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Does Your Print Partner Offer a Hybrid Production Environment for the Current Times?

Posted on: August 30th, 2022 by Ira Jackson

When was the last time you explored mainstream developments in printing technology? A lot has changed! And contrary to predictions during the digital revolution, print never died. In fact, it is growing in leadership among the public as one of today’s most trusted marketing methods.

When combined with digital marketing, print is helping organizations reach more people, build greater trust and inspire confident buying decisions by consumers overwhelmed by digital noise.

How can you make print work best for you today?

One big way is through choice and flexibility in how you print. Here’s a high-level exploration of the most prevalent printing methods and how your print partner can help you get the most out of your marketing expenditures.

The first step to improving your bottom line

Today’s printing presses and allied technologies, along with new inks and printable substrates have dramatically evolved. It literally pays you to choose the right application for your job at hand, while enjoying many new features. You can protect your budget and improve marketing outcomes with the right methods for specific project types and quantities. For simplicity and flexibility, and because your needs will likely vary over time, it’s best to work with a print partner that gives you access to diverse print production methods under one roof.

Five- and six-color offset lithography, including UV printing

Offset lithography is the ideal printing method for the most demanding formatted designs and color projects. It is particularly suited to print projects requiring large quantities (the higher the quantity, the lower the cost). A high-speed, six-color, offset press with aqueous coating generates top quality print with maximum high-resolution images, solid coverage and color matching – and it accommodates specialty papers and finishes.

UV, or ‘ultraviolet’ printing, speeds up the lithographic print production process by instantly curing specially formulated inks on a wider range of materials using ultraviolet light. This method quickly dries inks, adhesives and coatings as they hit the surface of many types of materials beyond paper, such as foil, metallic, holographic, acrylic and other substrates.

Customizable variable digital printing

This method is the ultimate in variable digital printing (VDP) technology – meaning it is ideal for one-on-one, customized communications to your constituents and prospects. VDP enables the production of thousands of uniquely personalized, digitally printed pieces that present offset lithographic quality.

Variable data management allows a printing press to automatically switch out text, graphics, images and other content on individual print projects – without stopping the press. Dimensional printing capabilities through this method can also add a three-dimensional tactile element to printed pieces.

In addition to its variable data benefits, VDP is quicker than traditional lithographic printing and cost is also lower for producing smaller print runs (there are no start-up costs).

Wide format printing

Wide format, also called large format, lets you go big on diverse marketing and communications projects.

This digital technology also multiplies the mediums you can use beyond paper, including vinyl, wood, fabric, metal, foam, canvas and plastics, just to name a few. This print method is what you need to create compelling, highly visible, top-quality environmental graphics, signage, oversized banners, custom cut-outs, specialty boxes, end cap displays and many other custom materials.

Print is a touchable reflection of your brand. Make it count!

The right printing method, speed and quality matter a lot in communicating with your audiences, from both a cost perspective and the impression it leaves on your targets.

As mentioned, it makes a meaningful difference when your print partner offers a hybrid manufacturing environment that provides diverse, customizable and cost-effective solutions. Such an environment ensures a seamless, supportive and hassle-free experience for you and your team in being able to produce an array of materials under one roof.

More key services to help you engage, connect and get results through print:

Specialty Production
Putting It Together (post-press finishing, kit hand assembly, distribution, tracking)
Marketing Support Services
Quality Control

The right people and technologies also matter

Effective print communications requires more than different printing methods. Make sure your print partner employs exceptional tradespeople who manage and guide the prepress process, assist you in selecting paper or other substrates that are ideal for your project, and operate industrial strength systems and workstations used for digital imaging, automated prepress processes, and file support and preparation.

We don’t often toot our own horn, but when we do, it’s in the best interests of our clients and their marketing outcomes. We are proud that our hybrid manufacturing environment and pressrooms feature the best names and equipment in the business for precision printing, and that our employees are accomplished professionals and veterans in the printing industry.