Offset Printing is great for: letterhead, catalogs, books/booklets, business forms, flyers, brochures, calendars, invitations and so much more depending on the quantity. With offset printing actual inks are used, not toner.
HOW IT WORKS
Offset printing is a commonly used printing technique where an inked image is transferred (or “offset”) from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to paper. The offset process is a lithographic process. Lithography is a process based on the repulsion of oil and water.
An image that is offset printed is separated into its fundamental colors. (From a single color printing to a full color print, using CMYK inks (cyan, magenta, yellow & black) to create full and vibrant color prints).
Thanks to computers this process has become easier. The image is broken down into these four colors and four separate plates are made.
A plate is made up of areas that are receptive to grease and areas that are receptive to water. The areas receptive to grease hold onto the ink while the other areas attract water and repel the ink.
These plates are then put on to a press. From the ink fountains, the press pulls in the ink and puts it onto the plate. The press applies great pressure to the plate and the ink imprints the image from the plate onto a rubber blanket. The image is then pressed onto the paper off the blanket to make a print.
When these four colors are printed onto each other the image comes back together and looks the way it did in in the initial file.
All this happens fast, and many impressions can be made from one set of plates. It is a very efficient process and lends itself very well to long runs over an extended period. It is not ideal for short runs due to the set-up involved. This is where Digital Printing fits in.