The document discusses various print production techniques categorized as hand, mechanical, and digital. Hand techniques include etching, linocut, and woodcut which provide high quality outcomes but are time consuming. Mechanical techniques like letterpress and gravure provide high quality outputs but letterpress is straightforward while gravure is expensive. Digital techniques like photocopying, laser printing, and inkjet printing have advantages of speed and cost but can be prone to errors or require special materials. Desktop publishing allows for good quality outcomes using computers but has a learning curve.

1. Techniques and technologies used in print production.
Technique Definition Advantage Disadvantage
HAND
Etching Like engraving and The standard of the It is very time consuming
scratching patterns into outcome is very high
metal or wood
Linocut A printmaking technique. The standard of the It is quite complicated
A design is cut into the outcome is very high
linoleum surface with a
sharp knife
Screen print A printing very useful commercially Images for screen printing
technique,useswoven have to be simple
mesh to support an ink-
blocking stencil
Woodcut Artistic technique, an cheap and readily available It is hard to carve small
image is carved into the materials lettering into the template
surface of a block of wood
Lithography uses a stone or a metal It is cheap The materials are
plate with a completely complex to use.
smooth surfaceto print
text or artwork onto paper
or other suitable material
MECHANICAL
Letterpress locking movable type into It is a simple Each colour has to dry
the bed of a press, inking straightforward before applying the next
it, and rolling or pressing
paper against it to form an process
impression
Gravure Image is etched on surface The outcome is of high It is expensive
of metal plate/cylinderand quality.
filled with ink.
Raisedportions of the
plate/ cylinder are wiped/
scraped free of ink leaving
the ink and shape/pattern
Screen process Ink is applied to the back It is quick, easy and If there is one mistake
of the image carrier and precise then thousands of
pushed through porous or
open areas. cop0ies can be ruined
DIGITAL
Photocopying Machine that makes paper Quick and cheap They can break down
copies of documents and easily, get jammed and
other visual images. A dry
process using heat ruin copies
Laser printing rapidly produces high Colour printing is Prints wet and needs
quality text and graphics possible and Print quality time to dry and it is
on plain paper is good costly
Inkjet creates a digital image by Cheap and easy to refill need special papers to
propelling droplets of ink cartridges give best resolution
onto paper
Desktop publishing The creation of printed Good quality outcome It is complicated to use
materials using page
layout on a personal
computer