Tag Archives: image
What Is Pad Printing?
Pad printing is a modern printing process that can be used to quickly transfer 2-D images on to all sorts of 3-D objects. However, before getting into a description of what pad printing is, it’s important to first define a few specific elements that pad printing relies on.
First, it’s important to understand gravure printing. Gravure put simply, is a process that etches an image onto the surface of a metal plate. This places the images – in ink form – in the recesses of the metal plate, unlike relief printing (where the image is raised). By filling the recesses with ink, and leaving the raised portions of the plate dry, the image can be transferred from the plate to the substrate quickly and cleanly. Gravure can produce very fine and detailed images on short or long runs in multiple colors.
Beyond the gravure printing process, pad printing also relies on plates – or cliches. In traditional offset processes, printing relies on transferring an inked image from an offset (the plate) to a rubber blanket which then makes contact with the print surface. When compared to other modern printing methods, offset printing with plates is one of the best solutions when it comes to economically producing commercial quantities of high quality prints, without requiring much maintenance. Today, cliches are made from metal or polyester.
However, pad printing is unique when compared to other gravure and offset methods in that the ink is transferred from the plate with a silicone pad, which then transfers the ink to the substrate. This allows the process to be used for a number of products that would otherwise be impossible to print on, including medical products, electronics, appliances, toys, sports equipment, and more.
Crude forms of the basic premise behind pad printing have existed for hundreds of years. However, the popularity of the process enjoyed rapid expansion when the availability of modern manufacturing made widespread commercial use feasible. This expansion was felt first by the watch-making industry after the Second World War, which then gave way to pad printing being used for far more products. Since then, the method has experienced substantial growth due to the many applications that have found a use for it.
Partly to thank for the rapid growth of pad printing has been the increased availability of advanced silicone. The unique properties of the silicon pads used for the process gives it its highly sought after ability to pick the image up from a flat plate and then transfer it to a number of surfaces – including flat, spherical, textured, concave, and convex surfaces. This makes this specific printing technique invaluable for everyone from appliance manufacturers to electronics manufacturers who need a better solution for membrane switch printing.
What Is Pad Printing?
Pad printing is a modern printing process that can be used to quickly transfer 2-D images on to all sorts of 3-D objects. However, before getting into a description of what pad printing is, it’s important to first define a few specific elements that pad printing relies on.
First, it’s important to understand gravure printing. Gravure put simply, is a process that etches an image onto the surface of a metal plate. This places the images – in ink form – in the recesses of the metal plate, unlike relief printing (where the image is raised). By filling the recesses with ink, and leaving the raised portions of the plate dry, the image can be transferred from the plate to the substrate quickly and cleanly. Gravure can produce very fine and detailed images on short or long runs in multiple colors.
Beyond the gravure printing process, pad printing also relies on plates – or cliches. In traditional offset processes, printing relies on transferring an inked image from an offset (the plate) to a rubber blanket which then makes contact with the print surface. When compared to other modern printing methods, offset printing with plates is one of the best solutions when it comes to economically producing commercial quantities of high quality prints, without requiring much maintenance. Today, cliches are made from metal or polyester.
However, pad printing is unique when compared to other gravure and offset methods in that the ink is transferred from the plate with a silicone pad, which then transfers the ink to the substrate. This allows the process to be used for a number of products that would otherwise be impossible to print on, including medical products, electronics, appliances, toys, sports equipment, and more.
Crude forms of the basic premise behind pad printing have existed for hundreds of years. However, the popularity of the process enjoyed rapid expansion when the availability of modern manufacturing made widespread commercial use feasible. This expansion was felt first by the watch-making industry after the Second World War, which then gave way to pad printing being used for far more products. Since then, the method has experienced substantial growth due to the many applications that have found a use for it.
Partly to thank for the rapid growth of pad printing has been the increased availability of advanced silicone. The unique properties of the silicon pads used for the process gives it its highly sought after ability to pick the image up from a flat plate and then transfer it to a number of surfaces – including flat, spherical, textured, concave, and convex surfaces. This makes this specific printing technique invaluable for everyone from appliance manufacturers to electronics manufacturers who need a better solution for membrane switch printing.
Good character and good reputation, not always synonymous
There is a fundamental difference between having a “good” character, and having a “good” reputation. Your character is composed of many internal factors that may or may not be expressed publically. Your reputation is how the outside world perceives your character. The interrelation between these two can be very complex.
For example, for a long period of time Bernie Madoffs financial reputation allowed him to literally steal millions of dollars from investors. He was able to maintain a public persona as a sound investment advisor, and to garner trust from his clients.
As we now know, his character was less than admirable, and it was a long time before that became evident to investors and regulatory and legal organizations.
On the other hand, actor Mel Gibsons career has been brought to its knees by anti-Semitic rants and abuse of a female companion. His public image is such that he was recently targeted by a fundraiser for a California synagogue by implying that a donation would testify to his claims that he is not anti-Semitic. This would supposedly help repair his public image.
In fact, regardless of what may or may not be character flaws, Mel Gibson performs charitable works regularly, but quietly. His 5 million dollar donation to Mount Sinai Hospital, a Jewish medical institution, speaks to his generosity.
While Bernie Madoffs reputation is definitely not salvageable (and rightly so), Mel Gibson should consider taking advantage of some reputation repair. Especially online, where the reach is global and immediate.
Companies such as List My Business offer ORM (Online Reputation Management) services to individuals and companies who have taken a hit from online press or posts. Unfortunately, as rich a source the internet is for information in general, it can be a vicious beast where attacks are not policed. Large forums have huge amounts of traffic, and whatever the posting it will rank highly on any search. Typing your name, or the name of your company, into Google or another such search instrument, could bring you a very bad surprise.
ORM companies such as List My Business, perform a dual task. They not only try to bump the negative postings to the bottom of the search lists (where they are virtually invisible), but they also work to improve your online image.
Your character, probably well known by your family, friends and business associates, is not what the huge audience on the internet sees. They can only know your reputation, the external exhibition of your internal character. For the world in general, that is all that exists. If that reputation is damaged, it is of huge importance that companies and individuals exercise immediate damage control by consulting a company that specializes in ORM. If your character shines like a bright light to your immediate circle, make sure your public image has been polished to mirror quality.