Printed plastic bags are one way customers ensure that the products they sell are packaged in a way to gain notice. The two most common printing methods are random printing, or registered printing.
Random printing on poly bags
When a printed image repeats every so many inches on a product, not necessarily in the same location, the printer is utilizing a random printing method. Although the print will appear in a different place on the consecutively produced bags, this type of printing is the most efficient and speedy of the two methods - resulting in a lower priced bag.
Registered printing on plastic bags
Registered printing is used when an image must be positioned on a specific place on each bag. This type of printing is done by incorporating an eye-mark into the print. This small mark, often in the shape of a 1" by .25" dark colored rectangle, near the corner of the bag, allows all of the different colors to be aligned properly. On a registered printed plastic bag, that mark triggers the bag sealer and cutter/perforator to create a printed plastic bag in which the printing is in the same location for each individual bag.
An easy way to see if the print is registered or random repeat is to look for this rectangular eye-mark.
