What the Heck is an Emulsion?

Have you ever looked at an exquisitely produced product with printed imagery and wondered what the heck an emulsion technique is? Well, you are not alone! Whether you realize it or not, many products today employ the emulsion manufacturing method.

Physical chemistry, though, is a language all its own which is why PostcardsRus decided to simplify the process for our readers without using words like colloid, acetate, and bromide to describe it!

How Do Printing Companies Use Emulsion?

The emulsion is the process of printing on paper by adding a photosensitive coating. Printers commonly coat resin-protected paper with gelatin and a minute amount of silver halide grains. The grains provide the necessary light-sensitive component required to produce photographic imaging. In non-scientific language, it merely means that one chemical is added to another, but they are not jointly soluble.

Printing companies then merge the gelatinous and silver halide material onto a third element, like paper or cloth, which binds the two compounds. Logos or images are added to an emulsified mesh screen. Companies can brand advertisements on materials like paper, glass, or manufactured textiles like cotton or silk.

Who invented the Emulsion Technique?

The emulsion technique has been around in the East since the Song Dynasty. In 1887, George Eastman produced the very first camera called Kodak which used a plastic emulsion technique. Using the same printing method, the United States Postal Service had the sole right to postcard production until 1898. The monopoly on printing prompted Congress to pass the Private Mailing Card Act that allowed private entities to publish or print postcards. The act permitted inventors to expand upon the concept which quickly led to innovative printing advancements.

In 1907, Samuel Simon introduced to screen printing to the Western world. It was not until the 1960s when Andy Warhol depicted his famous Marilyn Monroe artwork that emulsion became popular. Since then, others have perfected the technique including safer chemical materials and methods that improved the printing production.

Digital technology revolutionized the printing industry which allowed for quick accessibility to consumers. Today, PostcardsRus uses state-of-the-art digital printing technology on the most excellent quality of products to ensure consumers receive customized quality service.

What Industries Rely on Emulsion?

The emulsion is entirely necessary for a variety of industries including printing, photography, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, hair care, household cleaners, plastics, dyes, rubber, paint, tanning, and food manufacturing. As the needs of the industries grow, emulsion science will continually respond with techniques like the newly coined term of micro-emulsion. The advancement will be an asset as products will integrate much smaller particles in the emulsion process.

If you would like to know more about the history of printing, you can visit the Smithsonian Institution Archives which includes more about postcard advancements. If you would like to know more about a method we use for a particular product or service, just leave a comment, and we will do the research for you! Moreover, do not forget that this process is an excellent way to brand your logo on business cards, postcards, or promotional merchandise like calendars or mugs! Feel free to contact us for more information!

Tags: Design, Emulsion Google