Printing Types restricts the Estimator to a set of valid selections for size, run type, ink, and paper when creating a new Estimate. You can see how this removes a lot of 'think work' for the Estimator, and improves speed and accuracy during the Estimating process.

Discover Printing Types

• Printing Types Data Grid
  • Workticket Printing Instruction Tags
• Types of Printing

Printing Types are set-up directly in the Data Grid by entering a Description and selecting the desired parameters from the drop down lists.

1. Description - This is where you enter the Printing Type name. This is used as the caption when selecting a Printing Type from a drop down menu in the Estimate.
2. Size From - These options allow you to specify what will dictate the print size.
   • Sections - This is for print types that require a flat imposition, and the size has been specified in the Section.
   • Flexo Dies - This is for print types that require continuous prints, eg labels, and is typically for Flexo printing.
3. Run Type - These options allow you to specify how the print run's time and quantity will be calculated on the Estimate.
   • Sheetfed - Sheets/hr - This calculates the print quantity and time in number of sheets for sheetfed printing.
   • Sheetfed - m²/hr - This calculates the print quantity and time in meters squared for sheetfed.
   • Web - Sheets/hr - This calculates the print quantity and time in number of sheets for web printing.
   • Web - m/hr - This calculates the print quantity and time in meters per hour for web.
   • Web - m²/hr - This calculates the print quantity and time in square meters per hour for web.
4. Ink - This allows you to set the ink settings for this print type.
   • Press Options - This will show the Estimator run options linked to the selected press, eg digital which uses click charges.
   • Ink Tables - This will provide a lookup of all the Ink Groups.
5. Paper Category - This allows you to specify which Material Category the printing substrate will be selected from. This list is setup in Setup > Settings & Defaults > Lists & Categories > Material Categories.
6. Branch - Here you can select the Branch where the Printing Type is based. Printing Types has a Branch filter that prevents the Printing Type from being used in Estimates that are not linked to the same Branch. If the Printing Type is not linked to a Branch, it can be used in any Transaction.
7. View/Edit Instruction - This allows you to format the Printing Instruction that appears on the Workticket. To edit the Printing Instruction right-click on a Printing Type and select View/Edit Instruction.

An Editor window will appear. See image below:

You can customise your Workticket Printing Instructions by using Tags. The Tags will automatically populate the Workticket with the relevant information. See Tags below:

Workticket Printing Instruction Tags

<PRINTNOTE> - The Note field on the Printing page of the Print Wizard.

<QTYUP> - Qty Up on Printing Imposition.

<QTYOUT> - Qty Worksheets cut out of Stock sheets.

<QTYDOWN> - Qty down on Printing Imposition.

<QTYACROSS> - Qty Across on Printing Imposition.

<SECTIONDEPTH> - Section Depth.

<SECTIONWIDTH> - Section Width.

<WORKDEPTH> - Work Depth.

<WORKWIDTH> - Work Width.

<SHEETDEPTH> - Sheet Depth (Stock Sheet).

<SHEETWIDTH> - Sheet Width (Stock Sheet).

<COLOURSFRONT> - List of Colours printed front.

<COLOURSBACK> - List of Colours printed back.

<WORKSHEETS> - No. of Worksheets.

<RUNSHEETS> - No. of Runsheets.

<PLATEQTY> - Plate Qty.

<SPEED> - Run speed - unit depends on Printing Type.

<PAPERQTY> - Paper Qty - unit depends on Printing Type.

<PAPERMRQTY> - Paper Qty for make-ready - unit depends on Printing Type.

<PAPERRUNQTY> - Paper Qty for run (Nett Qty + Run overs) - unit depends on Printing Type.

<SETUPSHEETS> - Make-ready Qty - unit depends on Printing Type.

<BLEED> - Bleed on the Section.

<PAPERNAME> - Paper Description.

<TOTALWORKSHEETS> - Total Qty of Worksheets - unit depends on Printing Type.

<INSTRUCTION> - The Note field on the Printing page of the Print Wizard.

<RUNOVERSHEETS> - Total Run over Qty - unit depends on Printing Type.

<NETTSHEETS> - Nett Qty (Without overs) - unit depends on Printing Type.

Types of Printing

See below an explanation of the following printing types:

1. Litho
2. Digital
3. Large Format
4. Flexo
5. NCR

1. Litho

Litho or Offset is a commonly-used printing technique in which the inked image is transferred (or "offset") from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface.

Here is a short video explaining Litho or Offset Printing:

2. Digital

Digital printing is the process of printing an image or document from a computer or digital storage device directly onto a printing substrate. This is done by means of a device that accepts text and graphic output and is typically for small-run jobs, using large-format and / or high-volume laser or inkjet printers.

Here is a short video explaining Digital Printing:

3. Large Format

Large Format Printing refers to print materials that are too large to be printed on 'normal' commercial printing presses. Sometimes called wide-format printing or grand-format printing, large format printing requires the use of specialty production equipment that can accommodate bigger-than-normal print dimensions.

Large format printing is ideal for materials that have visual or graphic-heavy designs. Instead of printing unto individual sheets, they use a roll of prints that they feed incrementally.

4. Flexo

Flexography (often abbreviated “flexo”) is a form of rotary web letterpress printing that uses relief plates comprised of flexible rubber, low viscosity solvent, and water-based or UV-curable inks. The material is fed into the press from a roll. The image is printed as the material is pulled through a series of stations, or print units, each printing a single color. Various tones and shading are achieved by overlaying the four basic shades of transparent ink (magenta, cyan, yellow and black). If a spot color is needed (such as fluorescent, metallic, or a Pantone color), the ink hue is poured directly into one of the print units.

After the material is printed, it is pulled through another station on the press where it is cut with a cylindrical engraved die. This rotary die will cut out shapes as well as make perforations and slits. When labels are finished on a roll, the die cuts out the shape of the label but does not cut through the liner. The waste, or matrix, is lifted and removed from the liner, so it makes it easy to remove the label in end use.

Flexographic printing is usually used when printing large quantities of labels (over 15,000 feet of material per SKU). Due to the cost of printing plates, rotary die, and the time it takes to setup a job on a flexo press, short runs of labels are usually cost-prohibitive.

Here is a short video explaining Flexo Printing:

5. NCR

Non-carbon copy paper, or NCR paper (No Carbon Required) is a modern version of the old blue carbon paper, and is a type of coated paper used to make duplicates, usually found in invoice or order pads.

There are normally two to four pages for one duplication, and have different colours to differentiate between them. The pages are coated in a fine layer of ink on one or both sides, that transfer the pressure of the pen from writing on to the pages underneath.