Rotary Printing on Ribbon Explained (For Beginners)

Rotary printing (also called flexographic or flexo printing) is one of the most common methods we use at Ribbon Place for custom branded ribbons. This guide explains how it works in simple terms, what it is best suited for, and one important limitation you should know about.

What Is Rotary Printing?

Rotary printing uses large rotating cylinders (rollers) that continuously print onto the ribbon as it moves through the machine. Each colour has its own cylinder. The ink is transferred from the cylinder onto the ribbon in a continuous loop. This makes rotary printing excellent for longer production runs and consistent, sharp results.
 
rotary flexographic printing process explained

How Many Colours Can We Print?

With our rotary printing process we can print up to 6 spot colours on a single ribbon, (4 for gift-wrap). Spot colours are solid, mixed inks (similar to Pantone colours). Each colour is printed cleanly and opaquely. This is different from full-colour (digital dye-sublimation) printing, which we will explain in a separate article.

When Rotary Printing Works Best

Rotary printing is an excellent choice when:

  • You need solid, vibrant spot colours (up to 6 colours on our white polyester satin ribbon 6 on white Petersham and  and 4 colours on our gift-wrap)
  • Your design has normal text, logos or graphics on a clear or coloured ribbon background
  • You want consistent results on longer runs
  • You are not using a full flood / reverse design

Summary

Feature
Rotary Printing
Maximum colours
Up to 6 spot colours
Best for
Logos, text, solid colour designs
Reverse / flood printing
Not recommended (shows join line)
Production style
Continuous rotary cylinders

If you are unsure whether your design is suitable for rotary printing, simply send us your artwork. We will advise you on the best printing method for your project.