Choosing a Printing Service

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Choosing a Printing Service for Your Project

Offset lithography, flexography, digital, thermography, desktop-it may all be "printing", but what are the differences in printing services and which is right for your project?

There are three factors that will help you determine what type of printing service is right for you and your budget: quantity, quality and timeline.

Need to run only a few copies of a flier, maybe one or two manuals or a few dozen business cards? A desktop printer fits the bill. Whether laser or inkjet (using toner as opposed to ink), these types of printers are common in the home or small office, and produce acceptable quality when using good paper.

Digital Printing Press

Digital printing, another type of printing service, sends a digital file from a computer directly to the press. The equipment used for digital printing allows for lower cost on low-volume quantities, such as 100 flyers or postcards or a few large posters. Very quick turnaround times are another good reason to use digital printing to complete your project. Digital printing is common for short run printing and for creating complex document compilations such as training manuals.

Offset lithography is the most common of the commercial printing services used. This technique accommodates the bulk of mass printing production. Print projects such as a glossy brochures, postcards, catalogs and magazines are common offset projects. Offset printing is where ink is transferred, or offset, from metal plates to a rubber cylinder or "blanket", then onto the paper.

Heidelberg Offset Printing Press

The advantages of offset are higher quality and best cost-effectiveness for higher volume quantities. This kind of printing service produces rich accurate color, high quality images and photographs, with clean typeface and fine details. The more you print, the less you pay per piece, since most of the cost is in the setup. Any additional quantity costs only a few cents per sheet for paper and ink. Offset printing can take a little longer than digital printing due to the time needed for creating plates and for the ink to dry before cutting and finishing.

When you need 500 or more business cards, postcards, posters, spec sheets or flyers for a tradeshow, traditional offset printing services are tough to beat for high-end quality at an affordable price. Offset enables small business to compete with the "big guys" with professional-looking marketing materials.

Take some time and ask yourself: What matters most to you on your print project? Quantity, your need for quality, deadlines and your target recipients' expectations are important considerations to weigh when you are looking for the best printing service match for your project.