Print has made many things possible through the years. These include education through books, expression through published word, and entertainment through printed visual arts. The list continues. The birth of offset press marked a momentous event in the field of printing. It has become one of the most widely utilized means to print high-volume printing jobs. Offset printing is a method that involves the transfer of ink from a plate to a rubber blanket where the image is then imprinted onto the surface of the paper.

Offset makes cheap printing possible since bulk of the expense for a single print run goes to the first phase of the process: the preparation for printing. Cost for additional copies is minimal since it will only entail more paper. For large-scale printing such as magazines and newspapers, offset press is ideal since it trims down the cost. The more copies made, the cheaper each one gets.

When should you opt for offset printing?

• If you’re on a tight budget and you need to make volumes of copies

As mentioned, the more copies produced, the cheaper it gets. This is especially useful for marketing materials meant for distribution since you don’t get paid for a copy. Your budget for advertising can be brought down by having catalogs, flyers and brochures done through offset. Gang-run printing further lessens the cost because this enables the printers to maximize the paper by lay-outing different printing projects on a spread of paper.

• If you want to achieve color consistency

Offset ensures quality printing every single time since it provides color consistency. This means that you get the same shade and hue every single time, unlike in inkjet printers.

• If you don’t want the ink to come off

Torn between offset and digital printing? Prints that result from the offset press also have inks seemingly embedded to the paper so the ink does not come off when folded or scored, not like digital prints.

Your offset materials are durable and resilient, especially with the combination of the right coated paper stocks. High-gloss or UV coated products for one are resistant to fading and other weather conditions such as moisture.

• If you want to add glitter and glamour to your prints

Aside from the typical CMYK-(Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black) based colors, offset printing may use Pantone colors. Shades that cannot be produced through two or more these colors can now be made. Pantone colors can create effects such as fluorescent and metallic printing.

There is a wide range of materials that you can have produced through offset and many other custom finishing jobs applied to it for customization. These include and are applicable to business cards, brochures, catalogs, labels, newsletters, calendars, greeting cards and posters.

Extra details you want on your materials such as binding, adding gloss or matte coating, cutting to specific shapes and sizes, and placing perforations can be done as well. These, among others, make your offset materials exclusive to your needs.

Your next printing job need not be expensive or inferior. With offset printing, you can achieve both savings and quality. No sacrifices. No excuses.