Lithographic Printing

Offset or Lithographic Printing Machines have been widely put to various applications. It is by far the most dominant form of commercial printing technique, widely in use due to its quality with respect to volume and paper costs. These machines have a high set up cost but the printing process is comparatively cheaper. Lithography uses oil
or fat and gum arabic to divide the smooth surface into hydrophobic regions which accept the ink, and hydrophilic regions which reject it and thus become the background. By contrast, in intaglio printing a plate is engraved, etched or stippled to make cavities to contain the printing ink, and in woodblock printing and letterpress ink is applied to the raised surfaces of letters or images.

Offset or Lithographic Printing Machines have been widely put to various applications. It is by far the most dominant form of commercial printing technique, widely in use due to its quality with respect to volume and paper costs. These machines have a high set up cost but the printing process is comparatively cheaper.

Lithography uses oil or fat and gum arabic to divide the smooth surface into hydrophobic regions which accept the ink, and hydrophilic regions which reject it and thus become the background. By contrast, in intaglio printing a plate is engraved, etched or stippled to make cavities to contain the printing ink, and in woodblock printing and letterpress ink is applied to the raised surfaces of letters or images.