The Major Types of Printing Processes: A Primer
By Margie Gallo Dana

"I'm a printer" can mean many different things, depending on a particular process. This list should help define the major ones, guiding business people as they look for an appropriate print vendor.

1. Offset Lithography - the most common printing process today - the workhorse! It offsets ink from metal plates to a rubber blanket (cylinder) to the paper. Almost every commercial printer

does offset printing.

2. Engraving - think "fine stationery." Produces the sharpest image of all. Image feels indented (run your fingers over the back side of the sheet). Most law firms still use engraving.

3. Thermography - raised printing, less expensive than engraving. Uses special powder that's adhered to any color ink. Mainly used for stationery products.

4. Reprographics - general term covering copying and duplicating. Think in-house copying departments and copy or quick-printing shops. They take your originals and make duplicates of them.

5. Digital Printing - the newest printing process and the least understood! Includes all processes imaging to create printed pieces. Doesn't use film. (Think that use digital desktop to the digital press.) For short-run, fast-turnaround jobs. Limitations include color, paper choices, and quality.

But not for long: the technology is exploding!

6. Letterpress - the original process founded by Gutenberg in 1440. "Relief" printing (like rubber stamps, images on the plate are higher than the surface). Fine letterpress is being done by fewer and fewer printers.

7. Screen - aka silk screening. Ink is forced through a screen, following a stencil pattern. Used for ring binders, T shirts, bumper stickers, billboards.

8. Flexography - special type of printing for packaging products. The plates used are flexible. Products include cardboard boxes, grocery bags, gift wrap, and can and bottle labels.

9. Gravure - prints directly from cylinder to paper. Used when printing for millions of impressions - think magazines, newspapers, and direct mail catalogs.

So when you're looking for a printer, make sure you know that he or she can deliver what you need. Printing is complicated stuff - the more you ask, the better your printed results should be!

© 2001 Dana Consulting. Used with permission. Margie Gallo Dana is president of Dana Consulting in Chestnut Hill, MA. Her firm helps printers and print buyers communicate better. A public speaker and an author, Margie's mission is to eliminate the misconceptions between consumers and the printing industry. Margie sends out a free PRINT TIP OF THE WEEK via email. To subscribe, email her at mdana@printconsulting.com. She can be reached via her web site at www.printconsulting.com.

©2007 Maria Marsala, former Wall Street Fortune 200 executive, business strategist, author and speaker. As founder of Elevating Your Business, Maria helps business owners and independent service professionals work smarter and earn more. Learn more and receive free business tools at ElevatingYourBusiness.com

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