Beyond Darth Vader

Beyond Star Wars' use of lasers, package printers are using two main types of lasers to engrave cells into anilox rolls.

by Joy English, Assistant Editor

THROUGOUT OUR LIVES, we are constantly fascinated by things that light up. We capture fireflies and "ooh" and "aww" at Fourth of July fireworks. Laser light shows are a big attraction at amusement parks and even science museums, where rays of light dance to funky background music. But these beams of light energy can be very powerful and very useful tools in various industries. In the package-printing industy, lasers are being used to engrave anilox rolls for improved ink dispersion and printing capabilities.