Flexo Printing
Flexography is the most common process used to print packaging.
The corrugated is pulled through a series of stations, or print
units. Each print unit is printing a single color. The various
tones and shading are achieved by overlaying basic shades of
ink.
This technology employs plates with raised images (relief)
and only the raised images come in contact with the corrugated
during printing.
Our flexo presses accommodate sheets up to 66”x170”,
have high-end printing up to 360 line screen, and shorten production
time by slotting, scoring, folding and gluing.
Our onsite ink kitchen saves time and ensures consistency.
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Litho
Offset Printing
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Tilsner Carton Company was the first converter in the United
States to purchase the Gopfert Rotary Die Cutter, which has an
unusually large capacity of 66”x126” and provides
high end graphics with a 360 line screen. In addition, the Gopfert
streamlines printing and diecutting.
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As an alternative to printing directly on corrugated,
the lithographic process offers crisper images and enhanced
color flexibility by printing onto large or small labels that
are then mounted onto corrugated.
The basic principle of offset printing is that oil and water
do not mix. A litho printing plate has non-image areas which
absorb water. The plate is kept moist throughout so that ink
only adheres to image areas.
During every cycle of the press the ink image is first transferred
to a rubber surfaced offset cylinder and from there to the
paper.
The offset cylinder’s flexibility preserves the delicate
plates and conforms to the surface of textured papers.
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Tilsner Carton Company has several laminating machines that
apply the litho labels to corrugated. We have the capability
to do full or spot label mounting up to 60” x 78.” Our
maximum sheet size is 65” x 100.”
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Art Preparation Guidelines
Please consider the following when setting up art files for cartons and displays:
How will your artwork be printed?
Each process involves different design specifications. The most common processes are shown below. Silkscreen and digital printing are also available.
Lithographic Label Files:
- Digital art may be supplied as Illustrator, InDesign, Quark and/or Photoshop files. PDFs are acceptable in some cases. No low-resolution jpegs, please.
- Photographic images should be high-resolution (300dpi) images at full size.
- Please outline text whenever possible, or provide all fonts needed.
- Critical text/artwork should be a minimum of 1/4” away from the dieline edge and/or scores.
- Minimum bleed is 1/2” out from the dieline. NOTE: If we supply a dieline with label trim included, please bleed the art 1/8” out from the label trim area (green lines).
Flexographic/Direct Print Files:
- Digital line art should preferably be vector-based (i.e., Adobe Illustrator) images. Photoshop line art should be 600dpi minimum.
- Photographic image resolution should be at least 150dpi at full size.
- Touching colors will be trapped (overlapped about 3/32”) to allow for press movement during printing.
- Text size minimum is 8 points, if possible.
- Line weight minimum is 1 point.
- Critical text/artwork should be a minimum of 1/2’ away from the dieline edge and/or scores.
- Minimum bleed is 3/8” out from the dieline.
Dielines or Templates:
Dielines are necessary to assure the proper size and placement of art. Your Sales Representative can obtain one for you in your preferred format (i.e. PDF, eps, etc.).
File transfers:
Files can be received and sent via CD, email, your FTP site or our FTP site.
If using your FTP site, please provide your site address, login ID and password.
Our ftp site: ftp://64.65.160.44
Talk to your sales representative about obtaining a username and password before attempting to use the site.
You can also send files via yousendit.com to hbruesehoff@meridiandisplay.com.
Current Applications/Version:
The art department is Macintosh-based. Available programs include the Adobe CS3 Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign) and QuarkXPress 7.3.
Please supply the following:
- Complete, workable CMYK files; preferably in their native file format.
- A color printout of the file (when sending art by mail).
- All supporting files: Linked files and fonts.
- Appropriate Pantone or GCMI spot colors (if applicable) – indicate coated or uncoated for Pantone.
If you need a specific custom color, please provide a sample for color matching.
- Name of company, project and contact person for any questions related to the project.
Any questions? Contact your sales representative.
Heather Bruesehoff, Art Director
651-223-0539 Fax 651-227-6861
hbruesehoff@meridiandisplay.com
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