| There is more than one printing option available | | | | produces a smoother surface. |
| for media replication. When selecting a facility to | | | | 7. Most offset projects are printed 4-color |
| produce your project, their ability to both offset | | | | process with a white flood coat. While the |
| and screen print on media is important. There are | | | | appearance of an image created under 4-color |
| situations where offset or screen-printing is best, | | | | process screen printing can be degraded by the |
| and the project requirements, rather than a | | | | line screen (this happens with areas of solid color, |
| replicator's abilities, should determine which | | | | for example), this is not an issue for offset |
| method is used. No single format fits every | | | | printing. Complex images as well as solid colors |
| project. | | | | reproduce boldly under 4-color process offset |
| Technical Differences Between Offset and Screen | | | | printing. |
| Printing | | | | 8. Offset tends to dull because the process inks |
| The first step in the screen printing process is | | | | are transparent and a higher resolution is used. |
| burn the images from the electronic artwork on | | | | 9. Offset printing involves additional setup steps |
| to film positives. During the process, ink is pushed | | | | unnecessary in screen-printing. These steps can |
| via a squeegee through a fine mesh screen onto | | | | sometimes impact a project's delivery date. |
| the disc. | | | | Screen Printing Considerations |
| With offset printing, the image is burned directly | | | | |
| onto printing plates. Rollers push ink onto the | | | | 1. Runs as small 1,000 can be produced without an |
| printing plate and then the image may be | | | | up-charge. |
| transferred to the disc's surface. This is essentially | | | | 2. It is easier to custom match a particular color |
| the same process as offset commercial printing | | | | with screen printing. Any PMS can be printed, and |
| on paper or board. | | | | it is even possible to mix PMS colors. Some PMS |
| Offset Printing Considerations | | | | colors do not have representative CMYK |
| | | | equivalents, such as the 180-190 ranges of red or |
| 1. Offset printing is more cost effective on runs in | | | | the 280-290 ranges of blue. In these cases, |
| excess of 5,000 units. Set-up time required to | | | | printing the specific PMS color is better for |
| offset print is greater than that for screen | | | | optimum results. |
| printing, forcing most plants to add an up-charge | | | | 3. Metallic and fluorescent inks can be used in |
| for runs under 5,000 units. | | | | screen printing. Some corporations and institutions |
| 2. Offset printing provides better results for more | | | | have their own proprietary colors. These colors |
| complex artwork, such as photographs, | | | | can be purchased for screen printed projects. |
| gradations, or images using percentages of colors. | | | | 4. Solid colors using 4-color process artwork do |
| 3. For most projects, matching the media label | | | | not print as well in screen as in offset. |
| printing with it's packaging is vital to the project's | | | | 5. The average line screen is 133. Due to the |
| appearance. This is a job for printing experts. The | | | | lower line screen, the surface is not as smooth. |
| two biggest challenges in matching print are | | | | Proofing Print Media Printing Projects |
| surfaces and printing process. | | | | Most jobs use PDF files as the project proofs. |
| 4. - Printing on different surfaces is an unavoidable | | | | These are not fully accurate for color, but they |
| fact of media replication, and varied surfaces yield | | | | do accurately show image placement. |
| variations in print. A DVD absorbs ink differently, | | | | Print check discs are another way to assure the |
| for example, than a cardboard package. | | | | quality of your project. This is a data-free CD or |
| 5. - Most large quantity paper and paperboard | | | | DVD that accurately reflects how the final |
| packaging is printed offset. It is much easier to | | | | product will look. Print check disks cost roughly |
| match an offset-printed media label to | | | | $300 and will add three to four days to a project |
| offset-printed packaging. Using the same printing | | | | time line. For this reason, they make the most |
| format for media and packaging is the best way | | | | sense for larger runs. In fact, printing for runs of |
| to ensure consistency in your final product. | | | | 50,000 units or more should not start until the |
| 6. Offset prints 175 line screen and requires at | | | | client approves a print check disc. |
| least 300 DPI artwork. The higher line screen | | | | |