Presswork

Recall that the offset is the most commonly used method in lithography. Direct lithographic presses are primarily used in artistic creations.

Definition: An offset lithographic press is a mechanical device that inks the image area of a (planographic) plate and transfers (offsets) the inked image to an intermediate blanket and the blanket then transfers the image to the substrate.

Offset plates may be “wet”, i.e. an aqueous dampening system is used to keep ink out of the nonimage area. They may be “dry” (also called “waterless”), i.e. the chemical nature of the nonimage area makes it not receptive to ink.

The dry process has become of interest for Computer to Plate systems and for the digitally driven direct imaging presses (Heidelberg GTO-DI, Quickmaster DI, Scitex-KBA-Planta, Omni-Adast-DI, et. al.)