Postage stamps

Printing processes

For printing postage stamps, the customer usually supplies a design for the planned motif of the postage stamps, typically as a digital data record. The print run of the postage stamps is not produced until the customer has checked and approved a single stamp proof. Not only standard colours, but many additional special colours are also used. The advantage of this is that very bright colours can be reproduced and the rendering of precise colour tone is ensured.

Offset printing
In offset printing, printing and non-printing elements are all on one level on a printing plate. The printing elements have a light-sensitive coating that repels water and accepts grease (ink). The non-printing elements of the aluminium plate have a water-receptive capillary surface that repels the ink when moistened. The ink of the printing elements is first transferred onto a blanket cylinder and then onto the paper. The production of multi-coloured offset stamps is made in printing units that are arranged in series. The number of these units again depends on the number of the colours of the stamp design.