Like letterpress printing, flexographic printing occurs directly from raised surface. Offset rotary printing employs flexible printing plates that are usually made of photopolymer and relatively fluid inks. The primary application is the printing of packaging materials made from plastics, such as PE, PET, OPP, OPE, and from paper, cardboard and paperboard and metallized packaging.

Hydrophobic and hydrophilic HDK^® may be used to regulate the viscosity and to prevent pigment settling in flexographic printing.