Litho printing has been around for centuries but that doesn’t mean it’s outdated or has been superseded by other techniques, such as digital. It’s still the preferred method of printing for many print jobs due to the quality of the finish it can deliver.
At Brightside Print & Design, we are proud to offer professional lithography printing. We would love to discuss your litho printing needs, so please request a quote below, or contact us.
Digital and Litho printing are two entirely different printing techniques, each of which has its own strengths and weaknesses. Digital printing is a dry powder process, while lithographic printing is a wet ink process. Digital printing uses laser printers in a similar way to home printers.
Dating back to 1796, lithographic printing is very different from modern digital methods. It works by placing the image of the content you want to produce on a plate, which is then covered in ink used for printing the image onto your chosen material. Whereas digital printing prints directly onto the paper, the plate in lithographic printing works as an intermediary, taking on the ink and then transferring onto the chosen material.
It can be used to print on paper, cardboard and a whole range of other materials. The plates and the printer need to be set up, making litho printing more of a craft than traditional printing. This is a slower set-up method than digital but once the printer and plates are set-up it can prove quicker. This makes it a good choice when you have a large print run planned. It’s not only speed on larger runs that makes litho printing standout. The resulting print quality is generally regarded to be superior to what you might achieve with digital printing. Utilising our print management services effectively can help with your printing needs.
Litho printing is generally a better choice of printing method if your design requires the printing of lots of large blocks of colour. The reproduction of that colour should be a lot clearer. While digital printing can often be quicker to get going, litho printing gives materials a classic, high quality finish. Digital print tends to be consistent, and matt in appearance. Litho can give your printed materials a glossy and individual finish.
As digital printers don’t have a set-up procedure, they don’t have a set-up cost. Most of the cost is placed on the paper. Each printed copy goes through the printer at a set cost. Litho printing requires the creation of bespoke printing plates which need to be made before printing can begin. This means that litho printing has upfront costs. Once the print has been set-up, the cost per sheet tends to work out cheaper than digital printing. It’s also faster.
At Brightside we offer a full range of lithographic printing services. Our tried and tested techniques can create beautiful, high-quality printed materials that really stand out from the crowd. If you’re looking to create high-quality printed materials such as brochures, art, catalogues, posters and newsletters, lithographic printing will give them the edge.
We’re always happy to answer any questions you might have about any of our services. If you need print solutions, look for Brightside. Why not get in touch to find out more and for a no-obligation quote?
