Fig. 24.
CHAPTER XII
Tin-plate Printing
Its Evolution—Transfer and Direct Transfer Printing—The Coated Paper—Reversed Designs—Sequence of Printing—Printing Inks—Purity of Tone—Drying.
Tin-plate printing or decoration is probably the most remarkable development of modern lithography. From a most unpretentious and unpromising beginning its evolution has been an unbroken record of phenomenal progress. Owing to its intrinsic merits and peculiarly assertive character it has created an enormous demand for its own productions.
Difficulties innumerable were encountered and surmounted, whilst a whole host of trade prejudices had to be removed before anything approaching a commercial success could be claimed. The original idea was to transfer a printed design from a suitably prepared paper to the metal plates in much the same manner as the children of to-day use transfer prints for decorative and other purposes. Though this method is now to some extent superseded, it is by no means obsolete. It is extensively used for certain classes of work, and so long as the present type of direct tin-printing machine is used this transfer method of metal decoration will more or less be retained.
It is difficult, and in some cases impossible, to print unusually large or exceptionally thick metal plates by the direct process. Hence the value of Transfer Printing as a useful auxiliary process which can be resorted to without the expense of special machinery. The ordinary lithographic paper-printing machine, without any modification whatever, will fulfil every requirement.