Offset printing was created in the late nineteenth century to speed up the printing process and increase flexibility. The innovation of offset lithography, a process that transferred images from photographic plates onto paper, quickly became standard practice in the printing industry. This technique gave rise to offset printing presses, which are still in widespread use today due to their ability to produce high-quality work quickly and on a wide range of different materials.
The basics of offset printing
Offset is one of three primary printing methods. It involves transferring an image from one medium to another, most commonly from a plate to paper. The offset method is popular because it can print large quantities of work quickly—ideal for commercial publishers and printers. The colour reproduction in offset prints is excellent; unlike screen-printing, where colours tend to look hazy or washed out, offset print colours are always sharp and clear. Offset reproduces halftones—that is, photographs or fine details like small typefaces—effectively too. Colours are often more muted than they are with digital printing; sometimes they’re not as bright as on other media but they’re also less likely to look garish or processed.
Why do companies choose offset over digital
While digital printers are undeniably faster than offset presses, it’s important to note that that’s not always what you want. The paper used in offset is heavier than that of digital, so if you need your flyers to be sturdier, then choose offset. If you don’t mind your flyers being a little flimsier, then you should definitely go with digital. Since speed isn’t as much of an issue when it comes to large posters or display banners, many businesses choose to use offset for those projects as well. Offset also allows for spot colours and metallic ink (including gold!) unlike most digital printers. If you want bolder colour options and richness in your print job, consider offset.
The Pros
Offset presses are fantastic at producing high-quality pieces in large quantities. They’re also versatile. Offset printers can print anything from simple flyers to posters, brochures, full-colour books, magazines, catalogues and more. This versatility means that you can always find an offset printer when you need one: Whether it’s last-minute or run of large editions. A quick call or email and any number of shops will jump to action in helping you meet your time frame for getting printed material out into the world.
Common misconceptions about offset
A number of businesses still have an outdated perception of offset printing. For example, some think that because you can’t place variable data on an offset printed piece, they’re not a good fit. While it’s true that with flexographic (gravure) or digital print you can change your imprint on the press in real-time; that’s not always necessary, or even desirable. To create high-quality marketing collateral such as flyers, postcards and brochures, offset is still one of your best options. Offset provides designers with the freedom to experiment with ink colours and textures to create exceptional visual impact without breaking brand consistency – critical if you’re creating marketing materials for multiple clientele.
A greater need for speed to market
In today’s business environment, customers demand ever-faster delivery times. While digital printing has enabled businesses to more quickly bring new products and services to market, printed materials may still require some level of assembly before they can be shipped. Offset presses are ideal for short runs that may require folding, glueing or stitching prior to shipment. The design flexibility of offset is also hard to beat; businesses with innovative marketing ideas can often utilize offset equipment to produce printed pieces in a way that simply isn’t possible on other presses.
A quick summary
Offset printing has been around since 1875 when German printer Friedrich Koenig invented it to print books. The process allows businesses to produce high-quality prints in mass quantities using an inexpensive printing plate or matrix. The offset press is essentially a combination of both lithographic (where ink is applied directly to paper) and letterpress technologies. Today, offset presses are used for producing newspapers, magazines, books, posters, product packaging and more! Offset printers are considered ideal for any type of business that requires large print jobs with fast turnaround times.
Kwality Offset Printers has been offering label printing services to leading companies for over 50 years now. We have been following our legacy of providing exceptional quality services to our clients. As one of the leading label specialists in India, we cater mainly to FMCG companies including liquor, food and healthcare.