Gravure Printing

Gravure printing is an intaglio printing process in which the elements to be printed are recessed into the printing form. These recessed areas hold the ink and transfer it onto the printing material during the printing process.

How Gravure Printing Works

In gravure printing, the non-printing areas of the printing form remain at a constant surface level, while the printing areas are engraved or etched into the form as small depressions. During inking, the entire printing form is covered with ink, including both the printing and non-printing areas.

Before the actual printing process begins, excess ink is removed from the non-printing surface areas. This is usually done with a doctor blade or a similar wiping device. As a result, ink remains only in the recessed cells or grooves of the printing form.

When the printing form comes into contact with the substrate, pressure and adhesion forces transfer the ink from the recesses onto the material. This enables consistent ink application and makes gravure printing particularly suitable for detailed images, smooth gradients and large production volumes.

Applications, Characteristics and Printed Products

One of the most distinctive characteristics of gravure printing is the serrated or saw-tooth edge that can appear on letters and line drawings. This effect occurs because not only images, but also text and illustrations are screened during the process.

Today, gravure printing is mainly used for high-volume print products, often starting from around 200,000 copies. It is particularly efficient when large quantities need to be produced with consistent quality. Common applications include magazines, catalogues, packaging, labels, decorative papers and flexible packaging materials.

The choice of printing process depends on several factors, including the required print run, the format, the substrate, the desired print quality and the number of printing form changes. For large-scale production with demanding image quality, gravure printing remains an important and reliable printing method.