Types of Printing Prcocesses

Every PR practitioner should be at least aware of the different types of printing processes. The type and quality of your publications greatly decide the success of them. Whether or not your audience takes you seriously or even gives your publication a second glimpse, greatly depends on how your work has been printed. Being familiar with the different processes also allows you to guide yourself to the perfect vendor. Here are nine different ways to execute your printed work.

Offset Lithography - the most common printing process today. It offsets ink from metal plates to a rubber blanket (cylinder) to the paper. Almost every commercial printer does offset printing.
Engraving - think “fine stationery.” Produces the sharpest image of all. Image feels indented (run your fingers over the back side of the sheet). Most law firms still use engraving.
Thermography - raised printing, less expensive than engraving. Uses special powder that’s adhered to any color ink. Mainly used for stationery products.
Reprographics - general term covering copying and duplicating. Think in-house copying departments and copy or quick-printing shops. They take your originals and make duplicates of them.
Digital Printing - the newest printing process and the least understood! Includes all processes that use digital imaging to create printed pieces. Doesn’t use film. (Think desktop to the digital press.) For short-run, fast-turnaround jobs.
Letterpress - the original process founded by Gutenberg in 1440. “Relief” printing (like rubber stamps, images on the plate are higher than the surface). Fine letterpress is being done by fewer and fewer printers.


Screen a.k.a. silk-screening. Ink is forced through a screen following a stencil pattern. Used for binders, t shirts, bumper stickers, billboards.


Flexography - special type of printing for packaging products. The plates used are flexible. Products include cardboard boxes, grocery bags, gift wrap, and can and bottle labels.


Gravure - prints directly from cylinder to paper. Used when printing for millions of impressions think magazines, newspapers, and direct mail catalogs.

(Via Girlupinatree’s Weblog)