Offset Printing

Offset Printing NYC

Offset printing is a process in which the image is transferred (or ‘offset’) from a metal plate, to a rubber blanket or roller and then to the printing surface. Also known as offset lithography, this process is ideal for large production runs such as newspapers, magazines, catalogs and books. Our offset printing NYC service comes with 20 years of experience in print and investment in state-of-the-art printing machines that make our offset printing job turnarounds faster and higher quality than ever before.

At Printing New York we use web offset printing, which are larger, higher-speed machines fed with reels of paper through the press machine; printing continously as the paper is fed through. The pages are then separated and trimmed after printing. Web offset printing is very cost effective for high volume publications where the content may change, for example newspapers. Get in touch with one of our printing experts to find out more about our offset printing options.

What is offset printing?

In commercial printing, offset printing, also known as offset lithography or litho-offset, is a commonly used printing technique in which an inked image on a printing plate is printed on a rubber cylinder before being transferred (i.e., offset) to paper or other medium. The rubber cylinder allows for a wide range of printing applications, including wood, fabric, metal, leather, and rough paper. Ira W. Rubel of Nutley, New Jersey, discovered the process by accident in 1904 and quickly built a press to use it.

The subject to be printed in offset printing is neither elevated above the surface of the printing plate (as in letterpress) nor sunk below it (as in screen printing) (as in intaglio, or gravure, printing). Instead, it is flush with the plate’s surface, classifying offset as a planographic printing method.

Etched metal plates, water-repellent (e.g. oil-based) inks, water, blanket cylinders, and impression cylinders are all used in the offset lithography process.

Oily inks only adhere to the sections of the plate that contain the images and text. Oil-based inks are repelled by a thin layer of water applied to the plate’s blank areas. The ink on the plates is first transferred to a “blanket” cylinder coated in rubber. When the inked blanket cylinder rolls over the paper, the ink reaches the paper.

Impression cylinders were used on many presses to exert pressure to the paper while the ink was transferred to the surface. Sheets are also moved through the presses with the use of impression cylinders.

Each color of ink used in the offset printing process necessitates the creation of distinct plates and blanket rollers.

For varied run lengths and substrate requirements, numerous variations of presses, plates, and inks are employed. Some publishing houses, for example, may print millions of copies of a magazine. Other printers might print 250 huge sheets to be folded into multi-page pamphlets.

Digital vs Offset Printing

Printing New York offers both offset printing and digital printing – the two most widespread methods of printing. Both differ in technique and methodology and have advantages depending on the materials and quantities printed, and the size of the print media being utilized.

Digital Printing

Digital printing is electronic printing which involves the laser writing of an image using a rotating drum to apply the ink. Digital printing is ideal and cost-effective for small runs as it involves quick and easy setup compared to offset printing. A big advantage of digital printing is variable data, printing a document with different images and texts per item; for example envelopes with a new address on each.

Offset Printing

Offset printing is a process in which the image is transferred from a metal plate on to a rubber blanket or roller before applying to the printing surface. The rubber blankets/rollers conform to the print surface, giving a sharp final image.

Offset printing gives a consistent high-quality image and can print any Pantone or PMS colors. It requires a lengthy setup of plates and cylinders as well as preliminary printing in order to obtain the highest quality result and due to these preliminary steps, it is much more cost-effective for large-scale materials such as press, magazines, books. Offest printing allows printing on a variety surfaces including wood, metal cloth or plastic.

Digital Printing Advantages

• Low setup costs
• Cheaper than offset for smaller volume orders
• Allows for variable data printing
• Fast turnaround

Offset Printing Advantages

• Consistent high image quality
• Ideal for large volume printing & larger paper sizes
• Cheaper than digital for larger volume orders
• Print on a variety of surfaces including wood, metal, cloth, plastic