From Black and White to Colorful: The Evolutionary Journey of Colorful Food Packaging Bags

Origin: The color of budding
The story of colored food packaging bags can be traced back to the Republican era. At that time, the main packaging material was paper, and people used paper to make simple bags and boxes, which was the prototype of early colored food packaging bags. At that time, the craftsmanship was relatively simple, just drawing some pictures on these paper containers. Although not as exquisite and complex as it is today, it already met the basic needs of food loading and began to convey simple brand information.
In that era of intense collision between Eastern and Western ideas and cultures, food packaging design styles were also influenced by diversity. The rise of ethnic enterprises has given birth to a large number of brands with local characteristics. The patterns and fonts on the packaging not only retain traditional cultural elements, but also integrate Western modern design concepts. For example, some pastry shops will draw traditional auspicious patterns on colored wrapping paper, such as dragon and phoenix presenting good fortune, annual surplus, etc., implying beauty. At the same time, simple western typesetting will be used to make the information more clear.

The Rise of the Plastic Age

In the late 1970s, China's plastic packaging bag color printing industry began to take off, which was a key turning point in the development of color food packaging bags. At that time, plastic quickly emerged in the packaging field with many advantages such as low cost, lightweight and portable, waterproof and durable, gradually replacing paper and becoming the main material for colored food packaging bags.
During this period, printing technology was still in the traditional stage, mainly relying on monochrome printing in the early stages, which could only meet basic information communication and simple decorative needs. With the rapid development of the national economy, people's living standards have significantly improved, and the demand for food packaging bags has sharply increased, providing strong impetus for the development of the industry. Color printing technology also continued to advance during this period, gradually developing from monochrome printing to two-color and four-color printing, and then achieving multi-color printing, which can present more diverse colors and patterns.
Some candy factories have started using two-color printed plastic packaging bags, combining bright candy colors with brand logos, which are particularly eye-catching on the shelves and attract the attention of many consumers, greatly enhancing the market competitiveness of the products. With the continuous maturity of technology, multi-color printed food packaging bags are gradually becoming popular, which can vividly display the tempting color, unique shape, and characteristic elements of food, meet consumers' dual needs for beauty and practicality, and further promote the prosperity and development of the color food packaging industry.
Transformation: The Road to Upgrading in the 21st Century

  Entering the 21st century, China's plastic packaging bag color printing industry has undergone a more profound transformation, experiencing a dual transformation from scale expansion to industrial upgrading. During this period, market competition became increasingly fierce, and companies turned their attention to technological innovation, product upgrades, and brand building in order to establish a foothold in the market.In terms of technological innovation, digital printing technology has emerged as a rising force. In the past, traditional printing methods had high costs and low efficiency when facing small batch and personalized orders, while digital printing technology has effectively solved these problems. It can directly convert digital files into printed materials without the need for plate making, which not only greatly shortens the printing cycle, but also achieves one sheet printing, meeting the market's demand for personalized packaging.For example, some small food enterprises can use digital printing technology to quickly produce a small number of colored packaging bags for market testing when launching new products. Based on feedback, the subsequent production scale can be determined, reducing trial and error costs.
  The rise of environmental protection concepts globally has also profoundly influenced the colored food packaging bag industry. With the increasing awareness of environmental protection among consumers, the demand for environmentally friendly materials and printing technology is growing day by day. Enterprises actively respond, increase investment in environmental protection, and develop and use environmentally friendly inks and water-based inks to replace traditional solvent based inks. These environmentally friendly inks can reduce the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during production and use, lower air pollution, and are more friendly to the health of operators.At the same time, colored food packaging bags made of biodegradable materials have begun to appear in the market, such as polylactic acid (PLA), starch based materials, etc. These materials can be decomposed by microorganisms in the natural environment, effectively reducing the harm of plastic waste to the environment and promoting the development of the entire industry towards green and sustainable direction.
In the context of intensified market competition, brand building has become an important means for enterprises to enhance their competitiveness. Enterprises are beginning to focus on shaping the brand image of their products, conveying brand concepts and product features to consumers through unique packaging design and high-quality printing quality. Some well-known food brands have unique designs for their colorful packaging bags, coordinated color combinations, exquisite and creative patterns, which not only attract consumers' attention on the shelves, but also enhance their sense of identity and loyalty to the brand.
Process decryption: How to print colors on packaging

