Lithography is a method of printing, originally based on the immiscibility of oil and water. In modern lithography, the image is made of a polymer coating applied to a flexible plastic or metal plate. The image is printed offset, by transferring the image onto a flexible sheet or rubber blanket, which is then printed to the substrate. The image on the plate emulsion is created by direct laser imaging in a CTP device known as a platesetter.
The offset printing process is commonly used for cardboard packaging like cereal boxes. It’s also used for magazines and other high volume printing products.
The Equipement
Heidelberg Speedmaster CD 74-6P+L: The Speedmaster CD 74 is an extremely user-friendly litho press for a broad range of substrates from flimsy papers to stiff board and plastic sheets. The press prints up to 18,000 sheets per hour in the max format 53 cm x 74 cm (20.87 in x 29.13 in). Print media thickness is from 0.03mm to 0.8 mm.