Southern Champion embraces the constant advancements
being made in the printing industry and continues to remain pro-active for the
benefit of its customers' current and future needs. Our continuing investments
in cutting-edge printing technology provide a choice between web flexography
and sheet lithography, meeting the demands of small to large orders and covering
the range from high-end graphical design to minimal print difficulty. Whether
your need is 1 color to 7 colors process or line work, we have equipment that
will suit your need.
Flexography
Our web-fed, central impression printing presses provide the latest technology available in flexographic printing. Offering up to 6 colors and double-sided printing, their high speed, quick make ready, and superb registration are wonderfully suited for high volume business, whether the design requires simple line colors or process work. New technology has revolutionized flexographic printing and has increased the accuracy and quality of this printing process. With use of modern inks and coatings, our flexographic printing produces brilliant color and high resolution. This technology results in superior quality, high-end cartons, at a sound value for our customers.
Flexography, normally abbreviated to flexo, is a method of printing most commonly used for packaging. A flexo print is achieved by creating a mirrored master of the required image as a 3D relief in a rubber or polymer material. These flexible plates are then inked and rotated on a cylinder, transferring the image to the substrate or print material. Flexography uses fast-drying inks, is a high-speed print process, can print on many types of absorbent and non-absorbent materials, and can print continuous patterns (as required for giftwrap, wallpaper, etc.)
Lithograpy
Our sheet-fed, offset printing presses bring our customers the ultimate in high speed, modern lithography. Offering up to 7 colors and a range of coating options, these presses consistently deliver accurate image reproductions with peak resolution and maximum color. The outstanding print quality achieved is well-matched for specialty markets, especially those typified by high end graphics and multiple print copies. Ask about our range of coatings, including UV, aqueous, non-skid, and low-sheen, that can be applied to the complete product surface or through spot treatment for added impact.
Lithography, is a method of printing that is based on the principle that oil and water do not mix. An aluminum or plastic plate is coated with a photopolymer film on which the print image has been exposed and chemically "hardened." Rollers apply oil-based ink and water to the plates. The oil-based inks adhere to the exposed image but are repelled by the non-image areas; thus, only the inked image portion is allowed to transfer to a rubber-coated cylinder. This rubber "blanket" then transfers or "offsets" the image onto the paper or print material, carried by the impression cylinder.
Hexachrome
Southern Champion is certified in HEXACHROME printing, a system which utilizes an ultra high fidelity six-color printing process to improve color range and accuracy and to increase vibrancy. Hexachrome's broader color gamut offers distinct marketing advantages, promising brighter, cleaner, more realistic color for faithful reproduction of art or photographs. Due to Hexachrome's simulation of spot colors, a press can stay configured with no additional changes every time a new spot color is needed. The number of necessary plates is reduced, and the actual press time required is shortened.
Hexachrome is a high-quality printing process developed by Pantone, Inc. that uses reformulated CMYK, plus orange and green. This six-color process has twice the gamut of conventional CMYK and reproduces over 90% of all solid PANTONE colors, almost twice the number that can be obtained using conventional four-color process printing.
Flexo Vs. Litho - Which Is Best For You
SCT offers both web-fed flexography and sheet-fed lithography printing processes in 6 and 7 color formats.
Overall factors to consider when choosing a print process:
Graphics - Do they represent simple line art or photographic images?
Print copies - Single or multiple print copies with variable quantities?
Volume - Does it make economical sense to have larger runs?
Repurposing Graphics - Do all packages across the brand have a consistent look?
Flexography printing offers price advantages over lithography for large volume runs. However, maybe your company is launching a new product or introducing new packaging. Perhaps you will require smaller runs at the outset, but volume is expected to increase over time. Economically, it may make sense to start out such a package with lithography printing and then, as volume increases, switch to flexography printing for cost savings.
For this transition to be seamless, and for the printed package to look consistent across both processes, SCT should work with the graphics group to set parameters for the initial creation. Lithography printing is typically done at resolutions of 133 line screen or higher. On the other hand, flexography printing will normally be done in lower resolutions of 120 line screen or below. When printing photographic images, the difference between high and low resolution is significant. Consequently, the need for communication between the printer and graphics group from the start is emphasized.
