Pad printing plates (also called clichés or printing plates) are used to contain the desired “image” decoration engraved on its surface. Their function is to retain the ink, allowing the pad to collect this ink as a film, which is then transferred to the substrate.
There are two main types of printing plate materials: photopolymer and steel. Photopolymer plates are the most popular, as they are easy to use. These are generally used in short to medium production runs. Steel sheets come in two forms: thin steel for medium to long runs and thick steel for very long runs. Both types of steel sheets are usually processed by the sheet metal supplier since it involves the use of specialized equipment.
Multicolor applications can be performed by the coordinated use of multiple plates. An image can contain different contrast colors (monochrome) by applying different engraving depths and/or grid resolutions.