Lithographic printing, lithography, planographic printing or planography are the other names used for Litho printing. This type of printing is done on a very basic principle which does not involve mixing water and oil. Dissimilar to intaglio and relief printing where non-image and image sections remain at varied levels; there is a single flat surface used for printing in lithography. This is a printing procedure where flat stones are treated for attracting oil-based inks to the image sections and for repelling oil-based inks from the non-image section that remains wet. When pressure is exerted on the stone against that surface that needs to be printed, image areas which are oily inked leave a mark of preferred design.
The Uses of Lithography Printing
Lithography is a printing procedure that is used in the form of art and at the same time it is also used commercially. The procedure of lithography is quite simple. It is to be noted that this printing procedure is very popular among art students. Commercially, this type of printing is used in the form of offset printing. Lithography printing has innumerable applications these days. There are many artists who make use of lithography for expressing their creativity by way of varied forms. In the commercial arena, this type of printing is done by the use of metal plates in place of stones. The basic procedure for printing is the same; however, there are some changes that have taken place with the use of latest technology. Lithography printing is common in places where printing needs to be carried out on a very wide scale. Offset lithography is only a part of lithographic printing and it is one of the most common varieties of printing used in the recent times. Offset printing is of good use in producing large text volumes within affordable costs. Photographic processes are also used in the field of lithography. The plate used for printing is roughened and then covered using photosensitive media. The plate is then exposed to UV light.
Main Products Required for Lithography Printing
Some of the most important tools required for litho printing include items like Windows and Mac operating systems, Epson and Canon digital proofing mechanisms and ECRM Plate Setters. The Computer to plate or the CTP is a kind of prepess or imaging technology which is used in the field of modern lithography.
Modern Lithography- The Procedure
Modern lithography involves making an image in polymer coating and then applying it on aluminum plate. Initially, the plate surface is manipulated chemically and roughened for making some regions hydrophilic so that they can act in accepting water and in repelling ink while the other regions are hydrophobia and they act towards repelling water and accepting ink. Consequently, printing is done directly using aluminum plates which causes the image to reverse. It can also result in the transfer of image on sheet paper. Production of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions on aluminum plate or stone is one of the main procedures involves in litho printing.
