Offset printing as lithography
Offset printing uses all of the latest technology in printing, including computers that aid in design. Computers are also used to generate instructions for the mixture of ink colors as well as their distribution to the paper.
Offset printing works because water and the inks used in the printing process do not mix. The images to be printed are created on CTP (Computer to plates) and then “burned” onto metal plates using a chemical developing process similar to photography. The metal plates are dampened with water which adheres to the areas without images. The ink is added next, one color at a time, where it sticks to the areas with images. The most modern systems use a direct-to-plate system in which the images are burned directly to the metal plates; the omission of a secondary step saves time and money.
Filed by volt at June 19th, 2008 under full colour flyers printing