By offering the two printing processes, SCT provides a clear advantage to the client by balancing run quantities and cost control. We achieve this while giving the client excellent print quality using either process.
Our sales associates will work with you at the outset of your project, consulting on the generation of graphics and in choosing a printing process.
Flexography
Our web-fed, central impression printing presses provide the latest technology available in flexographic printing. Offering up to 6 colors and double-sided printing, their high speed, quick make ready, and superb registration are wonderfully suited for high volume business, whether the design requires simple line colors or process work. New technology has revolutionized flexographic printing and has increased the accuracy and quality of this printing process. With use of modern inks and coatings, our flexographic printing produces brilliant color and high resolution. This technology results in superior quality, high-end cartons, at a sound value for our customers.
Flexography, normally abbreviated to flexo, is a method of printing most commonly used for packaging. A flexo print is achieved by creating a mirrored master of the required image as a 3D relief in a rubber or polymer material. These flexible plates are then inked and rotated on a cylinder, transferring the image to the substrate or print material. Flexography uses fast-drying inks, is a high-speed print process, can print on many types of absorbent and non-absorbent materials, and can print continuous patterns (as required for giftwrap, wallpaper, etc.)
Lithograpy
Our sheet-fed, offset printing presses bring our customers the ultimate in high speed, modern lithography. Offering up to 7 colors and a range of coating options, these presses consistently deliver accurate image reproductions with peak resolution and maximum color. The outstanding print quality achieved is well-matched for specialty markets, especially those typified by high end graphics and multiple print copies. Ask about our range of coatings, including UV, aqueous, non-skid, and low-sheen, that can be applied to the complete product surface or through spot treatment for added impact.
Lithography, is a method of printing that is based on the principle that oil and water do not mix. An aluminum or plastic plate is coated with a photopolymer film on which the print image has been exposed and chemically "hardened." Rollers apply oil-based ink and water to the plates. The oil-based inks adhere to the exposed image but are repelled by the non-image areas; thus, only the inked image portion is allowed to transfer to a rubber-coated cylinder. This rubber "blanket" then transfers or "offsets" the image onto the paper or print material, carried by the impression cylinder.
Hexachrome
Southern Champion is certified in HEXACHROME printing, a system which utilizes an ultra high fidelity six-color printing process to improve color range and accuracy and to increase vibrancy. Hexachrome's broader color gamut offers distinct marketing advantages, promising brighter, cleaner, more realistic color for faithful reproduction of art or photographs. Due to Hexachrome's simulation of spot colors, a press can stay configured with no additional changes every time a new spot color is needed. The number of necessary plates is reduced, and the actual press time required is shortened.
Hexachrome is a high-quality printing process developed by Pantone, Inc. that uses reformulated CMYK, plus orange and green. This six-color process has twice the gamut of conventional CMYK and reproduces over 90% of all solid PANTONE colors, almost twice the number that can be obtained using conventional four-color process printing.
Flexo Vs. Litho - Which Is Best For You
SCT offers both web-fed flexography and sheet-fed lithography printing processes in 6 and 7 color formats.
Overall factors to consider when choosing a print process:
Graphics - Do they represent simple line art or photographic images?
Print copies - Single or multiple print copies with variable quantities?
Volume - Does it make economical sense to have larger runs?
Repurposing Graphics - Do all packages across the brand have a consistent look?
Flexography printing offers price advantages over lithography for large volume runs. However, maybe your company is launching a new product or introducing new packaging. Perhaps you will require smaller runs at the outset, but volume is expected to increase over time. Economically, it may make sense to start out such a package with lithography printing and then, as volume increases, switch to flexography printing for cost savings.
For this transition to be seamless, and for the printed package to look consistent across both processes, SCT should work with the graphics group to set parameters for the initial creation. Lithography printing is typically done at resolutions of 133 line screen or higher. On the other hand, flexography printing will normally be done in lower resolutions of 120 line screen or below. When printing photographic images, the difference between high and low resolution is significant. Consequently, the need for communication between the printer and graphics group from the start is emphasized.
By offering the two printing processes, SCT provides a clear advantage to the client by balancing run quantities and cost control. We achieve this while giving the client excellent print quality using either process.
Our sales associates will work with you at the outset of your project, consulting on the generation of graphics and in choosing a printing process.
