We all know that when it comes to bulk printing, using the offset printing method is the obvious choice. The newspaper publishers, the book publishers and even the advertising professionals know that when it comes to printing large amounts of materials, nothing beats offset.
However, there are certain claims about this printing process that puts off many people. These myths can easily deter one from knowing the full advantage this printing method affords many others. And so, in order to lift the veil off offset printing, here are some of the more common myths and the real truths behind them:
Myth 1: Offset printing is cheap because the quality of the print suffers
This myth is stipulated by a rationale that nothing cheap makes up for good quality. If it is cheap, it is always assumed that the product must have undergone crude process or cheap materials as well. In offset printing that is not the case. In fact, offset printing consistently great quality prints.
• One of the reasons why offset is very cheap is because most offset printers use a technique called gang run printing. Gang run printing is a printing process where several designs are integrated and placed on a single plate, which consequently are printed on a single sheet. This method helps lowering the production cost because only a few sets of plates are needed to print multiple designs all at the same time.
• Also, in this process, the plates do not come in direct contact with the paper. This allows the plates to have a longer shelf life. Since you no longer need to produce new plates and you can use the plates again and again, the more you print means that the price per piece for your order will be considerably lower.
Myth 2: Digital printing produces more quality prints than offset printing
Try folding or crumpling a picture that has been digitally printed and you will notice that some of the ink will peel off from the paper. Now try the same thing with a picture printed using offset. Did the ink peel off like in the digitally printed one?
• In digital printing, the ink is sprayed on top of the paper, adding several colors until you have the particular hue that you want. The problem with this method is that the bond between the paper and ink is not strong. That is why the ink easily chips off from the picture that you crumpled.
• Offset, on the other hand, produces colors that are more vivid. The prints’ images are produced through rollers that seemingly “stamp” the colors in place, one layer after another. This sits well along the surface of the paper, without saturating it.
• The same described process helps in constantly producing quality images again and again. You do not have to worry that some of your prints are less colorful than others. All images produced retain such consistency and sharpness, both in color and resolution.
Myth 3: Digital printing is faster than offset printing
This misconception stems from the fact that you need to produce plates before printing in offset unlike in digital printing where you can print directly.
While plating might be involved, technology has already given offset printing companies the ability to overcome what should have been a long process. Offset rivals digital printing with short turnaround time which may be as short as overnight for small prints like business cards or 1 day. Plus, offset is made to accommodate large amounts of print so you can have the prints you need when you want them.
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