The main difference is that the nature is different, the production process is different, and the characteristics are different, as follows:

First, the nature is different

1.Flexo printing

Flexo printing is a direct printing method known as flexo printing because of the use of elastic, raised image plates.

2.Gravure printing

Gravure refers to gravure printing, first the printing plate on the excess ink scraping, and then through the impression roller to the printing plate between the printed matter, to apply appropriate pressure, the ink from the concave to the printed matter on a printing method.

Second, different production processes

1.Flexo printing

From the perspective of original design and platemaking process, flexographic printing process has its own system and its own unique features, and its platemaking process is basically as follows:

Original manuscript → electronic color separation or photography → positive negative image → back exposure → main exposure → development rinse → drying → post-processing → post-exposure → pasting.

2.Gravure printing

Gravure printing due to the high degree of automation of the printing machine, plate making quality is good, so the process operation is simpler than lithography, easy to master, the process flow is as follows:

Pre-press preparation → on the plate → Adjust the rules → official printing → post-press processing.

Three, different characteristics

1.Flexo printing

(1)the equipment structure is relatively simple, so the operation is also relatively simple and convenient.

(2) Flexographic printing is made of drum material, which can not only realize the double-sided printing of the substrate material, but also complete the work of wire glazing (or laminating), stamping, die-cutting, waste discharge, winding, etc. The production cycle is greatly shortened, manpower, material and financial resources are saved, and production costs are reduced.

(3)the range of substrate materials is relatively wide, such as paper, plastic film, aluminum foil, self-adhesive paper and so on.

(4)the print quality is good, the printing accuracy can reach 150 lines/inch, and the print layer is rich, the color is bright, the visual effect is good, especially suitable for the requirements of packaging printing.

2. Gravure printing

(1) The ink-bearing part of the gravure plate is concave, so it can undertake a large amount of ink, such as the electrostatic ink absorption device used with the gravure press, it can obtain a solid ink layer, bright colors and rich levels.

(2)the relative cost is low because the entire page of the gravure printing plate is protected by a hard metal chromium layer, so even when the scraper is in contact with the page, it still maintains a high printing resistance, generally up to several million prints.

(3)Offset printing is to wrap the produced plate on the plate cylinder, so there is always an area on the surface of the plate roller for fixing the plate. Gravure plate is different, because the gravure plate making operation is carried out directly on the cylinder, so do not do seamless stitching of the image on the cylinder, you can get a continuous pattern on the substrate

(4)Intaglio printing can be printed on both traditional paper and other materials such as film, aluminum foil, transfer paper.