The Nuts and Bolts of Offset Printing
Most customers perusing print shops and online websites today have only the faintest idea of the mechanical processes that ultimately determine their printing quotes.
Offset printing, one of the oldest and most common methods used in the industry today, is a perfect example. Understanding the machinery and physical process behind offset printing will ultimately allow you to make a more informed decision on whether or not this method of printing is right for your company.
In short, offset printing works on the basic premise that water and ink don't mix.
Because of this, images like words, text and graphics are engraved on image plates that are dampened first by water and then by ink. Consequently, the ink will stick to the area of the plate containing the image, while the water will simply adhere to the non-image area of the plate. Once that has been done, the engraved material is finally applied to the desired card stock - be it simple paper or a glossy poster - by pressing the image down on it.
Of course, the very mechanics involved in the process means offset printing has both its advantages and disadvantages.
In general, mechanical and electrical offset printing presses are better suited for printing large runs. That means printing hundreds or even thousands of copies - regardless of whether you are talking about brochures, newsletters, business cards, magazines or labels - is often preferred and ultimately more economical for customers.
The reason clients are usually thrown off by the perceived high costs of offset printing is that they simply aren't printing enough copies to cover the cost of setting up the plates on the machine. However, once the machine is rolling, the average costs per copy can decrease dramatically as you increase the size of your order.
Now that you've understood this basic tenet of offset printing, you should understand that this printing process is still around today because it still produces some of the most vivid colours and high quality products in the industry today.
Nine out of every ten companies looking to make a splash in the marketing world - whether through high quality poster ads or business cards - will choose offset printing. Despite the continued advancements in digital printing technology, many printing companies make it a point to offer offset printing as their high-end printing alternatives, often making it a point to offer the most competitive rates around.
After all, why mess around with a sure winner.
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