Printing is something that’s been around since before 220AD. The oldest known printing technique is known as woodcut and involves carving an image onto a wooden surface.Printing has evolved a lot since then – instead of manual wood carving, you can choose from a wide range of technologically advanced methods. Here are seven of the most well-known and commonly used types:

• Offset LithographyFlexographyDigital PrintingLarge FormatScreen Printing3D PrintingLED UV

Offset Lithography

Often used for:

• Rough-surfaced media e.g. wood, canvas and cloth


• Versatile method so can also be used for books, paper, stationery and more

Also known as offset printing or litho, offset lithography is a very popular method of mass-production printing. It involves printing plates, usually made from aluminium, which each hold an image of the content that needs to be printed.This is a widely used method of mass-production printing.This method involves printing plates which are normally made from aluminium. Each plate holds an image of the content that is going to be printed. The content of these plates is then transferred, or “offset” onto rollers or blankets.Then the inked blankets transfer the image onto paper.The process is often called offset because the ink is first transferred from plate to blanket.  Rather than going directly on to the paper.As the content that is to be printed never comes in to contact with the plates, this also extends the life of them.Offset lithography can consistently produce high quality images, for both small and high-volume print jobs. However, due to the time and costs in setting up it’s not the most cost effective for small jobs. It’s best to use this method for very large volumes.These plates are then transferred (offset) onto rollers or rubber blankets before going onto the print media, which can be any type of paper you want. The print media doesn’t come into contact with the metal plates, which extends the life of the plates. As well as this, the flexible material of the rollers or rubber blankets means offset lithography can be used on any media with rough surfaces.Offset lithography is great at producing consistently high quality images and can be used for small or high volume print jobs. It’s also a versatile choice as it can print on any flat surface, regardless of whether it’s smooth like paper or rough like canvas.

Flexography

Often used for:

• Packaging and labels


• Anything with continuous patterns e.g. wallpaper and gift wrap

Flexographic printing is the modern version of letterpress printing and is commonly used for printing on uneven surfaces. This style of printing uses quick-drying, semi-liquid inks and can be used for high volume jobs.Flexography, often abbreviated to flexo, is a method of printing most commonly used for packaging.  It can be seen as the modern version of letterpress printing.It got this name (flexo) as the printing method was originally used for corrugated cardboard, which has a very uneven surface. The printing plate surface must maintain contact with the cardboard, which it does by being flexible.This style of printing uses quick-drying, semi-liquid inks and can be used for high volume jobs.Flexible photopolymer printing plates wrapped around rotating cylinders on a web press are used. These inked plates have a slightly raised image of the content on them and are rotated at high speeds to transfer the image onto the print media.Flexography is a popular choice for its high press speeds, suitability for long runs and ability to print on a huge range of media including plastic, cellophane and metallic film.

Digital Printing

Often used for:

• Posters and signageLabels, newsletters, menus and letters

Digital printing is a modern method that covers a variety of different techniques including inkjet printing and laser. In digital printing, images are sent directly to the printer using digital files such as PDFs. This eliminates the need for a printing plate, which is used in other types of printing such as lithography, and can save time and money (unless you’re printing in larger numbers).Digital printing allows for quick turnaround and allows businesses to print on demand. It’s also great for small run jobs – requests can be made for as little as one print. If you choose digital printing for the right job, it can make for a cost-effective method that still produces high quality prints similar to that of the other, bigger-scale options.Digital printing is the reproduction of digital images on to physical surfaces. It’s a modern method of printing that covers a variety of different techniques including inkjet printing and laser.As part of the digital printing method, images are sent directly to the printer using digital files (for example, a PDF).This eliminates the need for a printing plate. Other types of printing such as lithography still need this. As Digital Printing doesn’t use a printing plate, it’s a much more time and cost efficient printing method.Digital printing also allows for quick turnaround, meaning businesses can print on demand. It’s also great for small run jobs as there’s no setup cost or minimum quantity, so it’s perfect for smaller amounts.Digital printing can make for a cost-effective method that still produces high quality prints.

