Printing

Printing methods

There are three methods suitable for poster printing:

  1. Offset printing (large runs)
  2. Screen printing (medium runs)
  3. Digital printing (smaller runs)

For all three methods, the data is supplied in digital form.

Data guidelines

City format F200 
 Wide format F12
245 x 350 mm 470 x 224 mm
355 dpi resolution 355 dpi resolution
Final screen 24 Final screen 28
World format F4 Large format F24
245 x 350 mm 470 x 448 mm
355 dpi resolution 355 dpi resolution
Final screen 28 Final screen 24

 

Screen
As a rule, the poster will be printed in the offset process with a 24 to 28 screen. Depending on the poster size, the data must be prepared in the correct format with a resolution of 355 dpi. The screening will be determined by the respective printer depending on the printing process.

Computer-to-plate/Computer-to-screen
In digital printing, the data is processed directly ex computer. In offset printing, it is transferred to the plates, in screen printing to the screen fabric. 

Inks
The following rules should be observed with regardto printing inks:

  • Must be waterproof, must not crack when folded, must not stain as a result of the wet-gluing process or weather conditions.
  • No varnished inks, as these crack when folded, suffer from soaking, and stick together.

Imprints/overprints
Dealer imprints into existing visuals are best made by screen printing.

Add-ons and snipes
For add-ons and snipes, it is recommended to use the same paper quality (grain-long) and printing technology as for posters. Self-adhesive films do not adhere to wet posters and are therefore not suitable.

Caution: Backlit posters cannot be modified with add-ons or snipes!

Rear surface of posters
To prevent underlying old posters from shining through, the rear surface of paper posters may be imprinted with a screen (black, 25-50%) if the visual contains large white areas. Otherwise, special papers with colored rear surfaces such as Z-Plakat plus, Chantebleu or Chantegris may be used.

Caution: Avoid using solid-tone printing, excessively fine screening or even thicker paper! This will cause insufficent bonding with the adhesive and seperation of the poster from the posting panel.

Printing in foreign countries
If you have your posters printed abroad, please note that fundamentally different rules may apply for poster technology, such as dry-gluing processes, other paper qualities, other fiber directions, overlapping, etc.