conclusion, a copier of an unknown model, but very beautiful. I don’t know about you, but I would like to work on it:

Unlike the literature on copywriting, I am not aware of any separate publications on copiers: apparently due to the fact that the technology was entirely foreign. The photographs shown are taken from articles in domestic accounting journals, as well as from some foreign accounting books of that time.

Pictures also found their way into domestic magazines mainly from foreign sources: a domestic author found an article in a foreign magazine, or a book published abroad, or, in extreme cases, borrowed a picture from a translated publication (although there were few of these) and published the material in his own article, from which the broad masses of office plankton learned about the new product.

It must be said that this principle of bringing information to specialists has undergone few changes, although today there are many more opportunities. Since the 1940s Materials on copiers disappeared from accounting literature for many decades, first due to the war, then due to the fact that copiers were located behind the iron doors of secret departments, where ordinary people were strictly prohibited from entering. What happened next, you know.

P.S. Khabravites – thank them very much for this! — made several important clarifications and comments on the topic. Read in the comments.

Types of printing in a printing house – advantages and disadvantages

Each printing method is intended for specific purposes. All of them have advantages and disadvantages, which influence the customer’s choice to varying degrees.

Table: pros and cons of printing types in a printing house

Printing types and methods Advantages Disadvantages
High Greater image clarity Relief remains on the reverse surface
sheet
Deep High quality and colorful images impossibility of printing large quantities; the need to use special paper; high cost

Flat economical; suitable for large print runs; produces high image quality

Pre-press preparation is required, which reduces

efficiency of the method

Offset significant reduction in production costs when printing

large circulations; the ability to use any paper

Complex pre-press preparation makes printing unprofitable

small editions

Lithography Clear text and rich color palette Requires the use of dense or special lithographic

paper

Flexographic possibility of printing on thick materials; optimization of material consumption; possibility of using environmentally friendly materials

colors

high cost of small-run orders; poor color rendering of light tones; poor print quality of small font

Stencil high image quality; ability to seal uneven surfaces; no restrictions on image size

Poor performance
Digital high speed and efficiency of printing; no expensive pre-press preparation

High cost of printing large quantities
Tampon simplicity and economy; high-quality application of fine graphics; speed of production; colorfulness

Inability to work with large surfaces
Iris Creating a glare effect on an image The need to use only special paints with high

viscosity

Sublimation durability and accuracy of image transfer; simplicity of the printing process

high cost of consumables; harmful production (extraction required); low printing speed

UV printing printing on any materials; high quality at a relatively low cost

cost

low environmental friendliness of UV ink (allergies are possible); the need to install ozone ink in the room

filters

COLORIT printing house is ready to perform digital printing of branded, advertising and other products, using an individual approach and a flexible system of discounts. We work on modern equipment and use advanced technologies. Our printing house guarantees high quality of printed products for any circulation size and short order fulfillment times.

Letterpress

Letterpress printing uses a form where the letters and icons are a few millimeters above the spaces. The thick ink used for letterpress printing is applied only to the printed elements and does not flow into the spaces. The latter do not touch the paper at all.

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Letterpress printing is used when precision of images, lines, strokes and color saturation are required. In modern printing, this type of printing is used for large circulations of books, one-color publications, and packaging labels. Modern forms are made of polymer materials and accept any paint without compromising printed elements and image quality.

Intaglio

In intaglio printing, the spaces are raised above the recessed printed elements. During the production process, paint is fed to a rotating cylinder, from where it enters the recesses through special channels. Its excess is removed from the whitespace elements with a squeegee – a part of the printing machine, which is a flexible steel tape. The thickness of the paint layer can be adjusted.

Intaglio printing is used to produce a raised image. An example is the embossed security features on banknotes. In a regular printing house, illustrated magazines, packaging, and artistic graphics are produced using this method.

Other ways

If you don’t have a carbon copy at home, you can try to transfer the picture on the window – through the glass. Using tape, secure the fabric and design, then outline with acrylic paints and a marker. A more “advanced” variation of the method is the use of a light tablet.

Some craftswomen stitch around the outline of the design through tracing paper on a sewing machine. This will require some skill and experience, otherwise the image will be uneven. The process is complex and labor-intensive.

Another option is to use a pencil for translations. They use it to transfer the mirrored design onto tracing paper, then apply it to the fabric and iron it with a lot of steam. Such pencils usually do not stick to synthetics, so you will have to use only linen or cotton fabrics.

