Pop Goes the Package

Packaging reaches out to shoppers, engages them, informs them and reinforces a brand on store shelves. Nowhere is this more true than on flexible packaging, where vivid colors and eye-catching graphics make a package "pop."

The technologies of choice for this purpose have been gravure and flexography, with the latter historically considered the poor cousin when it came to quality. A big change came along in the 1990s with the introduction of digital plates, but the big leap forward was in 2008 with the advent of high-definition flexography. First introduced by Kodak, the industry now has numerous high-definition flexo solutions designed to improve reproduction of highlights, shadows and vignettes, increase printed line screen capabilities, improve ink lay-down, and deliver vibrant color and gravure-like print quality—all key aspects in producing packaging that pops. Continually being refined, high-def flexography significantly narrows the gap with gravure. Read on to find out if it's right for you and your packaging clients.