OUGD405 Studio Brief 02 - Design Process - Information Design - Print Process

Print Processes:
Litho:
Litho printing is a very common type of printing. It relies on the transfer of ink from plates (made digitally from the design artwork) to the paper via a rubber blanket or roller. It protects the plate by giving a consistent surface to transfer the ink too.

• Advantages – extremely flexible and cost effective for most jobs and will print on a wide range of stock.
•  Disadvantages – higher set up costs than digital.

Screenprint:
Used for short run work and can be used for printing on a variety of materials. It is the simple and direct was of delivering ink through a stencil, which is mounted on a screen that protects the stencil and maintains registration.

• Advantages – non impact and prints on any kind of substrate and can be used to print brilliant saturated colours.
• Disadvantages – small print runs only and not recommended for four colour work and small type.

Digital:
There is a number of different techniques but they are all produced direct from a computer design file. No print plates or stencils are used the print is made directly.

• Advantages – cost effective for short runs, print can be personalised and very quick turn around.
• Disadvantages – expensive compared to litho on long runs, a more limited range of recycled content papers.

Overall the best method of printing appears to be litho as I need a high volume of leaflets to be produced to go to all of the schools in the country. Because of the high volume it will be cheaper overall than digital print.