The Advantages of Offset Printing

Since its introduction at the turn of the 20^th century, offset printing has been an unstoppable success. Not only was it an enormous improvement over earlier direct printing methods (for more on that, check out this blog here), but it has also continued to prove highly advantageous even compared to other modern printing techniques. 

Read on to learn exactly why offset printing has become the go-to method for publications, marketing collateral, packaging, corporate materials and so much more.

Quality and Consistency

There are many ways to measure quality when assessing a print, and offset printing scores high marks by every standard. For example, while other commercial printing techniques may offer similar vibrancy and saturation, offset printing is the undisputed king of color consistency. This makes it indispensable for maintaining brand consistency and accurate photo reproduction.

Advanced offset printing presses are also capable of exceptional image detail and clarity. This is because their color registration is top-notch, even during high-volume runs. That means every single copy created is reliably excellent, whether you need 100 or 100,000.

Cost Effectiveness

In addition to producing high-quality results, offset printing is also extremely cost-effective for high-quantity jobs. The calculation works like this:

Offset printing’s main competitor, digital printing, produces similar quality results. However, it doesn’t require the creation of any custom printing plates. These plates represent a significant upfront cost. By eliminating them, digital printing becomes more affordable for low-quantity jobs.

However, digital printing uses more ink per copy. That means, as the number of copies increases, the potential savings from not needing printing plates decreases. At a certain point, the ever-rising cost of ink causes the calculation to flip, making offset printing the more cost-effective choice for higher-quantity jobs.

Versatility of Substrates

Lastly, offset printing can accommodate an incredible variety of substrates, AKA the surface you print on. Because each component of the press is adjustable, and the printing technique itself is very versatile, you can use almost any type of paper imaginable in an offset press. Thick or thin, glossy or matte, coated or uncoated – as long as it can be run through flat, there’s a good chance it can be printed on quickly and cost-effectively with offset printing.