Abstract
Stencil printing is roughly divided by distinguishing features of plates into two specific kinds--screen printing and mimeograph. A lot of development has been made for mimeograph since Zuccato's invention in 1874. Especially since 1980, uses of mimeograph have rapidly expanded with the realization of the integrated duplicator which has fully automatic platemaking and printing functions, and the establishment of digital thermal platemaking which can deal with digital information. Today, taking advantage of the imaging technology for convenient, quick, and large volume printing, a thermal stencil duplicator, a modern mimeo, is used for business-use, convenience printing, etc. in many countries. This paper reviews the history of such developments and explains the essential part of the imaging technology of thermal stencil duplicating with the viewpoint of platemaking, printing and process designing.
