How to Print on Cardboard Packaging Boxes: The Best Technique

Selecting the ideal printing technique for cardboard packaging boxes is crucial.
For example, making personalized cardboard packaging boxes is essential for safety, legality, brand identification, sales presentation, and an easier shipping process. Furthermore, safe packaging shows a consumer that you are concerned about their safety with the goods.

Printing Methods for Corrugated Boxes

These days, pre-printing and direct printing are the two methods most frequently employed for cardboard box packaging.

Where:

The most common technique for printing on cardboard boxes is direct printing. Direct printing on the box is often referred to as the “post printing” approach. Putting ink directly on corrugated boxes, for example. Digital printing techniques or flexography make it simple to do.

Pre-printing, as the name implies, is the process of first printing a design with some interesting patterns on paper, which is then applied to the corrugated cardboard boxes. This technique is very well-liked for producing high-quality printing on cardboard packaging boxes.

Key Techniques for Printing on Cardboard Packaging Boxes

You may effectively promote your business and provide an unforgettable unpacking experience with distinctive cardboard boxes.

We will go over each printing technique in depth here. Custom packaging cardboard boxes may be made using a variety of printing techniques.

Flexography Copier

The most well-known technique for making cardboard packaging boxes is flexography. It prints beautifully and effortlessly on a variety of surfaces, smooth or rough. Because flexo printing requires little setup and prints quickly, it is also rapid.

However, flexography may also be used to print high-quality graphics on cardboard boxes.

Flexography is a printing technique that uses photopolymer or rubber plates that are flexible and placed on rotating cylinders to create raised image regions on cardboard boxes. Nonetheless, the inked pattern is transferred to the cardboard as the substrate moves between the inked plate and an imprint roller.

Offset Copier

Offset printing, also referred to as offset lithography or litho lamination, is an additional technique for printing cardboard packing boxes.

It is a great and affordable way to print cardboard boxes, particularly if you require printing of an amazing design and high-quality photos. Put otherwise, lithography enables you to print a precise duplicate of the design you produced using any packaging design program.

A desired image is created on a printing plate during the offset printing process. Subsequently, the plate is inked using an ink that sticks to the image region. The image is then moved from the plate to a rubber blanket and, at last, to the cardboard or paper that will be used as the printing surface.

This printing technique may also be thought of as an indirect transfer that guarantees consistently great quality.

Printing digitally

The only method that can fulfill every requirement for printing on cardboard packaging boxes is digital printing. Additionally, as the name implies, expensive plates will no longer be necessary. For this reason, digital printing is very reasonably priced.

Furthermore, they stand out because to their speedy setup and superior outcomes.

A digital picture (supplied by any offline or online product designer) is delivered to the printer to start the digital printing process. In this case, it is deciphered and converted into a string of electrical impulses. The way that toner or ink is deposited on printing substrates like paper or cardboard boxes is regulated by these impulses.

Printing on Screens

Screen printing, commonly referred to as silk printing, is an additional or somewhat comparable printing technique for cardboard packaging boxes.

This is an excellent technique to use when you need to apply solid colors, images, or bold graphics on cardboard boxes. Additionally, this is the approach that is most advised for small- to medium-sized print runs.

A mesh screen that has been firmly stretched across a frame is prepared for screen printing before being covered in an emulsion that reacts to light. The desired design is printed on a film positive that is put on the coated screen and exposed to light. The unexposed screen is prepared for printing after washing. Subsequently, ink is put to the screen’s top and distributed uniformly throughout the substrate or cardboard boxes using a squeegee.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the type of result you want for a particular project will determine which cardboard box printing technique is appropriate for you.

As an example,

Flexography is affordable for simpler patterns and appropriate for big print runs.

For high-quality prints, offset or lithography printing works well.

Wide customisation and short runs are good uses for digital printing.

Vibrant prints on a variety of materials are best achieved using screen printing.

All you have to do is figure out how difficult your design project is, and then select the cardboard packing box that best fits your company plan.