An easy way to transfer a design is to use thermal transfer paper. It is bought in specialized online stores. The design is printed directly on such paper, then applied to the fabric and ironed with steam. The result will be much better if the print is made in a workshop – the drawing will turn out juicy and will not smear even after washing.

Changing the size of the picture

Sometimes you need to change the size of the picture for the fabric – make it larger or smaller. To do this, the image is divided into approximately equal squares, and on clean paper a grid is made of the same number of squares, but of a larger (smaller) size. Then the drawing is transferred manually along the lines taken from each square.

As a result, you will get a picture with the necessary parameters. It is best to divide the drawing into many squares – this way the finished drawing will be the most accurate. Afterwards it can be transferred to fabric in any convenient way.

Iris or rainbow print

Rainbow printing, when colors smoothly transition into one another, is a subtype of offset printing. The colorful container is divided by partitions, and different colors are loaded in the cells. Passing through the roller system, the paints are partially mixed, forming slightly blurred color transitions.

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Iris printing is used for applying protective micropatterns to banknotes and securities, producing pocket calendars, and advertising materials.

Copy paper

The easiest way to translate a picture is based on the use of carbon paper. It is available in different colors:

The color of the carbon copy must be selected taking into account the shade of the material. Dark paper is easier to find on sale; white paper is rare. To translate the drawing, place a carbon copy and a printed blank on top. Use a simple pencil to trace the drawing, carefully pressing on the contours. You can prick the outlines of the design with a needle – colored dots will remain on the fabric, copying the drawing.

A clear result cannot be achieved if the details of the drawing are small: they turn out blurry. The technique is only suitable for smooth fabric or burlap. On fleecy, fluffy fabric, the image will remain unclear.

The disadvantages of the method include the high “staining” ability of carbon paper – usually unsightly marks are noticeable on the fabric.

Laser printer

For this purpose, you will have to purchase freezer paper. It is usually used for freezing food, but the material has long been adopted by needlewomen. On one side, the paper is smooth and is easily ironed onto the fabric, leaving prints on it. You should prepare the main fabric on which the drawing will be made (preferably linen, cotton).

Operating procedure:

  1. Cut out a sheet of freezer paper equal in size to A4.
  2. Iron the sheet with the shiny side to the fabric, iron all the corners well so that the freezer does not come off.
  3. Trim the fabric along the edges of the sheet so that there are no threads sticking out (they can damage the printer).
  4. Place the workpiece into the laser printer, making sure that the design will turn out on the desired side.
  5. Send the image to print (the printer may fail at first, then the procedure should be repeated).

If the picture will then be sewn onto clothing, you need to use the “Mirror Image” function in the graphics program or in the printer driver window. In this case, the design will be printed on the correct side.

Important! You should always preview an image before printing it.

Required materials and preparation

Depending on how the drawing is intended to be translated, different devices and additional materials may be required. Here is a sample list:

  • carbon paper or tracing paper;
  • thin fabric;
  • simple pencil, chalk;
  • needle;
  • transfer pencil;
  • pins;
  • iron;
  • lamp;
  • glass;
  • printer;
  • fabric and pattern.

As preparation, you should print the image. You can make a drawing in any program on your computer that produces graphic images and prints them. If the pictures are small, they are printed on one sheet.

All borders should be clear, bold, and clearly visible – this will make transferring the design onto the fabric easier. You can even artificially increase the contrast and saturation of lines, and, if possible, remove light details from the picture.

Tissue paper

Tracing paper or tissue paper helps to transfer the design onto fabric without carbon paper. The method is used for thick fabrics – velvet, velor, shiny bases.

First you need to transfer the drawing onto tissue paper. Then the paper matrix is ​​placed on top of the fabric and secured with safety pins (you can use paper clips instead). Then the design is sewn directly onto the tracing paper with neat stitches, the paper is torn off so as not to damage the threads. The embroidered pattern is ready.

Translation of drawing into matter

Below are the main methods by which an image is transferred to a base.

Carbon stamp

The main products of our Bureau were technical documentation of various kinds. It was written by scientists and engineers, and there were two specialized bureaus for the production of white copies. One of them was typewritten, functioning under the auspices of the secret unit. There were few typists, three or four. One of them was the eldest. She accepted orders and delivered completed work, and of course she did the rest of the time printing. The cars were already electric. This was a relative innovation. Until recently, mechanical machines were widely used. In order to type four or five copies, the typist had to hit the keys hard with her finger. The walls and ceiling of the machine bureau were covered with sound-absorbing material, which somewhat reduced the acoustic load. No one was allowed to enter the typists’ room. Communication with the senior typist was conducted through the window.

