When it comes to promoting your business, high-quality printed materials are an incredibly powerful tool. From brand awareness, product marketing, advertising and more – there are a huge number of applications for commercial printing. However, there are a number of different types of printing available to your business, so how do you know which one you need?

At Smart Inc we have years of experience in commercial printing and we’ve outlined the key types of printing below, and are on hand to help your business with your next project.

 

Types of Commercial Printing

Digital Printing

Digital printing is a popular choice for businesses that need high-quality, short-run prints. This method uses digital files to print directly onto paper or other materials, allowing for quick turnaround times and cost-effective production. There are two types of digital printers that can be used: sheet-fed production printers and cut-sheet digital press. In most cases, though, businesses that ask for digital printing stick with sheet-fed production printers.

Offset Lithography

Offset lithography is a printing technique that uses metal plates to transfer an image onto paper or other materials. This method is ideal for large print runs, as it can produce high-quality prints at a low cost per unit. It’s also versatile, as it can be used to print on a variety of surfaces, including paper, plastic, and metal.

Flexography

Flexography is a printing technique that uses flexible plates to transfer an image onto paper or other materials and is ideal for printing on packaging materials, such as cardboard boxes and plastic bags, as well as on labels and tags. Flexography is known for its ability to print on a variety of surfaces and its fast production speeds.

Large Format Printing

Large format printing is a technique used to print oversized graphics, such as banners, billboards, and posters. To achieve this, large-format printers are used that can print on a variety of materials, including vinyl, fabric, and paper. Large format printing is ideal for businesses that need to create eye-catching displays for trade shows, events, and other promotional activities.

Screen Printing

Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a stencil to transfer an image onto paper or other materials. This printing type is ideal for printing on textiles, such as t-shirts and tote bags, as well as on paper and plastic. Screen printing is known for its ability to produce vibrant, long-lasting prints, making it a popular choice for businesses that want to create branded merchandise.

LED UV Printing

LED UV printing is a relatively new printing technique that uses LED lights to cure the ink as it’s printed onto the material and it’s a great choice for printing on a variety of surfaces, including paper, plastic, and metal. LED UV printing is known for its ability to produce high-quality prints quickly and efficiently, making it a popular choice for businesses that need to print large quantities of materials.

 

Understanding which of the above types of commercial printing is right for you isn’t always easy, trust us we know! However, our team work daily with businesses like yours to create bespoke & professional print materials including banners, brochures, magazines, leaflets and more! So don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01992 410960 or info@smart-inc.co.uk for a no obligation chat about your next project.