The Different Types of Printing Techniques

Printing is a medium you see wherever you go; it is used in newspapers, brochures, invitations, pamphlets, books, magazines…. The list is endless. Though printing is evident and seen everywhere, there is a point to remember about it, which is the fact that different techniques are used in different media.

This is the main reason you find that these companies are not equal; there are companies that offer full color prints for your marketing needs and others that offer offset prints for reasonable print jobs and in the process, gives you a great savings.

To succeed in choosing the company that will print whatever you need to be printed, you have to first find out which printer you require for your job. In addition to this, you also have to find out and learn about the different techniques available. This ensures that you choose your marketing campaign after discussing matters with your printer.

• Offset Lithography is the most common and famous method available today where most printers use offset lithography to make a print. This is because this method helps in saving ink and in the process, limits set up time. With this, you will be able to use a more effective and affordable print for your job. Here printers usually offset the ink from metal plates to a rubber cylinder, which is then transferred to the paper stock.

• Digital Printing is a very popular method as it is effective in reducing the time to complete a print. Moreover, there is no need of using any films or plates here; the digital file is transferred to the printing press, with the help of a computer. As this is a fast process, customers use it to help meet their deadlines and schedules.

• Electrostatic Printing is similar to photocopying where the color is attached to a drum and then let to blend with paper on the application of heat on it. It can also be compared to digital printing as it is cost effective in providing short print runs.

• Letterpress was created by Gutenberg and is considered to be one of the first forms of print in all time. With letterpress, you saw the start of the concept of relief printing, where the image that is to be printed is raised from the surface. However, with the introduction and implementation of new and faster methods, this method is slowly growing obsolete and losing its popularity.

• Thermography is a method where images are raised, like you see in most stationery. In this method, printers first have to use a special powder or some dust that can easily stick to wet ink. This done, heat is applied to help with the blending of the ink and powder, with which you get the raised image you were looking for.

These are not the only types of printing offered; there are many more methods that can be used to print whatever you need to get printed. The trick in getting the right print lies in being able to choose the right printing method that is most suitable for your needs.