Another division was called the “Design Bureau”. The bureau was headed by Mikhali Fedorovich Kurochkin. When I came from NITB, he was a major, and then he received a lieutenant colonel and retired with this rank. The rest of the Bureau of Registration were civilian employees. By the way, such a term did not officially exist. They were called “workers and employees of the Soviet Army.” The Bureau employed draftsmen, copyists, a photocopying technician, a photographer, and a bookbinder. I don’t know what Kurochkin’s specialty was, but he had an excellent command of all documentation processing technologies. His calligraphy was at the level of art, and he was often approached by high authorities with a request to sign some congratulatory address or make original business cards. He was also known as a volleyball player in the past. True, even now he played excellently, but he was no longer a member of the General Staff team, because he was much older than us.

§

In the previous chapter I tried to talk about what we did. Here we will talk about how we did it.

We did not have our own experimental base and our activity consisted of processing information, incoming and outgoing, mainly on paper.

Although negotiation processes also occupied a prominent place. In some places we consulted, we consulted other participants in the process. Nowadays it would be called office work, but then the word “office”, although well known, was little used. More often they said “office”, “office”, “institution”. Nowadays it is impossible to imagine any office without computers, printers, scanners, copiers and other modern equipment. But then there was nothing like that.

Everything was done by hand. At the same time, some details of the process were quite strictly regulated, especially in institutions like ours, where many papers were classified as secret. Drafts and texts were first written by hand. I had to write a lot, so a good, comfortable pen was a very important tool for a clerical worker, regardless of rank. In the 50s, and especially the 60s, no one used inkwells into which a steel pen was periodically dipped. There were no longer inkwells even in schools. The so-called fountain pens, also known as “samopiski,” were in use. By that time, ballpoint pens filled with paste were already quite widespread in our country. However, many people, including me, preferred to write with fountain pens, the reservoir of which had to be periodically refilled with ink. Texts written with a ballpoint pen were somewhat reminiscent of pencil writing and did not provide aesthetic pleasure. It was considered prestigious to have a good fountain pen with a gold (actually, of course, gilded) nib from some famous company, preferably Parker. I didn’t have a Parker, but I did get a good German fountain pen.

§

We were not allowed to use separate sheets of paper for any kind of notes, including making drafts. We wrote exclusively in workbooks – numbered, laced and sealed with wax. The notebooks were classified and unclassified. Secret items had to be deposited daily in the evening in the secret part, and unclassified items could be kept in the department, but in a locked safe.

After the draft document was compiled and signed by the head of the department, it had to be typed on a typewriter. To do this, the document had to be submitted against receipt to a typewriting office. Other employees were not allowed to use typewriters. This was the case not only in institutions associated with secret work, but absolutely everywhere. Typewriters were sold to private individuals only as an exception, with special permission from the KGB, just like weapons. The owner had to store the machine in conditions that prevented uncontrolled access to it by other persons. Now in computer times, when everyone is their own typist, the entire writing fraternity easily taps on the keyboard at an enviable speed. And then, except for professional typists, no one knew how to type. The printed document had to be proofread, typos noted with a soft pencil and taken back to the machine bureau to correct them.

Finally, the finished document, signed by the relevant officials, was sent to the address. More often than not, one copy of the document was not enough. If no more than five of them were required, then when printing on a typewriter, several sheets of paper were laid down, covered with carbon paper, commonly called “carbon paper.” The second and third specimens still looked quite decent, but the fourth and fifth were already very pale. If more than five copies were required, say several dozen, then the text was printed on special paper, from which it could be reproduced in a machine called a “rotator.” This is how text documents were prepared.

Flat printing

In modern printing production, flat printing is the leader. All elements in it are located almost in the same plane. The basis of the printing form is a metal plate (aluminum is used in modern printing), and the separation of printed and white-space elements is based on the difference in the physical and chemical properties of the surface of the form.

It is treated with a special composition that forms films with different surface properties on the blank and printed areas. The blank elements are pre-moistened with water, so they do not accept greasy paint. During the printing process, the plate is alternately wetted with water and rolled with paint, then paper is inserted and an imprint is made on it under pressure.

Powdering

The technique for creating a transfer pattern is suitable for all types of fabric – linen, cotton, silk, with a smooth surface or with a pile. There is no difference in the shade of the fabric – the base can be dark or light. Using this method, you can simultaneously translate a picture onto several pieces of material.

