Selection of Printing Materials in Packaging and Printing Design (I)

Abstract : In view of the current selection of printing materials for packaging design, the only realistic “1”-3 questions that focus on the single principle of functional requirements, from the aspects of the functions of packaging prints, environmental characteristics, and printing effects, discusses the printing materials in the design of packaging prints. The choice of packaging materials for printing the choice of printing materials mainly related to the choice of substrates and ink materials.

Keywords: commodities; packaging prints; printed materials; environmental performance;

In the packaging and printing design, the selection of printed materials involves all aspects. Here for the current choice in packaging design and printing materials, only focus on the functional requirements of the single principle of the reality of the problem, from the function of packaging prints, environmental characteristics, the final printing effect of the three aspects, to explore the choice of printing materials. The purpose is to initiate a study, expect more people to improve the quality of packaging and printing products, and to implement a green packaging project, to make more, more comprehensive and systematic research on this issue.

1 Meet functional requirements

There are many types of products, and their characteristics and uses vary. For example, some products are afraid of heat and are afraid of the tide. Some products are afraid of touching or shocking, and some products are easy to absorb odors. Thus, different goods have different functional requirements for packaging. In the packaging and printing design, the choice of printing materials should first be based on the different characteristics of the goods, select the appropriate printing materials (printing materials) to meet the functional requirements of the goods on the packaging print. According to the needs of the characteristics of the product, for goods that are liable to absorb odors (such as tea), odor-free packaging materials cannot be used to avoid odor. To do this, designers must be familiar with the common packaging materials, such as paper, plastics, metals, and glass, as well as the classification and technical performance of various composite materials that are continuously developed as the packaging material manufacturing technology progresses, so that it can be packaged according to the commodity. The functional requirements of the printed product, select the appropriate printing material.

For paper printing materials can be divided into paper, cardboard, corrugated board three categories. At the same time, paper and paperboard are also classified into cultural paper, household paper, packaging paper, industrial technical paper, construction paperboard, etc., depending on their use; corrugated paperboard is divided into single corrugated paperboard, double corrugated paperboard, and three-corrugated corrugated paperboard. Different kinds of papers each have different physical properties, appearance surface properties, printability properties, absorption properties, and the like.

For plastic printing materials are mainly plastic containers and plastic films (various composite materials). You should be familiar with the materials and their applicable product categories when choosing. For example, polyester bottles are suitable for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and beverages containing CO:, and plastic buckets are suitable for packaging of industrial raw materials, oils, and carbonated beverages.

For metal printing materials, there are mainly tin-plated steel sheets, tin-free tin sheets, and aluminum alloy sheets. Such as tinplate (tinplate), is a metal packaging material made of tin plated steel sheet, can be used for a variety of canned food packaging.

In short, only after familiar with the packaging materials and their technical performance, as well as the characteristics of the goods, can we make reasonable choices in the printing materials in the packaging design.

2 Pay attention to environmental characteristics

With the expansion of global economic trade and the increase in consumer demand, the issue of abandonment of commodity packaging has become a global issue of common concern. For this reason, environmental friendliness should also be an important design principle in product packaging design.

The principle of environmental friendliness focuses on the entire life cycle of packaging materials and products, including the manufacturing process and use of packaging materials and products, and the possible harm to the environment after disposal, as well as the ease of recycling and utilization of packaging waste. According to this design principle, it is required that the printed material as a package must have good environmental characteristics. To this end, try to use green packaging and printing materials, choose non-toxic, non-harmful, easy to decompose processing or recycling, non-polluting materials, so that in the process of use, the impact on the environment as much as possible, easy to recycle after use, reduce packaging The pollution of the environment after the material was abandoned became a must for the implementation of green packaging projects in packaging design. The environmental characteristics of packaging and printing products mainly relate to the environmental characteristics of the printing materials and ink materials used. From the perspective of the problems, the ink materials are briefly discussed here.

In recent years, many countries have increased the requirements and restrictions on hygiene and environmental protection in packaging and printing. Especially for food packaging prints, due to the use of organic solvent-based inks and varnish, hydrocarbons are emitted, air is contaminated, and health is impaired. Therefore, food packaging printing in developed countries has basically no longer used solvent-based printing. Ink materials. Research and development and application of small pollution, pollution, and pollution-free green packaging and printing materials have become an inevitable requirement for the development of green packaging.