The art of what is known as “large format” printing has been around for many years. It has roots that go back at least to the Works of Edwardian England. For many it remains a hobby that they enjoy and want to do, but there is a business side that needs to be looked at as well.
There are four main printing methods used in large format artwork. They are lithography, engraving, direct printing, and digital printing.
Lithography is the oldest of the four main methods. It is also the most expensive of the four. Lithography simply means that the image is printed on a metal plate. This can either be a sheet metal plate or a plastic plate. The process is long, arduous, and difficult but has a number of benefits.
Lithography works well when creating high quality photographs. It is a simple technique that can be used for anything from simple black and white images to full color artworks. Many commercial photographers still use lithography. It can produce very good results and is cost effective when using a small printer. The process is difficult to master and must be done properly if you expect to have good results.
Direct printing is lithography’s younger sibling. Digital printing on demand has the same advantages as lithography, however it does cost much less. Because the images are printed directly onto paper, they do not require the same processes that lithographs do. The images can be transmitted directly from the source computer.
The next four main printing techniques are engraving, lithography, direct printing, and digital photography. All of these are more complex than the previous ones but also cost more. Most people who are contemplating on getting some sort of printing service will opt for engraving or lithography as they are much easier to master and cheaper to purchase supplies for. Digital photography has been around for awhile and is slowly gaining more popularity and can often times be used in conjunction with engraving or lithography.
As technology continues to advance, lithography is becoming obsolete in many ways. Digital images are becoming more popular in many aspects and this is due in part to the fact that it is less expensive and more versatile. It is also capable of being printed on a variety of surfaces including paper, plastic, metal and even ceramics. With today’s technology, there are several different methods that can be used in printing. The method that a company chooses depends on the image that they are trying to display and the budget that is available to spend on this print service. By knowing what are the four main printing techniques, you will be able to choose the right one for your project.
The most traditional method of printing is lithography. This is the most common form of print and it consists of creating an image by using either inkjet or toner cartridges with liquids or gels on them. Lithography is best suited for flat materials and will require the least amount of processing time and ink for each image. With images created through lithography, the colors are not affected by moisture or heat and can last for decades. The process is also very cost effective and produces high quality results.
Digital printing on the other hand, is exactly what its name suggests. Digital images are produced through electronic files rather than through solid materials like lithography. Because there is no heat produced, these prints last for years and are much cheaper to produce. They are more versatile because the images can easily be manipulated and changed, but they cannot be changed after they have been applied. The printing process is also very fast and efficient, which makes it perfect for certain commercial uses.
