The Offset Printing Process: How it works?

When it comes to printing, there are two primary methods: digital and offset printing. While digital printing has become increasingly popular in recent years, offset printing remains a staple in the world of printing, particularly for large-scale projects. So, how does the offset printing process work? At its core, offset printing is a lithographic process, which means that it relies on the mutual repulsion of oil and water. The process begins with the creation of an offset printing plate, which is made from a photosensitive material that reacts to light. Essentially, the parts of the plate that are exposed to light become hydrophilic (water-attracting), while the parts that are not exposed to light remain hydrophobic (water-repelling). Once the plate is created, it is mounted onto a printing press. As the press begins to run, it dampens the plate with water and then rolls ink onto the plate. Because the hydrophobic areas of the plate repel the water but attract the ink, the ink only a...