| Offset printing is one of the most common | | | | color-wise so that the negative is perfect. |
| techniques used in commercial print runs due to | | | | Once the negative is done, it’s transferred to |
| its great price and image accuracy. However, like | | | | the printing plate. This happens in much the same |
| all intricate processes, this type of printing has | | | | way as developing photographs. A specific level of |
| many different steps. The first step is pre-press | | | | light is passed through the negative to expose the |
| production, and it involves the transfer of the | | | | printing plate. When the plates are exposed to |
| original document to film and then to plates for | | | | light they react, and this reaction activates an |
| printing. These days some documents in digital | | | | ink-receptive coating. This creates areas of the |
| format can be sent to presses without even | | | | plate that will allow ink to adhere to it while other |
| plates being made, but many originals are | | | | areas of the plate won’t hold ink. |
| transferred first to film and then to plates for | | | | Each color print run has 4 plates made for it: |
| each run. | | | | black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. The human eye |
| Film negatives can be made from digital files and | | | | can blend four separate dots into one color, and |
| most of the time if an original is a hard copy | | | | so all of the offset printing materials created are |
| it’s scanned and then the negative made | | | | made from 4 simple colors arranged in certain |
| from the digital copy to allow for adjustment of | | | | patterns and intensity. It’s an intricate process |
| color and sharpness. Making the negative is a | | | | that is mostly automated in the larger print |
| simple process but determining what the best | | | | houses with careful color analysis coming regularly |
| balance of color and shadow is for the run is | | | | throughout the run. |
| always a process of fine tuning. While fine art | | | | Next time you pick up a brochure, take a look |
| reproductions such as giclees are expected to | | | | behind the paper in your hand and imagine the |
| take a bit of time and attention when it comes to | | | | steps that went into printing it. Offset is a well |
| color balance, it’s not as well known how | | | | known choice in the printing world, and like most |
| much work goes into making sure that large | | | | things, it relies on the first step of pre-press |
| commercial offset printing runs are balanced | | | | production. |