Overprinting
Overprinting refers to the process of printing one colour on top of another in reprographics.
[1][2] It is also the term used in the production of envelopes customised to order by printing images (such as logos) and texts (such as slogans) on mass-produced machine-made envelopes; the alternative way of producing such envelopes is to print "on the flat" and then cut out the individual shapes and fold them to form the envelopes.
[citation needed] However the latter method is generally only economically viable for large print runs offering returns to scale.
[citation needed] Overprinting also refers to the printing of additional information onto self-adhesive labels and product packaging.
"Best Before", "Use By" dates and batch codes are printed in situ onto product packaging as the items are packed.
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Knock-out
without trapping |
Knock-out
with trapping |
Overprinting |
|---|
Comparison of a knock-out with and without trapping , and overprinting for perfect and imperfect registration . Rows are as follows:
- The cyan (lighter) plate,
- The magenta (darker) plate,
- Result with perfect registration (some monitors show slight misalignment), and
- Result with imperfect registration.