There are many industry terms in the print world that you may not know; while some are irrelevant to our clients, offset printing is a phrase you should understand. Offset printing is a commonly used printing process where an inked image is transferred, or offset, from a plate to a rubber blanket then to the printed surface. This technique can be combined with a lithographic process, which results in the non-printed areas staying ink-free, as it based on the repulsion of oil and water.
Why would you want to use offset printing? A few reasons, actually:
-Consistent high image quality.
-Offset printing produces sharper images and type than letterpress because the rubber blanket molds to the texture of the printing surface.
-Longer printing plate life than on direct presses as there is no direct contact between the plate and the surface.
– Offset printing is the most inexpensive method for producing high quality prints in commercial printing quantities.
As such, offset printing is the most commonly used commercial printing process for publishing, from the printing of books, magazines, and packaging, which makes books and marketing material affordable. All in all, it’s a win-win for everyone!