Bello Deco

Printing on latex balloons

Printed latex balloons are inflated while the printing takes place, screen printed, then deflated, drummed in rotating industrial dryers to shrink them back to "like new," and packaged. This is why printed latex balloons are so much more expensive than unprinted balloons. Any camera-ready artwork can be imprinted on latex balloons (as long as it does not infringe on copyright). Balloons are printed using several different methods or types of printing depending upon the quantity, balloon size, delivery date, and other factors invloved in the order. All balloons are printed in an inflated state with the two methods described below.

The first method of printing is a form of offset printing. Ink is appled to the plate which reads right, the plate then transfers the ink to a printing drum, and the image reads wrong. The balloon is then rolled across the printing drum transferring the image to the balloon. The image once again reads right. The second method of printing is silk screening. This method has the balloon in a flat, uninflated condition for printing. A silk screen, into which an image has been etched, is then laid over the balloon, and ink is forced through the mesh in the screen in the image area and onto the balloon. The non-image area does not permit ink to penetrate, thereby putting ink only in the image area. Silk screening is also done on inflated balloons by using a holding device and slightly compressing the surface of the printing area with the screen prior to applying the ink. This type of screening is done with an automatic machine on small to medium size balloons.
When balloons are inflated for printing, they are only inflated to approximately 75 to 80 percent of the total capacity. This gives the proper tension to the surface of the balloon for ink transfer.
Immediately upon placing the image on the balloon surface, the balloon is released and deflation begins. By the time the balloon is delfated, the ink must be dry to prevent offsetting onto other balloons.
Specialized ink must be used that will bite into the surface of the balloon and yet not go far enough below the surface to penetrate completely throughout to the interior, causing holes in the balloon