Flexography, also known as “flexo,” is a printing process which employs the use of pliable relief or raised image plates. As opposed to the rotogravure printing process (known today as “gravure”) which utilizes etched metal cylinders, flexo label printing utilizes rubber or polymer plastic plates; thus flexo plates are both more flexible and less expensive to produce than gravure’s rigid metal tubes.

Flexo can be used to print on nearly any substrate whether its paper products, metallic or holographic films and foils, or plastic of all types. Companies often use Flexo to print large areas with solid colors. Another reason flexo is so widely used is that it adapts well to both irregular repeat lengths and to a comprehensive array of inks.