Printing

What is Printing

                       

1)      The art process of producing image or text material by means of a device or implement, such as a stamp, die, ink or seal, used to press markings onto or into a surface

·        The act of pressing (a mark or design, for example) onto or into a surface.

2)      The business of producing products which are formed or marked by such a device

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Types of printing:

                                                                     

• Offset Lithography ­ the most common printing process today ­ the workhorse! It offsets ink from metal plates to a rubber blanket (cylinder) to the paper. Almost every commercial printer does offset printing

                                        

• Engraving ­ think "fine stationery." Produces the sharpest image of all. Image feels indented (run your fingers over the back side of the sheet). Most law firms still use engravin

                                     

• Thermography ­ raised printing, less expensive than engraving. Uses special powder that’s adhered to any color ink. Mainly used for stationery products

                                      

• Reprographics ­ general term covering copying and duplicating. Think in-house copying departments and copy or quick-printing shops. They take your originals and make duplicates of the

                                     

• Digital Printing ­ the newest printing process and the least understood! Includes all processes that use digital imaging to create printed pieces. Doesn’t use film. (Think desktop to the digital press.) For short-run, fast-turnaround jobs. Limitations include color, paper choices, and quality. But not for long -- the technology is exploding!

                                    

• Letterpress ­ the original process founded by Gutenberg in 1440. "Relief" printing (like rubber stamps, images on the plate are higher than the surface). Fine letterpress is being done by fewer and fewer printers.

                                

• Screen ­ a.k.a. silk-screening. Ink is forced through a screen following a stencil pattern. Used for ring binders, t shirts, bumper stickers, billboards.