Your Offset Printing Cheat Sheet

We understand that not everybody is excited by the beauty of CMYK, or comforted by the rhythmic working of the presses.   But every business uses printing in some way, so we wanted to share some of our expertise to help you get the best quality printing for your advertising dollar.


 The digital era has brought a flood of new technology and choices to the marketplace, but it has also come with its share of confusion. Our next few articles will be a series of cheat sheets on printing processes for the non-printers we love to support. 


 Traditional offset printing is still king in many ways, and for good reason. We'll start off the series by discussing its benefits and drawbacks, as well as when it's your best choice.  

Benefits of Offset Printing

Quality: Offset printing still offers a higher level of quality than most digital processes. That quality applies to each aspect of the printing, from image clarity, to color, to finishes. Projects are more resistant to bleeding, fading and scratches, and they won't crack at folds the way digital prints will.  


 Image Clarity: Offset creates clearer, sharper images and text. Digital printing sometimes has streaks across images that offset avoids.  
Color: When colors matter, go with offset printing. Colors can be matched more precisely and consistently when compared to digital. Solid fill (spot) colors are consistent, without any dotting or shifting in tone.  


Flexibility: Offset allows a larger variety of paper stock and size, while most digital presses are limited in size. Offset works with a larger variety of paper stocks and still has more options with finishes as well. Offset can also be used on surfaces other than paper.   


High volume: Large runs work very well on offset presses, where machines are still faster. You also get the benefit of unit cost reduction. Since the press only has to be set up once, the unit cost goes down as the quantity goes up.  

Drawbacks of Offset Printing

Setup Costs: Because offset is a more complicated process, it can be more expensive than digital to print in small numbers.   Lead Time: Setup also means that turnaround is typically slower for offset printing.  Proofing: With offset printing, it takes more effort to get a physical proof of the final product.  

When to Use Offset

• Quality is your primary concern
• You need colors matched exactly
• You are printing a large number of pieces
• Your design uses a unique paper stock or size

  Many times, a simple conversation with one of our printing experts can help you determine exactly which printing process to use. We're always available to help you figure out how to make your business look good.

Call or visit ACE Printing and Mailing Services today at 415.460.2800.