Running head: OFFSET PRINTING.

Offset Printing

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The offset printing machine is a device that is used in printing technique where a picture

is transferred to rubber staff then to the printing surface. Offset printing is an indirect printing

method where ink is not applied directly to the sheet that is being printed on but rather indirect

through a roller. This technique is dominant in the printing industry. The machine was invented

in the 18th century by Czech Alois Senefelder, who was looking for a cost-effective method of

copying the music sheets. Later on, in 1904 Ira and a German immigrant Herman developed the

idea of Czech and constructed the prototypes offset printing machine ("The Offset Printing

Process explained in detail » SAXOPRINT Blog UK", 2019. Although these inventions were

developed in the same year, the machines were independent of each other.

The offset printing uses a lithographic process that uses ink and water. The offset

printing works in a process commonly; the machine uses an indirect method. Lithographic is a

printing process where the image is, and the non-image area coexists in the same plane. Thus, it

requires the printing surface to be extremely flat. The method used water and oil, thus making

this process is feasible due to the application of the chemical principle, water and oil not mixing.

The offset printing ink is an oily substance; thus, it will repel water. The process creates a

surface on which parts contain a thin layer of water, thus repel ink. The image is required to be

lithographic, and therefore it will accept ink and the area that is not printed need to be

hydrophilic thus it accepts water ("Offset printing | How an offset printing press works", 2019).

This principle makes it possible for the non-image area and the image are to appear on the same

surface.

The printing machine contains various autonomies that are used to make the process

successful. The control system, it is a component in the printing machine that’s used to transfer

printing paper through the press. Sheets are picked up from a paper pile in a feeder section. The
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slack of picked sheets is placed in the adjustable table, the air jets or the vacuum ensures the

feeder picks only one paper at a time. Paper is then transferred to the gripper by the impression

cylinder. Paper runs in a different section in the gripper and finally to the final impression

cylinder where the sheets of papers are pilled and carried to the delivery pile. The other

component of the printing machine is printing units, which may be one or several. The printing

contains what is needed to print one colour of the sheet that is moved around by the sheet control

system. A typical printing press contains 1-10 printing unit.

Printing unit has several components that include, inking system, this contains ink that is

used in printing, the dampening is that's tasked to ensure the non-image area is moistened, to

repel ink, the impression cylinder or the plate is made of aluminium that used to cover non

imaging parts, thus ensuring ink does not affect the non-image area. Regarding the paper that's

used in printing, offset printing is comprised of two types of page, that is the sheetfed offset and

web set. The two types of printing are applied in a different situation. Web offset is used in

substantial commercial works such as printing newspapers, books, catalogues and other high

print runs. In the other hand sheet feed offset printing is used applied in a small and medium

business seized run. The three printing cylinders aid the actual printing. Once the image is well

set, it is transferred to the paper in the paper correctly that passes between the printing cylinder

and the rubber cylinder. Line tester is used to check the ink application and the colour register

Offset printing has diverse application in the printing industries, despite the common

application of any printing means of printing magazines, brochures, stationery, leaflets, among

other material that are printed. Offset printing is used in creative works. This technique can print

on a variety of service; thus, this helps the arts and creative people to print their creative works
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using this technique. This technique has the ability to printing images on clothes and leather;

thus, it is applicable in the clothing industries to produce clothes of various events.

Offset printing is an interesting printing technique due to its uniqueness. The printing

process has been in existence for a decade, and its application has been real and helpful. This

technique is an old invention where the images are inked in a plate that then transfers them to the

rubber then transfer them to the roller. Despite it being an old technique, it produces a high-

quality product, both in small and huge quantity. This technique is interesting because it can

accommodate unique material, it allowing printing on materials that other method cannot be able

to print, thus making it a unique printing process.

There are several advantages of the offset printing technique that makes it more suitable

than other printing method. Offset printing is often the best option when considering a large

volume of images that need to be printed. The technique produces colour that is crisp, accurate,

clean and all-around professional grade photos. Thus, making it more preferred in printing huge

commercial material such as books, newspaper and other stationeries. The average cost of

printing using the offset printing is low, thus making this technique beneficial to the print shops.

The cost of printing a unit paper is less as compared to other methods ("Five Advantages of

Offset Printing - Virtual Systems", 2019). Also, offset print works on a variety of surfaces,

including clothes, leather, metal, wood and paper. Offset printing technique feasibility with

computer makes the technique the most effective method, most of the modern offset printing

utilises a computer in the plate system. The computer comes in to replace the film in the offset

printing workflow. Application of computer makes this technique the most advanced method in

the printing industry.

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The disadvantage that is associated with offset printing is with its printing plate. These

plates are made of aluminium; they become less susceptible to chemical oxidation. Thus, to

maintain this plat, they demand extra maintenance that comes with extra cost, thus increasing the

cost per unit of printing and also adding inconvenience in the printing process. Digital printing

produces slightly higher quality products as compared to offset printing.

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References

The Offset Printing Process explained in detail » SAXOPRINT Blog UK. (2019).

Retrieved from https://www.saxoprint.co.uk/blog/offset-printing-process/

Offset printing | How an offset printing press works. (2019). Retrieved from

https://www.prepressure.com/printing/processes/offset

Five Advantages of Offset Printing - Virtual Systems. (2019). Retrieved from

https://www.virtualsystems.com/five-advantages-of-offset-printing/