The 3 Steps of the Printing Process

1. Prepress

Prepress is the first step of the commercial printing process, and it's where all the planning and preparation occur. Most of the prepress steps are done via computer.

This step includes composition, typesetting, graphic arts photography, formatting files according to industry standards, and image assembly. These prepress operations prepare the concept for a printed image to be converted into an image carrier, such as a plate, cylinder, or screen.

The steps also involve converting digital files into a form that the press can understand and using software to prepare the files for printing. During the prepress step, proofing for errors and more is also done to ensure everything looks perfect before printing. The result should be an accurate representation of what the final product will look like once printed.

2. Press

Once the prepress steps have been completed, it's time to move on to the press stage, where the actual printing process occurs. This phase involves setting up the presses and printing the image onto a substrate (such as paper or plastic), using either an offset printing press or a digital press.

For each job, the specific press setup is dependent on the type of substrate being used. For example, you might need to use a different printing plate or ink colors than usual in order to achieve the desired effect on certain materials. During this phase, it's also important to make sure everything is correctly aligned, as any misalignments or shifts in color can ruin an entire print run.

3. Post Press

Once the printing is complete, it's time to move on to the post press phase. This stage involves operations such as trimming, folding, scoring, and binding. It includes finishing processes like embossing, die-cutting, varnishing, laminating, and more. These processes achieve a certain look or feel, such as a glossy finish or special shape.

A few of the most popular printing processes for commercial projects are direct-to-press printing, digital printing, lithography, flexography, and screen printing. However, the most popular option for commercial printing is offset printing, also known as lithography printing.

Lithography printers are printing presses that use a series of cylinders to transfer an image onto paper or other substrates. It is widely used in the industry for its ability to produce high-quality prints in large volumes more quickly and cost-effectively than other processes. Common applications for lithography printing include magazines, brochures, stationery and sell sheets.

Digital presses are also gaining popularity due to their efficiency, affordability, and flexibility. This type of printing is used for short-run projects or those with frequent updates.