Chris Cefole_SheetFedOffsetLithography_W1

Sheet Fed Offset Lithography

1|| What Sheet Fed Offset Lithography is

A process whereby hydrophobic ink is attracted to a printing plate that carries the image of your artwork. This ink is then transferred to a printing blanket and it’s that blanket, carrying the ink, that transfers the artwork image onto the paper. With Sheet Fed Litho, the paper is in cut sheets before it enters the press as opposed to web-fed where the paper is fed as a single, continuous sheet from a huge roll.

2|| What it is best used for

• Smaller and medium sized print runs
• Magazines
• Booklets
• Brochures
• Fliers
• Business Cards

3|| Brief History

In 1906 the first "offset" press began running in NJ. A paper manufacturer, Ira A Rubel discovered the process by accident. 

4|| Cylinders Used

Plate Cylinder

Blanket Cylinder
Impression Cylinder

5|| Overview of Process

Step 1- Image Prep

Step 2- Processing Printing Plates

Step 3- Printing

Step 4- Finishing

Sources

http://printbrain.webmartuk.com/print-performance/marketers-guide-to-sheet-fed-litho-printing/

http://www.csus.edu/indiv/c/cunninghamk/links/lectures/8offset_printing.pdf

http://www.glrppr.org/hubs/hub500/lithographicoverview.htm