In the design process, designers need to have in-depth communication with clients, fully understand the characteristics of food, brand positioning, and specific needs of clients, in order to create creative and accurate design drafts that can convey product information and attract consumers. This not only requires designers to have solid artistic skills and design abilities, but also requires a keen insight into market trends and consumer psychology.
For example, the packaging bag design of a children's snack may use bright and colorful colors and cute and interesting cartoon characters to attract children's attention.The plate making process is a crucial step in converting design drafts into printing plates. Technicians will perform color separation on patterns, break down complex patterns into different colored versions, and repair and optimize unclear areas in the artwork, which is known as "making files" in the industry. After completing the file processing, more than ten detailed processes are required to complete the plate making. For example, when making gravure printing, grooves corresponding to the pattern need to be carved on the surface of the drum to store ink and achieve precise printing.
The printing process is the core step in endowing packaging bags with color. After the raw materials are ready, the high-speed printing machine starts working to print the surface film. Common printing methods include gravure printing, flexographic printing, and digital printing. Gravure printing stores ink through grooves on the gravure cylinder, and during printing, the ink is transferred from the grooves to the film, presenting bright colors and rich layers of printing effects, suitable for large-scale production; Flexographic printing uses flexible plates and mesh rollers to transfer ink, which has the advantages of environmental protection and low cost. It is commonly used for products with relatively low printing quality requirements; Digital printing does not require plate making and can directly convert digital files into printed materials, suitable for small batch and personalized orders.
After printing is completed, it is the peritoneal step, also known as compounding. By using specialized adhesive and high-speed peritoneal machine, the printed surface film is tightly adhered to the heat sealable inner film. This process not only enhances the strength and durability of the packaging bag, but also improves its barrier performance, preventing food from getting damp, oxidized, etc. For example, the common aluminum-plastic composite bag combines aluminum foil with plastic film, combining the barrier properties of aluminum foil and the flexibility of plastic film, and is widely used in food packaging with high preservation requirements.
Curing is to prevent delamination of the composite packaging bag and ensure its stable quality. The composite packaging bag needs to be cured under specific conditions, usually in a curing chamber above 45 ℃ for 24 hours or even longer, to allow the adhesive to fully crosslink and improve the composite fastness. The curing conditions for different types of packaging bags and adhesives may also vary, requiring strict control of parameters such as temperature, time, and humidity.
Bag making is the final step in the entire process, and it is also a key link in determining the final shape and practicality of the packaging bag. Bag making technicians need to have proficient skills to ensure good edge sealing and no air leakage of color printed packaging bags. During the operation, temperature control of the hot knife is particularly important. If the temperature is too high, it may cause the packaging bag material to melt and deform, while if the temperature is too low, it will not achieve good sealing effect. After strict inspection by quality inspectors, colored food packaging bags that meet quality standards can finally leave the factory and enter the market for circulation.
Future outlook: The journey of continuous innovation
Personalized customization will become a major trend in colored food packaging bags. Consumers' pursuit of personalization and uniqueness is becoming increasingly strong, and in the future, colored food packaging bags will be able to be customized according to consumers' personal preferences and special needs. Whether it's unique pattern design, personalized text content, or customized size specifications, they can all be easily achieved. Through digital technology and advanced printing processes, enterprises can quickly respond to consumers' customized needs, provide high-quality and personalized colored food packaging bags, meet consumers' pursuit of personalized products, and also provide unique marketing methods for brands, enhancing the stickiness between brands and consumers.
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