The operating procedure is as follows:

  1. Prepare the matrix. To do this, you will need a board, which should be covered with felt and the required number of sheets of tracing paper placed. Their maximum number is 6.
  2. Pin the drawing to the top tracing paper. Poke holes in the design with a needle as often as possible. The needle should be thick and the spaces between the holes should be equal. To make it convenient to work, stick the sewing needle with the reverse side into the pencil, leaving a sharp tip. Holding a pencil is much more comfortable than holding a regular needle.
  3. Separate the matrices, lay them out one by one (fabric plus tracing paper), and pin them together with pins. Wipe each matrix from the tracing paper side with a solution of blue, kerosene, and tooth powder. The solution will leave an imprint of the design on the fabric through the holes.
  4. Dry the fabric for an hour, remove the tracing paper before doing this. You don’t have to throw away the matrix, but brush off the remaining solution from it and save it.
  5. Immediately draw the outline of the picture that appears or stitch it with thread.

The solution for light and dark fabrics is prepared differently. In the first case, mix 100 g of purified kerosene, 10 g of blue, 2 g of tooth powder. For the second recipe, combine 100 g of kerosene and 10 g of blue-free powder. Mix the product in a ceramic bowl.

Instead of tooth powder, you can use chalk for dark fabrics, and activated charcoal for light ones. Some needlewomen simply sprinkle light-colored materials with blue without using kerosene.

Sheer fabric

Thin, transparent fabrics are on sale – interlining, voile, silk, voile, nylon, georgette, organza. They can also be used to translate pictures if the main product is intended to be made from them.

To work, you need to put a drawing on it and secure the fabric with pins on top. The contours of the picture will be clearly visible, so you can immediately paint on the front side of the fabric with acrylic paints without a rough sketch. It is better to carry out the work on a thick wooden board or plywood.

Solvent

You will need to print the design on thick, glossy paper to ensure that the paint does not bleed through. Then attach the corners of the drawing to the paper with needles and buttons. Prepare a cotton swab, wrap it in a cotton cloth, and soak it in a solvent. Saturate the paper lying on the fabric with solvent.

To improve the result, place the bottom of a spoon on the drawing and press well along the contour. The ink will bleed onto the fabric, which will produce the same image.

Sublimation technology

Sublimation printing is intended for dyeing synthetic and semi-synthetic woven materials and applying designs to souvenir products. The method is based on the sublimation of a dye that, when heated, turns first into a gaseous and then into a solid state.

Сублимационная технология
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For application, a heat press is used, which heats the surface of the material to a state of melting. The paint that falls on it is firmly soldered to the surface, forming a layer that is resistant to mechanical stress. Printing is done on specialized sublimation printers.

Pad printing

Tampon printing is a type of printing that allows you to print an image on surfaces of any shape. This is one of the intaglio printing methods, where with the help of an intermediate elastic element – a tampon or roller – the image is transferred to any relief of the printed material.

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Flexible rollers are made of silicone or polyester urethane. Printing forms are made of metal. The process is as follows:

  • an image is etched onto a metal cliche;
  • the finished form is installed in the printing machine;
  • paint is fed and evenly distributed over the cliché;
  • the swab takes the coloring matter from the cliche and transfers the designs to the product;
  • items with the printed image are sent for drying.

Pad printing is used for the production of promotional products, souvenirs, and branded goods. It is used in the production of toys, disposable tableware, packaging for confectionery products, perfumes, and in the automotive industry.

Printing types and methods

All types of printing in printing are based on the same principle of applying an image; the differences lie only in technology and equipment. Printing is divided into types and printing methods. They differ in the structure of printing forms and elements.

In modern printing production, computer-to-plate (CtP) technology is used to produce plates. It is designed for offset, gravure, letterpress and screen printing. The advantage of the technology is the absence of intermediate operations, which increases image clarity. Form plates are illuminated with a laser or ultraviolet beam, then undergo chemical treatment.

Screen printing

An alternative to offset printing for monochrome images is screen printing. It is well suited for low-budget information products, which include newspapers, forms, leaflets, and instructions.

A special case of screen printing is risography. On a special film, in accordance with the pattern, tiny holes are burned, which will serve as nozzles during printing. The film is stretched onto a paint drum. When the drum rotates, under the action of centrifugal forces, the paint is distributed along the inner walls of the drum and pressed through the holes in the film. The ink is then transferred to the paper.

