Printing Basics of Preprinted Stationery

When you choose to purchase preprinted stationery, it may help you to make more informed choices if you know a little bit about the printing process.

First of all, what kind of printing is your printing company going to use to create your preprinted stationery? One of the most popular kinds of printing technologies is offset lithographic printing, which uses oil based ink and printing plates. Knowing the basics about this printing process may help you choose the right colors and company to create preprinted stationery that will represent you and your business satisfactorily.

Offset Lithographic Printing

Offset lithography is the most popular printing process on the market. Here's how it works: First, an image is transferred photographically onto a plate. This plate is made out of metal, plastic, or paper, and the image is flat, not raised. Rollers apply oil-based ink and water onto the plates. The ink is transferred to a cylinder which then transfers the ink to your stationery. The water keeps the oil-based ink from bonding to the areas of your preprinted stationery logo where you don't want it to go.

Printing plates vary according to the type of printing press used. The metal, plastic, paper, or rubber plates create different textures on the page. The images are transferred to these plates via photomechanical, photochemical, or laser engraving. It all depends on the size of the preprinted stationery order, the type of press, and the method of printing used. A different plate is prepared for each color in the full color printing process.

In the end, you have great quality preprinted stationery designed exactly as you like.