Offset printing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is part of the series on:
History of printing
Technologies
Phaistos Disc (1850?1400 BCE)
Woodblock printing (200 CE)
Movable type (1040)
Printing press (1439)
Rotary press (1843)
Intaglio (printmaking)
Lithography (1796)
Chromolithography (1837)
Offset press
Screen-printing (1907)
Flexography
Thermal printer
Photocopier (1960s)
Laser printer (1969)
Dot matrix printer (1970)
Inkjet printer
Dye-sublimation printer
Digital press (1993)
3D printing
v ? d ? e
Offset printing is a widely used printing technique where the inked image is transferred (or "offset") from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface. When used in combination with the lithographic process, which is based on the repulsion of oil and water, the offset technique employs a flat (planographic) image carrier on which the image to be printed obtains ink from ink rollers, while the non-printing area attracts a film of water, keeping the non-printing areas ink-free.
