Printing Primer for Plastic Containers

Generally speaking, there are five primary ways of decorating a plastic container. These are:

labelling

screen printing

dry offset

hot stamping

pad printing

The labelling of plastic containers is the most popular, but this type of printing has historically been associated with lower cost, down-market type of products such as liquid detergents and bleaches. Only more recently have high quality labels begun to appear where the label is touted as a “no-label” look in its desire to appear like direct printing.

Screen printed containers cover the high quality end of the market and are especially popular in the cosmetics and hair shampoo market where the value of the container often equals the value of the content.

Dry offset printing is generally used in food and drinking cup markets where very high volume and less brilliant color presentation are sacrificed to cost and high output.

Hot stamping is normally considered to be an enhancement of the screen printed or offset printed product and is very popular in cosmetic bottles and tubes.

Pad printing is normally only used on containers where the container cannot be printed by any other method. It is generally the printing method of last resort for plastic containers.

Courtesy of Ze Merrick, Graphics International Group.