Risography is characterized by high printing speed and very short pre-press preparation. From page layout to first print, it takes less than 40 seconds. However, with high printing speed and the lowest cost per print among other types of printing, risography also has its drawbacks.

It cannot be used to produce high-quality color images, and monochrome printing is performed without halftones. Printing resolution is limited by the size of the stencil holes. Risography is optimal for small and medium runs of monochrome printed products.

Screen printing, or silk-screen printing

In screen printing, an image is created by imprinting ink through a mesh of threads stretched over a frame. Initially, the mesh consisted of silk, hence the name of the method – silk-screen printing. In modern printing, polymer or metal threads are used. The thickness of the paint layer depends on the diameter of the threads and the distance between them. The printing plate is made in three ways:

  • Direct, when a polymer copy solution is applied to the mesh. When dried, it forms a photosensitive soluble layer. After exposing the image to UV rays, the printed elements are washed out and the white spaces harden.
  • Indirect, in which the copy layer is first applied to the film and then rolled onto the mesh.
  • The combined method provides higher circulation resistance and image clarity due to the fact that the mesh is pre-connected with copying material and solution.

The material to be printed is rigidly fixed on the machine in a horizontal position. Ink is applied to the printing plate and pressed using a squeegee. He also cuts off excess paint. Then the resulting image is sent to dry.

Шелкография
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Screen printing is used for printing business cards, invitations, postcards, folders, advertising booklets and other representative printed products. Using silk-screen printing, images are applied to small objects; the method is used for the manufacture of souvenirs – key rings, lighters, pens, etc.

UV printing

Copying business papers a hundred years ago / Sudo Null IT News
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Ultraviolet printing is done on inkjet printers with UV LEDs, under the influence of which the paint is cured. It is made from polymerizing materials that are resistant to fading and water. Unlike offset inks, UV ink hardens quickly, which reduces the scrap rate and speeds up the printing process.

Flexography

Flexography is one of the letterpress printing methods, when an image is applied to different materials using elastic printed elements. The convex parts of the matrix are made of photopolymer or rubber. The image is applied by photopolymerization of printed elements with UV rays. After preparation, the resulting cliche is thoroughly washed and dried.

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Flexographic printing uses flowing, quick-drying inks:

  • Water-based paints are used for absorbent surfaces, in which case the image turns out matte.
  • Paints based on alcohol solvents are less environmentally friendly. But they are cheaper, adhere better to the surface and give a glossy shine.
  • Paints fixed with ultraviolet radiation convey colors with high accuracy and maintain their balance for the entire circulation, adhere better than others to the surface, and have no odor.
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Digital printing

The main advantage of digital printing is the absence of intermediate steps between the digital file and the printing process itself. Digital printing is divided into two large classes – inkjet and laser.

Laser printing

Laser printing is used mainly for printing documents and drawings. In this it is similar to monochrome screen printing. But laser printing uses different principles. Under the influence of a laser beam, the electrical resistance on the surface of the photodrum changes locally.

At Canon, we use this technology in all of our laser printers and office multifunction devices. From model to model, we improve our devices, improving print quality, and also pay great attention to the protection of data transmitted for printing.

An analogue of laser printing is LED printing. Instead of a laser, it uses LEDs that shine through slits. In this case, the light beam falls perpendicularly to the photodrum without distorting the image. When laser printing, there may be slight blurring of the image at the edges of the print due to the large inclination of the laser beam to the surface of the drum.

Océ DirectPress technology found on our VarioPrint devices converts data into a digital image in one step. It is a 100% digital process that is independent of light source, temperature changes, static charge, humidity and toner composition, and is extremely stable in terms of image uniformity and quality.

Also with fewer mechanical parts, this technology is very reliable and allows the system to be affordable and compact. It promotes a healthier work environment because no ozone is generated during printing and no toner waste is generated.

Inkjet printing

This is a promising area of ​​printing that allows you to print high-quality multi-color images not only on paper. The principle of inkjet printing is based on the droplet application of ink from the print head. There are two methods of ink supply – piezoelectric and thermal.

In the first case, the role of a “piston” is played by a bending piezoelectric plate, and in the second case, by a bubble of steam formed on the surface of the microheater. Depending on the delivery method, the type of ink is determined. An attempt to replace one ink with another will lead to failure of the printing equipment.

Today, inkjet polycolor printing has, perhaps, the most different types of implementation. This can be seen using our equipment as an example. Océ ProStream wide format printers with a piezoelectric print head use solvent inks.

