Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Truth About Offset Printing In Los Angeles

By Margaret Smith


Offset printing in Los Angeles is a classic printing method usually utilizing a letterpress to transfer text and pictures from a roller to paper. The number of offset printing jobs are rapidly declining due to advances in desktop publishing software that enable novice publishers to design their personal small publications and print them without offset presses.

Because of the new technological innovation of desktop publishing software there are plenty of people who are unfamiliar with offset printing while some people have never heard about it. Compared with other printing methods, offset printing is best suited for producing big quantities of top quality prints in an economically sound manner that will need little maintenance. Offset lithography is one of the most popular ways of creating printed matter. Some of its typical applications include newspapers, magazines, brochures, stationery, and books.

The offset printing in Los Angeles typically employs principle from rotary printing and lithography. There are normally a printing plate cylinder, a rubber-wrapped blanket cylinder, and an impression cylinder. The printing plate is the first to be subjected to ink. The printing plate then transfers the graphic into the rubber on the blanket cylinder. The printing surface is held from the blanket cylinder by the impression cylinder, and then the image is transferred to the paper.

An offset lithograph is the print made by the process of offset lithography. The term 'offset' indicates that the print is not made directly from printing plates instead the graphic is transferred to another surface and from that surface towards the paper. This method is often times used by commercial printing, seldom for fine art. High-volume printing such as newspapers, magazines and advertising are most often offset lithographs.

Listed below are facts about offset printing in L.A.

Web Fed - The most common form of offsetting printing in L.A. is also known as web fed printing. This is one of the main reasons why most young adults are not acquainted with the terminology 'offset printing'. Web fed printings is a large roll of paper set up to continuously feed paper into the machine.

Sheet Fed - Isn't as popular as web fed because paper is fed into the press one piece at a time for printing.

Printing Plates - The printing plates are specially treated to achieve a legible image. The graphic surfaces are made to repel water and also to attract ink, as the non-image surfaces are treated to accomplish the contrary. This technique finds its root in lithographic printing.

Applications - Offset printing can be used for a number of commercial printing purposes including newspapers, magazines, and brochures.

Environment - Although it remains a popular format for printing, offset printing runs on the variety of potent chemicals that make it a potential environmental hazard if badly handled.

Offset printing in Los Angeles is an additional service that is unidentified to many people since it is not commonly used by students and individuals. Rather offset printing method is used by high volume printing such as newspaper, magazines and brochures.




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