| Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) | Electrically charged ink droplets are deflected onto the substrate while unused droplets are recirculated. | Plastics, metals, glass, cables, films, cartons, ceramics, and some coated products. | Approximately 50–300 dpi, depending on printhead, ink, and character height. | High-speed variable-data coding; commonly supports production lines moving at several hundred metres per minute. | Non-contact printing, fast drying options, reliable date and lot coding, and printing on uneven or curved surfaces. | Usually produces small text and codes rather than large graphics; solvent management and routine maintenance may be required. | Food and beverage coding, pharmaceutical packaging, wire and cable marking, extrusion, and industrial parts identification. |
| Drop-on-Demand Inkjet | Piezoelectric or thermal printheads release individual ink droplets only when required. | Paper, corrugated board, films, labels, plastics, wood, textiles, metals, glass, and specialty coated surfaces. | Approximately 300–1,200 dpi; some systems offer higher native or interpolated resolution. | From short-run personalized work to industrial web and sheet production; speed varies widely by print width, ink, and resolution. | Digital variable-data capability, no printing plates, quick changeovers, low waste on short runs, and scalable print widths. | Ink adhesion, drying, surface treatment, and printhead protection can be critical; maximum speed may decrease at higher quality settings. | Packaging graphics, direct-to-object printing, corrugated post-print, labels, décor materials, and serialized products. |
| UV Inkjet | Ink droplets are deposited and immediately cured using ultraviolet light. | Rigid plastics, acrylic, glass, metal, wood, coated paperboard, films, ceramics, and selected flexible materials. | Approximately 600–1,200 dpi in many industrial configurations. | Digital sheet, roll-to-roll, and direct-to-object production; supports rapid curing and immediate handling after printing. | Strong surface versatility, sharp graphics, immediate curing, white and clear ink options, and good short-run flexibility. | Equipment and ink costs can be high; ink flexibility, adhesion, odor, and regulatory requirements must be evaluated for the end use. | Industrial graphics, control panels, signage, promotional products, packaging prototypes, décor panels, and printed electronics substrates. |
| Water-Based Inkjet | Water-based pigment or dye ink is jetted onto a treated or absorbent surface and dried through air, heat, or infrared systems. | Uncoated and coated paper, corrugated board, labels, textiles, and specially treated films. | Approximately 600–1,200 dpi, depending on the print engine and ink set. | Medium- to high-volume digital production with variable data and fast job changeovers; line speed depends heavily on drying capacity. | Low-odor potential, strong image quality on suitable papers, efficient short and medium runs, and reduced plate preparation. | Requires compatible substrates and effective drying; water sensitivity and rub resistance may require coating or finishing. | Carton and corrugated packaging, commercial documents, labels, books, direct mail, and textile printing. |
| Flexographic Printing | Flexible relief plates transfer fast-drying ink through an anilox metering roll onto a web or sheet. | Paper, paperboard, corrugated board, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, films, foil, and laminates. | Typically 133–200 lpi screening; effective image detail depends on plate and anilox configuration. | Very high web speeds, often approximately 100–600 m/min depending on press design, substrate, ink, and job complexity. | Excellent for long runs, inline converting, efficient ink usage, broad substrate compatibility, and consistent repeat production. | Plate production and setup increase costs for short runs; color matching and press setup require skilled process control. | Flexible packaging, labels, corrugated liner and post-print, paper bags, folding cartons, and industrial films. |
| Rotogravure | Engraved cells in a copper-plated cylinder carry ink and transfer it to a continuous web. | Plastic films, foil, paper, laminates, and selected specialty substrates. | Typically about 150–300 lpi, with strong tonal reproduction and smooth solid coverage. | Very high-speed long-run production, commonly around 100–500 m/min depending on press configuration and substrate. | Consistent color, high-quality image reproduction, smooth gradients, and efficient economics for large repeat volumes. | Engraved cylinders have high preparation costs and longer lead times; less economical for frequent artwork changes or short runs. | Large-volume flexible packaging, decorative laminates, publication products, and high-volume printed films. |
| Screen Printing | Ink is forced through an image-bearing mesh stencil onto the substrate using a squeegee or automated screen mechanism. | Textiles, glass, ceramics, metals, plastics, wood, paperboard, electronics substrates, and coated surfaces. | Typically about 50–150 lpi; thick ink deposits can provide strong opacity and tactile effects. | Sheet, flatbed, rotary, and specialty production; usually slower than flexographic or gravure systems for continuous web output. | High ink deposit, excellent opacity, strong specialty effects, durable layers, and printing on many rigid or irregular products. | Lower throughput for complex multicolor work; screen preparation, registration, drying, and setup can affect productivity. | Industrial panels, membrane switches, ceramics, glass containers, textiles, electronics, signage, and functional coatings. |
| Thermal Transfer | A heated printhead transfers pigment or resin from a coated ribbon onto the receiving material. | Labels, synthetic films, paper labels, flexible packaging, cables, tags, and selected coated industrial materials. | Typically 203, 300, or 600 dpi. | High-quality variable-data printing at line speeds commonly ranging from about 50–300 mm/s, depending on printer and label format. | Sharp text and barcodes, durable resin options, reliable on-demand operation, and strong compatibility with pre-made labels. | Requires ribbon consumables; print width and speed are more limited than those of many web presses. | Product labels, compliance markings, logistics labels, pharmaceutical identification, cable markers, and component tracking. |
| Electrophotographic Toner | Charged imaging components attract dry or liquid toner, which is transferred and fused to the substrate. | Paper, synthetic papers, labels, films, folding carton stocks, and selected specialty media. | Typically 600–2,400 dpi, depending on the engine and imaging mode. | Short- and medium-run sheet or web production with rapid job changes and variable-data capability. | Consistent text and graphics, no plates, strong variable-data performance, and efficient production for multiple short jobs. | Substrate thickness and fusing compatibility can limit material choices; long-run unit cost may exceed analog processes. | Labels, folding cartons, direct mail, transactional documents, books, commercial print, and personalized packaging. |
| Laser Marking | A focused laser beam ablates, changes, or darkens the surface without using liquid ink or a physical printing plate. | Metals, plastics, glass, ceramics, painted surfaces, anodized aluminum, wood, and selected coated materials. | Marking spot sizes can be approximately 10–100 micrometres; apparent resolution depends on optics and material response. | High-speed permanent marking of text, codes, logos, and identifiers; output is generally limited to the laser field and marking cycle. | Permanent marks, no ink or ribbon, low consumable usage, high traceability, and strong automation potential. | Initial equipment cost can be significant; contrast depends on material, and laser safety, extraction, and enclosure requirements apply. | Automotive components, electronics, medical devices, tools, industrial parts, packaging films, and serialized traceability systems. |
