How to hire the right lithographic printing company

Litho (or offset lithographic) printing involves the use of plates and setting up is a time-consuming process. Once set up, however, it will print thousands of copies of the same item in one production run making it cost-effective for large quantities (roughly 500+ copies). This tends to be able to work well for a firm going for a much higher end finish and firms looking to get more from the look and finish of their printing.

Litho tends to work well for longer print runs – digital for shorter. Digital tends to be more for the print and printing of flyers and other types of low end, low value printed items. Litho printing definitely gives the best finish, although the quality of digital is improving all the time. Digital can struggle with large blocks of colour and cause banding. Much of this can come back to how and how well the tech behind the printers has and is developed to. 

Digital machines usually use four-colour process printing. If you’re printing in black and white, just two colours or metallic inks, you’ll be better off using litho. If you’re looking for a true Pantone colour, only litho uses actual Pantone ink; digital will only use the four colour process and approximate the colour. When you need something fast, digital will generally be quicker because there’s no need to make plates and no complicated set up process. This is where and how litho printing is very much at and very much has a disadvantage. This format can also be complicated in the process of booking and ordering this type of printing too. 

Because the set up costs are minimal, digital printing is the most cost-effective for personalising marketing materials, such as postcards, direct mail pieces or letters. Deciding whether to go for litho or digital will usually depend on how many you want to print, but money isn’t the only thing to take into consideration. To conclude, you need to think in full as to what it is you are trying to achieve. You also need to think in full as what level of quality finish you are looking to also achieve.