Types of Printing

5 Types of Printing Your Business Must Consider

Below, we have enlisted the top 5 printing options to help you understand the pros and cons of each method and choose accordingly:

#1 Flexographic Printing

Flexography is similar to letterpress printing and can help you print your artwork on uneven or rough surfaces. These types of printing are known for high press speeds and long runs. They use semi-liquid inks to help speed up the drying process and help you get your items in no time!

Printers recommend using the flexographic types of printing for producing materials with continuous patterns, like food packaging items, wallpapers, and wrapping paper. It is also an excellent choice for mini-print and floral designs, helping businesses print eye-catching marketing mailers. 

Flexography is among the top 5 methods of printing because it is cost-effective and produces high-quality prints. It uses photopolymer printing plates around rotating cylinders on a web press. The procedure involves copying the design on surfaces like cellophane, metallic film, plastic items, etc. 

The ink plates have embossed content images rotating at high speeds during printing. These movements help transfer the design onto the print media quickly, completing the process!

• Best used for: Labels, branded items, packaging, and wraps. 
• Pros: Flexography helps companies avail the fastest types of printing with quick-drying speeds at low operational expenses. Also, it can accommodate many inks altogether, making the process more efficient. 
• Cons: The equipment for flexographic printing is high maintenance, and the setup can be time-consuming. 

#2 Screen Printing

Screen printing is one of the most versatile types of postcard printing options- that requires forcing paint through silk screens using a squeegee. The stencil holes in the screen enable the colours to pass through on the desired surface. 

In such types of printing, printers create and use a stretched-out mesh to apply various ink layers onto an object. They may use rotary or flat screens to complete the procedure. The screen has a wax resistor and blocks all the openings except the artwork area. Remember that you can use one screen only for a single colour. 

Screen printing is among the top 5 methods of printing because it is helpful to create high vibrancy—like printing light colours on a dark surface. Thus, the final product looks appealing and impressive, letting businesses use this method for event promotions and advertising. 

• Best used for: Posters, banners, textiles, t-shirts, etc. 
• Pros: You must consider screen printing among the best 5 types of printing because it gives high-quality outputs at reasonable prices. The method is durable and reusable, helping you segregate costs over time and get a positive ROI. 
• Cons: There are limited colour choices, and you require high setup costs to buy specialist equipment. 

#3 Offset Lithography

Litho printing is an excellent choice for printing on rough surfaces like wood, canvas, apparel, etc. However, it is also in high demand for bulk production of stationery items, books, postcards, etc. 

Offset lithography or litho printing is one of the most versatile types of printing because it helps you print on all media. Also, mass-producing items allow you to distribute the costs evenly and save a lot!

The process requires the printer to use a metal plate to transfer the image to rubber rollers or blankets. Your paper stock or surface passes through these rollers, helping you get a high-resolution output, making lithography one of the best types of postcard printing methods!

The surface does not touch the metal plates, extending their life span and letting printers use the same equipment for years. And the flexible materials of the blankets allow lithography to print on uneven surfaces, something other types of printing cannot accomplish. 

• Best used for: Postcards, greeting cards, stationery, books, magazines, wood painting, branded apparel, newspapers, and brochures. 
• Pros: Offset lithography comes in the list of top 5 methods of printing because it lets you use custom inks and allows for cost-efficient large print runs. Also, it produces the highest quality prints, making it a preferred choice for almost all businesses. 
• Cons: The equipment for offset lithography may require extra care, and the initial setup can be daunting. However, you can pass these costs to your printing vendor and continue using lithography as one of the best types of printing for your marketing and correspondence needs. 

Editor’s Note: If you want to save more on printing expenses and streamline your tasks, try PostGrid’s print and mail services. They allow you to incorporate variables into various types of printing and create compelling marketing items speedily and efficiently!

#4 Embossing

We all have received glossy invitation cards at some point with embossed names. Don’t you agree that it adds to the sight and touch effects and makes these items worth saving?

Embossing is another fine choice when considering the different types of postcard printing for your marketing campaigns. This method involves creating sunken or raised designs on metal, paper stock, and other materials. 

Individuals prefer this method as among the top 5 types of printing to send invitations, holiday cards, etc. And businesses use it for all communication and advertising purposes. Unlike traditional white envelopes and postcards, embossed items garner more attention and drive engagement—improving your ROI. 

During the embossing procedure, printers apply fixed amounts of pressure on objects to leave behind marks upon releasing the tension. Many businesses consider embossing one of the most beloved and elegant types of printing to assist them in their marketing efforts. They can choose between 

• Blind embossing: The surface colour matches that of the embossed marks. 
• Foil block: The printer fills the embossed designs with metallic paints, including silver and gold.
• Best used for: Invitations, stamps, notebooks, cards, paper cups, etc. 
• Pros: Engages more human senses and increases response levels. 
• Cons: Embossing can lead to wastage and is among the costliest 5 methods of printing choices. 

#5 LED UV Printing

The LED UV types of printing gained popularity because of their fast turnaround times and top-notch quality prints. They are a digital printing method that uses ultraviolet (UV) lights to dry the inks during printing. 

This drying or UV curing process is very different from other types of printing because it keeps the inks from sinking into the surfaces and offers instant outputs. Thus, printers no longer need to wait for the inks to dry, making the colours look better and sharper. 

The result? Companies don’t need to plan their printing tasks days prior and can get instant results! Also, they don’t have to spend too much to get high-resolution materials because the rates are reasonable. 

LED UV types of postcard printing are eco-friendly and use less power compared to traditional print equipment. Moreover, they are not limited to specific print jobs or print media types. 

• Best used for: Leaflets, posters, catalogues, magazines, newsletters, etc. 
• Pros: LED UV is among the top 5 types of printing because it helps create vivid colours and turn any material into a luxury item. Also, its versatility enables you to experiment with different promotional materials. 
• Cons: LED UV printing needs high setup costs.