What Is Offset Printing?

Offset printing is one of the most common and widely used industrial printing methods, especially suitable for high-volume printing with very high quality. This printing technique is widely applied in the production of books, newspapers, magazines, brochures, catalogues, and packaging.

How Offset Printing Works

In offset printing, the image or text is first transferred onto a metal printing plate. The image is then transferred from the plate onto a rubber blanket, and finally from the blanket onto the printing surface, such as paper.
This process is called offset because the ink is not transferred directly from the plate to the paper, but instead passes through an intermediate surface.

Key Features of Offset Printing

• Exceptional print quality, with high clarity and fine detail
• High-speed production for large print runs
• Lower cost per unit at high volumes, as the unit price decreases with larger quantities
• Suitable for various paper types and printing surfaces
• Accurate four-colour (CMYK) printing and multi-colour reproduction

Disadvantages of Offset Printing

• High initial setup cost due to plate production
• Not suitable for small quantities or urgent, short-run printing
• Longer preparation time before printing begins