Offset printing, also called offset lithography, is a method of mass-production printing in which the images on metal plates are transferred (offset) to rubber blankets or rollers and then to the print media. The print media, usually paper, does not come into direct contact with the metal plates. This prolongs the life of the plates. In addition, the flexible rubber conforms readily to the print media surface, allowing the process to be used effectively on rough-surfaced media such as canvas, cloth or wood.

The main advantage of offset printing is its high and consistent image quality. The process can be used for small, medium or high-volume jobs. There are two types of offset printing machines in common use for publication today. In sheet-fed offset printing, individual pages of paper are fed into the machine. The pages can be pre-cut to the final publication size or trimmed after printing.

Modern printing methods such as laser and ink-jet printing are known as digital printing. In digital printing, an image is sent directly to the printer using digital files such as PDFs and those from graphics software such as Illustrator and InDesign. This eliminates the need for a printing plate, which is used in offset printing, which can save money and time.

Without the need to create a plate, digital printing has brought about fast turnaround times and printing on demand. Instead of having to print large, pre-determined runs, requests can be made for as little as one print. While offset printing still often results in slightly better quality prints, digital methods are being worked on at a fast rate to improve quality and lower costs.

The pre-press facility at United Media Printing is equipped with high-end equipment, latest software and a skilled design team. The jobs are processed in a range of Mac and PC workstations. Accurate Digital proofs on a high-tech huoji xerox versant 80press is provided to clients.

Post-press facilities such as print finishers and binderies have their own unique needs when it comes to the daily management of production. PrintVis Orbit can be tailored to suit all of your requirements, from estimation to job monitoring to shipping. Because print finishers generally handle added-value product from their customers (the printer), they bear a greater liability when something goes wrong. With PrintVis, you can ensure that your 3rd shift crew maintains the same QA standards adhered to by the day shift when management is on premises!