Silkscreen printing is a stenciling technique in which a design is blocked onto a woven mesh fabric that’s placed above a substrata, and ink is rolled (squeegeed) onto the screen so that it comes through the uncovered design areas to print the substrata.

What is offset printing?

Offset printing is a printing method that puts images made of oil-based ink and water onto an etched metal printing plate, then transfers that ink imagery from printing plate to a rubber blanket set on another cylinder, and from there transferred to the page. It is better for high volume print runs.

Do print shops offer design services?

Yes, print shops almost always offer some design services, although they usually tend to be basic.

What type of printing services do print shops offer?

Print shops offer on-demand and short-run (small volume) printing services, which means they specialize in small to medium-sized simple jobs on a very quick (often same-day) turnaround. Usually those jobs require some level of customization (i.e. letterhead with a specific typeface and logo) or graphic design, but nothing too complex. Print shops specialize in producing logo/branded materials for small businesses, including basic sales and promotional handouts (sell sheets, posters, door hangers).

Types of printing processes

The types of modern printing processes commonly available are digital, offset lithography, flexography and gravure. The digital printing category encompasses inkjet and xerography.

See more Tips & Advice

Didn't find what you were looking for?

magnifying glass