Offset printing, the most widely used printing process in the world
The printing process now commonly referred to as Offset is the result of an evolution of lithography, which, developed at the end of the 17th century, consisted of printing using direct contact between the paper and the matrix containing the image, a matrix which at that time was a polished stone and which today is known as a plate.
Initially known as "offset lithography", its main difference was the fact that there was no direct contact between the paper and the matrix, due to the introduction of a new rubber-based element called blanket or cauchu, which brought technical improvements such as the avoidance of "smudges" and excess ink due to its better absorption capacity.
With strong technological development from the middle of the 20th century onwards, it is still one of the most widely used printing processes in the world. Its greatest strength is that it can be used on a wide range of media, including practically all types of paper, from the most basic uncoated paper such as newsprint to high quality papers such as Conqueror or heavy cardboard, as well as plastics such as polystyrene.
The main characteristic is the high quality that can be obtained through this process. The possibility of using different types of paint in conjunction with different types of support allows the creation of pieces with a high perceived value, both for their usefulness and for their differentiation, which transmit a unique Customer Experience to the end user through practically all the senses, using colors, textures and even smells that take us back to other sensations.
The products resulting from this printing process are therefore present in practically everything we use in our daily lives, from the packaging of the products we buy, to the books we read or the tickets for the shows we see, to the bank cards we use or even decorative elements in our homes.
Despite the emergence of new printing processes or the growth of digital communication, offset printing is still the most widely used printing process in the world and will continue to meet many of our communication needs in the most diverse sectors of activity.
