Businesses will print products such as business cards, flyers, brochures, posters, and banners. Printed materials help with marketing, brand visibility, and internal operations. Your business can use any of the following printing options, depending on your needs:
Offset Option
Offset printing is ideal for posters, letterheads, direct mail pieces, manuals, books, and magazines. This printing method includes several steps that use impression cylinders, blanket cylinders, water, inks, and metal plates. The printers start by preparing the image and then transferring it to the production plate. The next steps are plate development and ink preparation, where they remove an exposed area from the plates and mix the desired colors of the ink. After mounting the plates onto the printing press, they transfer the image to the paper and allow it to dry.
Offset printing produces high-quality images and can work on a wide range of materials including plastic, cardboard, and paper. If your business is doing a large-scale production, this method can be cost-effective and generate consistent results throughout the production run.
Digital Production
The digital option process involves directly printing digital-based images onto various media substrates. Printers use tiny droplets of ink transfers to create an image on a selected surface, such as a bag, hat, mug, or shirt. This method doesn’t require the use of plates, and you can use it for small-run jobs. While traditional printing methods are cost-effective for large-scale printing, digital publication can save money even for short print runs. The process also uses less material for changeovers, contributing to a more sustainable environment.
Large Format
If your company frequently requires oversized printed items or prints a huge volume of marketing materials, a large format can be ideal for you. The method is perfect for large signs, posters, banners, billboards, wall panels, and large maps. The large-format option requires a large sheet of paper and a special publication machine such as a flatbed printer, roll-to-roll printer, or hybrid printer. Common substrate materials for this type of printing include paper, vinyl, wood, metal, and plastic.
The main advantage of selecting large-format printing is that you can use it for short runs and expect a quick turnaround. You can also print images without any size limitations as long as you have the right production machine. Many of the images will last for a long time in outdoor environments because they contain ink offering UV protection. Another benefit is the method works on many types of materials, including recycled production materials. You can use the generated banners, posters, and signage to make your brand stand out in outdoor advertising. The large format materials are also great for communicating internally, such as when welcoming a new executive or launching a new initiative.
Specialty Format
Businesses that require huge volumes of flexible packaging and labels should choose specialty format publications. This is a printing method that uses high speeds of many linear feet per minute. The printing can occur on many types of materials such as cardboard, vinyl, paperboard, plastics, and other sustainable alternatives. If you want to add inline effects, the process allows you to do that. The printing process involves designing your artwork and mounting it on a printing cylinder. You can also integrate the printing process with your other online print processes.
Select the Ideal Printing Option
Businesses require a wide variety of printing materials, and buying all the different types of printers can be costly. A better approach is to outsource the publication process to a company with all the required printers. A print company can use offset digital large format or custom printing to meet your specific needs. Find a reputable print shop in your area today.
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