This type of equipment has a number of innovative features. For example, ColorGrip, which allows you to make high-quality prints on low-quality paper. This is achieved by spraying a special composition during printing, which creates an adhesive film on the surface of the media.

The Océ Colorado 1640 printer works with UV printing technology. By curing the ink with ultraviolet light, this technology allows printing on heat-sensitive materials. When printing, the printer maintains a stable media temperature at 28 0C.

We have also developed our own textured printing technology to convey with high accuracy not only color, but also surface texture. This method provides full access to printing for people with visual impairments, for whom tactile sensations are the main channel for receiving information. We talked about this technology in our post “Elevated printing: a new look at printing.”

The use of the latest developments in digital printing has allowed it to significantly strengthen and expand its position in modern printing. However, it would be incorrect to consider it from the perspective of an alternative to offset printing, since these types of printing have different technologies and tasks. But it is recommended to compare profitability depending on the circulation size.

If for digital printing the cost of a copy almost does not depend on the size of the circulation, then for offset printing, where the main costs fall on the preparatory stages of work, an increase in circulation leads to a reduction in the cost of the copy. In graph form, this can be represented as a straight horizontal line for “digit” and a hyperbola for offset.

The intersection point of these graphs will give the limiting circulation size that separates the scope of application of these printing methods. The emergence of new developments and technologies in digital printing is constantly shifting the point of circulation size upward. If earlier the profitability of “digital” was calculated in hundreds of copies, now the number is in the thousands. It’s nice to know that this is our contribution. Let’s give just a few examples.

Previously, expensive high-quality paper was used for inkjet printing due to the fact that the ink was strongly absorbed on the more porous, cheap paper, which affected the color quality and image clarity. Offset printing in this regard was in a much more advantageous position.

Many types of paper were suitable for it, including those from the budget segment. This means that the cost of a copy can be significantly reduced only due to the media, without taking into account the cost of the printing itself. The transition to cheaper media would open up new prospects for digital printing. We implemented the possibility of such a transition in several ways.

A universal method for printing on a wide range of media is the new ColorGrip technology, which is optionally connected to large-format inkjet printers. Its essence lies in the fact that before ink, a special composition is applied dropwise to the paper.

It has a dual function. Firstly, the film formed on the surface of the carrier limits the absorption of ink into the paper. Secondly, the ColorGrip composition acts as a primer, providing better adhesion. Precise positioning of the composition droplets optimizes its consumption.

Another method can be considered the creation of pigment ink. This was implemented on the imagePROGRAF series large format printers. The new LUCIA EX pigment inks are more saturated and absorb less into the media. Thanks to this, they can be used on different types of paper.

To reduce the cost of the printing process itself due to economical ink consumption, we have made a number of developments, from variable ink droplet size to ink recycling in the print head. All this ensured better color reproduction without unnecessary ink consumption for auxiliary operations.

One more important point should be noted. In offset printing houses, the finished printed sheets arrive at the binding department, where they are folded, stitched, trimmed and undergo further processing steps that turn them into a finished product.

This requires additional equipment, production space, and personnel. This requires costs that are included in the cost of the copy. With digital printing we have been able to reduce these costs. Optionally, our wide-format inkjet printers can be equipped with various post-press modules.

We continue our developments in the field of digital printing. Of course, it is difficult to imagine that digital will ever completely replace offset, but the printing market is changing towards customized printing, when each copy will be printed taking into account the individual needs of the buyer. And for this, digital printing is best suited with its flexibility and versatility of technology.

In subsequent articles we will tell you about new trends in the industry, innovative developments, technologies used, and prepare reviews of the most interesting models. Write to us whether this article was useful to you, and what materials you would like to see on this blog, what issues should be covered and what to pay attention to.

Lithograph

One of the oldest methods of flat printing is lithography. It has been used for printing images since the late 18th century. A flat stone was previously used for the printing matrix, but now it has been replaced with metal plates that are easier to process.

The main drawing is applied to their surface with a lithographic pencil or thick ink. The mold is then etched with an acidic compound to create gap areas. The thick lithographic ink protects the lines of the design, and the areas underneath remain unetched.

After etching, the matrix is ​​placed in the machine, the original image is washed off, and in its place printing ink is applied with a roller, which adheres well to the unetched areas. To obtain an impression, paper is placed on the finished form and rolled under a certain pressure.

Литография
From open source Yandex Pictures

Lithography is used to make prints; it conveys texture well and is considered a separate form of art. Today it is used for printing books, maps, posters, and packaging.