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Offset printing
Offset printing in Medellín
The workhorse of long print runs: exceptional quality, faithful color and cost efficiency. An indirect and precise process —in CMYK and Pantone inks— on aluminum plates engraved with CTP technology.
An origin on two shores
Offset began almost simultaneously at two points on the globe: the Briton Robert Barclay laid the foundations of the technique in 1875, printing on metals such as tin; and on the other side of the Atlantic, the American Ira Washington Rubel perfected it on paper. Even then, innovation knew no borders.
01 · How it works
An indirect process
The image doesn't jump straight from plate to paper: first it "sets" (off-set) onto a rubber blanket.
Plate
Aluminum, with the image engraved by CTP.
Rubber blanket
Takes the ink and adapts to any texture.
Paper
The final print, sharp and with great definition.
The plates —reminiscent of lithography— are coated with a photosensitive, oil-loving emulsion: it draws ink to the image areas and repels it everywhere else. That's the source of its exceptional quality, even on uneven surfaces.
02 · Color
Four inks, infinite colors
The image is broken down into CMYK; combined with the white of the paper, they bring the whole range to life.
Black1st · the deepest
Cyan2nd
Magenta3rd
Yellow4th · the most transparent
Printing follows that order —from the deepest ink to the most transparent, which acts as a protective layer—. And it's not all CMYK: offset also brings spot colors to life, like the iconic Pantone inks, for exact, corporate colors.
03 · The process
From file to printed sheet
- 1
File and CTP plates
- The designer creates the piece in specialized software (Illustrator, InDesign).
- The file is sent to the CTP system, where the plates are generated.
- The plates are sensitized and laser-exposed to engrave the image.
- 2
Press and setup
- The engraved plates are mounted on the offset press units.
- Inks and rollers are adjusted to suit the design and paper type.
- A test print is run and the details are fine-tuned.
- 3
Printing and finishing
- With the press ready, mass printing begins.
- The paper runs through the units: from plate to blanket to paper.
- Final finishing: cutting, folding, lamination or varnishing.
04 · What we print in offset
What we print in offset
Large print runs with press-grade quality — choose the category for your project.
A print run in offset?
Tell us about your project and we'll get back to you with clear prices and realistic timelines.