Offset printing is most often used for projects that require high quality, such as magazines, books, brochures, newspapers, and stationery. While this printing method is generally too expensive for simple projects like flyers or business cards, the offset printing advantages might be precisely what your high volume project needs.
Printing terminology can often seem complex and confusing, but offset printing is one you’ll be better off learning. In short, offset printing refers to a process where a computer creates your image on a metal plate, which is used to print your image to your material. The metal plates transfer ink onto rubber “blankets,” which then roll the ink onto the printing material.
5 Offset Printing Advantages to Make Your Project Stand Out
Offset printing advantages are numerous, helping to create a final product you’ll be proud of. Take a look at these five key factors that can help you decide if offset printing is the right choice for your next project:
1. High-quality printing
With offset printing, you can expect a high-quality printed image every time. The printer operator can control the ink flow, which means there are fewer wasted prints that don’t provide enough contrast within the images. As a result, you get clean, sharp images on every piece.
2. Lower cost for high volume jobs
One of the main offset printing advantages is the low cost of high-quality prints. It’s cheaper than rotogravure or photogravure methods, two methods that offer slightly higher quality but are not always worth the extra expense. The more you need to be printed during each cycle, the less it costs to produce each piece.
3. Faster printing for high volume jobs
While there are a few extra involved in creating the metal plate and setting up the equipment, it’s worth the extra work in terms of speed for high volume jobs. Standard printers risk running out of paper or ink during the printing cycle or printing a faded image when ink runs low. But with offset printing, the printer operator can control the ink flow by turning keys to ensure your print quality remains at an optimal level. This means your print job is less likely to be interrupted, which can ensure you get large quantities in less time than a direct printer.
4. Inexpensive printing plates
Each print job will require the print company to create a customized printing plate for your project. With today’s technology, the plates are relatively inexpensive and easy to make and can be used up to a million times (or more, in some cases) which helps to keep costs low. It’s much cheaper per piece than direct printing, plus you get unmatched quality.
5. Variety of printing materials
One of the more attractive offset printing advantages, this printing method works for a multitude of printing surfaces. You can print your project on leather, vinyl, fabric, metal, varying types of paper and cardstock, wood, and plastic. You can create a truly unique project because you aren’t limited to just paper.
Is offset printing the best option for your print project? Contact one of our printing experts about your upcoming project.
