flexography
(flɛkˈsɒgrəfɪ)
[f. flexo- (f. L. flexus, f. flectere to bend) + -graphy.]
A rotary letterpress technique using rubber or plastic plates and aniline inks for printing on fabrics, plastics, metal foils, and other materials, as well as on paper; also called aniline printing. So flexoˈgraphic a.
| 1952 Print (U.S.) Nov. 51/1 An informal poll..indicated many drawbacks to the term Aniline printing... Three suggestions were presented: Flexographic Process, Permatone Process, or Rotopake Process. Flexographic was chosen as the new official description. 1954 Penrose Ann. XLVIII. 151 The process known as Flexography dates back to the time when the first rubber stamp was moulded. 1954 Brit. Printer LXVI. 36/1 The aniline process, or ‘flexographic’ printing, as it is now commonly termed in America, has its origins in the paper converting field rather than in the general printing industry. 1960 News Chron. 7 Sept. 8/3 Flexographic printing. Competent charge hand required by leading firm of film converters. 1966 Print (Wynkyn de Worde Soc.) iv. 55 To these three conventional processes may be added aniline or flexographic printing, which is a form of rotary letter⁓press, using a soft rubber plate and very thin inks, predominantly for printing packaging materials. 1970 Brit. Printer July 69/2 Screen process is now competing with offset-litho and flexography in some large packaging applications. Ibid. 85/1 Three models..are available in the new range of flexographic presses. |