Commercial Color Printing

All commercial printing services use either digital or offset printing methods to produce four color print projects. A commercial color printing service may offer only one or sometimes both methods to produce high quality products. There are many things to consider when choosing the appropriate production method for any project which will inevitably include price. There can be a wide price variation between the different options for producing color graphics and text on printable surfaces. An individual or business that requires a print job must consider the purpose, quality, price and time frame that will be involved in the production.

Both businesses and individuals from time to time have need of professional printing projects. Brochures, booklets, annual reports, business cards, letterhead stationary and many other company related items must generally be outsourced to other printing services. Individual consumers will generally need the services of a commercial color printing source as well for items such as wedding invitations, anniversary announcements, party invitations, personal cards, personal stationary and perhaps even flyers from time to time. Non-profit organizations such as churches and mission groups also have need of printed projects throughout the course of their ministries. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)

Without the availability of desktop printing equipment and skill, it is impossible to produce four color projects at home or the office. Some offices, churches and even personal home offices have various types of equipment that make it possible to produce acceptable color items. It is still difficult, however, to produce slick, professional copy without really qualified personnel and proper equipment. For small jobs like simple brochures, low quality business cards and general stationary, inkjet printers may provide all the quality anyone needs. When it comes to high quality, multiple items, commercial printing services are really the best way to go for either a business or individual.

Laser or digital production is used by many professionals to produce clear, four color items that pass the inspection of anyone who values quality. A lot of commercial color printing is accomplished through laser productions especially when price and time is of importance. Laser production is easier to set up since it is operated similar to a copy machine. The laser beam is used to create the graphic or text on paper and it is reproduced through a much simpler format than the offset printing methods that are used by many commercial printing services. In fact, it has become possible to create pretty professional looking items in a home office through this method.

This ability has created a desktop revolution for homes and business offices that are satisfied with moderately slick products. Of course, these offices must insure that they have the personnel that is trained in some desktop publishing skills and who are quite computer literate. Digital color productions have put a dent in the need for high end offset production methods but by no means have diminished the requirement for quality from those who really know the difference. Some of the best quality productions still come from commercial color printing services that use offset production methods for most of their important projects. Most novels, corporate productions, and advertisement items are still produced en masse through offset production methods.

Offset productions require more time and layout design for any item that is produced. Four color offset methods must use carefully selected color tones for ink, metal plates designed with graphics and text and a stamping process that ultimately produces clear, vivid images on the preferred surface. One of the huge differences in offset productions is the setup time involved and its subsequent cost. Setting up a job that is produced through an offset press is much more expensive than the setup for a laser or digital job. However, once the setup is accomplished, an offset project is generally pretty cheap through commercial printing services. That is why first time lay outs and designs are always higher than a repeat production of the same item.

For those who prefer the ultimate in quality, offset methods are still the preferred method even though laser or digital has its own important niche. Many small, Internet companies that use digital methods to print books and promotional items are making a nice income through the cheap overhead required for this commercial color printing method. Desktop design companies can produce one or thousands of the same item because price is not affected by the amount of output as is the offset method. Of course other issues such as paper, binding and packaging that relates to any project will affect purchase prices through any type of production company that is chosen. There are many online sources that offer further help in determining what type of production method is best for a particular project.

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