Printed Balloons
How do get text words and logos onto latex balloons ? The process, called silk screen printing, has been the same for a number of years. But what is silk screen printing ? and why dose the ink not crack when the balloon is inflated ? This Lens describes the process of balloon printing.
Silk Screen Printing
Creating a silk screen.
A silk screen is applied with a special light-sensitive emulsion.
To get the image onto a silk screen a design has to be printed onto an acetate sheet (Usually primted on a computer using one colour). If a shaded or multicolour design needs to be used, then common art packages such as adobe illustrator is used to transform the design into one colour and printed using a high quality printer. The acetate film is used with an exposure box to transfer the image onto the emulsion coated silk screen. Exposure boxes use light to seal the emulsion into the silk holes. Blocking the light with a design made on acetate film mean the ink applied to the screen will only flow through where the light has not exposed thus making a stencil and a transferable design. If an image does require multiple colours, then a separate screen is made up for each part of the design that has a different colour. As the process is far greater for multiple colour, the cost increases greatly and this is why the majority of balloon printing is based on a single colour.
Silk screen products can be purchased from wicked printing supplies
To get the image onto a silk screen a design has to be printed onto an acetate sheet (Usually primted on a computer using one colour). If a shaded or multicolour design needs to be used, then common art packages such as adobe illustrator is used to transform the design into one colour and printed using a high quality printer. The acetate film is used with an exposure box to transfer the image onto the emulsion coated silk screen. Exposure boxes use light to seal the emulsion into the silk holes. Blocking the light with a design made on acetate film mean the ink applied to the screen will only flow through where the light has not exposed thus making a stencil and a transferable design. If an image does require multiple colours, then a separate screen is made up for each part of the design that has a different colour. As the process is far greater for multiple colour, the cost increases greatly and this is why the majority of balloon printing is based on a single colour.
Silk screen products can be purchased from wicked printing supplies
Printing onto the balloon
Get the ink onto the balloon with pre-designed screen
One of the biggest names in balloon printing machines is Rifco.
Rifco design and apply hydraulic methods around the common silk screen concept to produce semi and total automated products. The semi-automated methods involve the user setting up the design, pouring ink and partially inflating and holding the balloon while the machine moves the silk screen while forcing the ink onto the balloon. The totally automated machines involve the user setting up screens apply a bag of balloons and turning the machine on. A robotic style arm will collect, hold and inflate and the balloon, transfer the image onto the balloon, dry the ink, deflate, drop the balloon into a bag. The bags are counted and sealed automatically ready for distrubution.
For more on Rifco balloon printing products visit the rifco machines website
Rifco design and apply hydraulic methods around the common silk screen concept to produce semi and total automated products. The semi-automated methods involve the user setting up the design, pouring ink and partially inflating and holding the balloon while the machine moves the silk screen while forcing the ink onto the balloon. The totally automated machines involve the user setting up screens apply a bag of balloons and turning the machine on. A robotic style arm will collect, hold and inflate and the balloon, transfer the image onto the balloon, dry the ink, deflate, drop the balloon into a bag. The bags are counted and sealed automatically ready for distrubution.
For more on Rifco balloon printing products visit the rifco machines website
YouTube - Printed balloons
Printing onto balloons using a screen printer
These videos show the process of printing from a silk screen onto a printer
Flickr Photos - Examples of Printed Balloons
Photos of printed balloons
Examples of printed balloons by Important Occasions
eBay - personalised balloon
personalised balloon
personalised balloons can be ordered from ebay
Printed Balloons company
Printed Balloons company
For more on a company that produces printed balloons visit important occasion on www.importantoccasions.co.uk
Printed Balloons
How to print onto balloons
Following Important Occasions, a company that prints onto balloons. Follow their work, ordering and workload as they print balloons throughout the day and night.
Link List
balloon printing items
Links to products associated with this lens
- Printer inks for using on latex and foil balloons
- Printer inks for using on latex and foil balloons
- Printing Machines
- Printing Machines
- Printed Balloons
- Printed Balloons
- Supplier of silk screen equipment
- Supplier of silk screen equipment
by importantoccasions
Hello world. We are important Occasions. We provide balloons, decorations for great party events in the UK. We also have a balloon and ribbon printer... more »
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