The Many Ways of Printing

If you are ever considering going into a field where any type of professional type printing is required, my recommendation is to learn as much as you can about all of the various types. If possible, work in a print shop, or even ask just to be a shadow for a day (they'll probably be more willing if you offer to help out as much as possible without pay and stay out of the way. Go on a slow day.).

It seems everytime I turn around I learn something new about printing processes. This is the quick nitty-gritty from all that I have gleamed in the world of printing:

• Inkjet: This is the most common type of printing and is what many, many folks have in their homes and offices. Inkjets are commonly used by home photo enthusiasts because they can produce images similar to those you might get at a photo processing center. (Note: can is the key word here. Not all inkjet printers produce high-quality photos and many often require special photo-ink cartridges and paper to achieve the photo-lab look.) Inkjet printers can range from $25-$1000, but you should expect to pay about $100 for a decent one. Ink cartridges average anywhere from $12-30 bucks. Your per page cost is right around $.15-$.25.
  

• Laser: Laser printing is the other type that is often found in homes and offices. Laser printers generally print crisper text than inkjets, though do not always have as high-quality for photos. The initial cost of laser printers is higher than inkjets, averaging about $175 for anything decent, but ink is much cheaper, going as low as one cent per page. If you are printing lots of text or simple line art, I recommend laser printing.

• Thermography: This type of printing creates a raised texture by mixing special powder with the ink. The effect is very similar to the process of using embossing powder if you are a crafter at all. Thermography is a cheaper alternative to the engraving process (discussed further down) and many people cannot tell the difference between the two. It is often used on invitations and is usually the cheapest commercial printing method. Printers are used to short-runs (less than 500) with thermographic printing. Many commercial printers can accomodate your thermography needs, but always check.
  

• Digital: This is a fairly new process aimed at replicating the look of offset at a less expensive cost. The quality is somewhere between a high-end laser and offset. Short-runs of about 250 or more are also usually acceptable with this process and there is no limit to colors since it does not require film or plates. Everything is 4-color. Not all print houses print digitally, but it is becoming more common.
  

• Offset: This type of printing is often used for medium to large runs, such as magazines, catalogs, greeting cards, etc. It is the most commonly used method of commercial printing and produces crisp images and text. Images (text and graphics) are converted into a plate or film and then transfered onto the paper. If you want to know exactly how this process works, check out this article. Offset does use the 4-color process, meaning that you can specify to use 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-color inks. The fewer number of inks, the cheaper the cost. Most commercial printers offer offset printing.

• Letterpress: When the first newspapers and books were produced, they were done so via the letterpress. This gorgeous form of printing went out of style for awhile but is fast coming back onto the scene as an art in itself. Letterpress printing gives you an imprinted, debossed product that requires extra thick stock (100 pound or heavier). The original process featured individual letters and images carved out of block in mirrored fashion (so that the letter 'd' looked like 'b' and so forth). These blocks were then layed out piece by piece, including blank squares, or "spacers". A layer of ink was applied to the surface, then a sheet of paper laid down, followed by a heavy roller that pushed the paper down onto the inked blocks, thus producing the debossed image. If you are interested in learning more about it, here is a great introduction to letterpress by Five Roses. (Side note: someday I'll have a letterpress... {sigh} ) There are many antique letterpresses out there, as well as newer models, and you are no longer limited to individual blocks since plates can be made of virtually any design. You must go to a letterpress specific printer if you want this type of printing. Pricing is moderate and you will pay less with the fewer colors you use. This is a great method for formal invitations and correspondance.
  

• Engraved: As stated earlier, this form of printing is similar to thermography in that it produces a slightly raised look and feel. Engraving does cost quite a bit more, which is why many people opt for thermography. Paper-snobs (gee, couldn't be any here, could there?) can tell the difference between the two processes because thermography often produces a plastic-like texture. One of the easiest ways to see if something has been printed with thermography versus engraving is to feel the backside of the paper. If the back is flat and has no indentations, it is thermography. If you can feel the grooves where the paper was pushed up into the design, it is an engraved piece. Not all commercial printers have the ability to engrave, but many do. Again, you are limited to the four-color process.

Well, it wasn't quick, but I hope it offered some insight to printing needs. Best advice if you are looking to have a job printed is to develop a relationship with your printer and ask lots of questions. Another resource I recommend is the Pocket Pal, which designers, printers and anyone having anything to do with the field swear by. Have fun printing!