Large Format

Often used for:

• Large signage e.g. billboards, posters, vinyl bannersWallpaper and muralsFloor graphicsLaminating

As the name might suggest, large format printing exists to produce maximum print roll width. Perfect for traditional advertising mediums and businesses who are looking to make a huge impact on their customers, this printing method gifts you with a much bigger area to work on, as opposed to the other methods such as digital printing.Rather than printing onto individual sheets, large format printing uses rolls of prints that are fed incrementally to produce one large sheet.For large print media such as building wraps, billboards, banners and murals, large format printing is the best option. The other printing methods will not be able to produce as large a material. Most businesses choose large format media to produce flat items which can be hung on a wall, but they can also be folded or made to stand freely.The clue is in the name, this method exists to produce maximum print roll width.It’s mostly suited to traditional advertising formats, and businesses who are doing large scale advertising.  For large print media such as building wraps, billboards, banners and murals, large format printing is the best option.Large format printing is made with either roll-fed inkjet presses or flatbed presses. Flatbed presses allow for the product to be printed directly onto thicker substrates, in essence skipping a step in the process, as roll-fed presses require the print to be mounted on a more rigid base.

Screen Printing

Often used for:

• Printing logos and graphics onto clothesFabric bannersPosters

Screen printing is a printing technique where fine material or mesh is used to transfer an image onto another material. The mesh is stretched out so it creates a screen and ink is pressed against it in order to successfully print the image. Popularly used to print graphics onto clothes and other pieces of fabric, screen printing can also be used for paper and metal.There’s a lot of setting up required with screen printing, so it’s best used for printing repeat items in bulk. It’s not very cost-effective for small number orders. But if you need a lot of the same image, it’s a highly cost-effective method of printing.This printing method involves using fine material or mesh to transfer images onto another material. It’s been around since the early 20th century and is mostly used for printing graphics on to clothes.The image you want to be printed is first transferred to a fine mesh, with blank areas being covered with a substrate. The mesh is stretched out, acting as a screen. Then ink is pushed through the openings in the mesh onto the end material.Again, this is a method where a lot of set up is required, so it’s best to do this in bulk to keep it cost effective

3D Printing

Since the 1980s, 3D printing has allowed us to print three-dimensional objects, which can be a great way to make an impact on your audience. The desired objects of various shapes and sizes are created using digital model data from 3D models or electronic sources such as an Additive Manufacturing file (AMF). Additive compound mixtures are then fused together to produce this 3D object.Over the last few years this method has seriously took off with more and more uses being reported.All 3D printers essentially work in the same way. They turn a digital model into a physical three-dimensional object by adding material a layer at a time.No special tools are required, as the part is manufactured directly onto the built platform layer-by-layer.The process always needs a digital 3D model, as this is the blueprint of the physical object.The model is then sliced by the printer’s software into thin, 2-dimensional layers. After this it’s turned into a set of instructions in machine language (G-code) for the printer to execute.Often used for:

• Promotion and marketing freebiesNovelty itemsDisplay itemsToy figurinesWho knows what we could see in the future!

3D printers have continued to get more and more sophisticated. Today, even items with interior moving parts can be printed. After the details have been worked out on a computer programme such as CAD, miniscule layers are printed on top of each other using a special plastic substance.

LED UV

Often used for:

• Newsletters, posters and leafletsMagazines, catalogues, brochures and prospectusesStationery

LED UV printing is a method that’s becoming increasingly popular among businesses due to its extremely high quality prints and quick turnaround times.It’s a form of digital printing that uses UV (ultraviolet) lights to dry the ink as it’s being printed. The drying process, also known as UV curing, is unique and sets it apart from the other printing methods because it’s instantaneous and prevents the ink from sinking into the materials.The results? You no longer have to wait for the ink to dry, which saves time and the colours come out looking much sharper and clearer.LED UV is eco-friendly as it uses less power than traditional print machines and unlike many of the other methods, it’s not limited to the type of stock (printing materials) or to certain print jobs.Its versatility means it’s ideal for a wide range of projects including brochures, catalogues, prospectuses and posters. Because of its ability to instantly dry ink and produce bright, vivid colours, it can turn an ordinary product into a luxury, high quality product that is attention grabbing.