The commercial printing industry provides the high-quality printed materials that help your business succeed. One of the top benefits of the commercial printing process is its flexibility and ability to adapt to your needs. 

The many types of printing out there are all helpful, but picking between them might feel overwhelming. In this article, we’ll explain the range of commercial printing methods that are available to you, discuss what is the most common commercial printing method, and why you might want to opt for one method over another. 

Types of Commercial Printing Methods 

From digital printing to screen printing, here are the methods that can help your business maximize profits. 

Digital Printing 

Digital printing is one of the fastest and most affordable types of printing. This printing method consists of applying an electrostatic charge to paper and then applying inks that bond to that charge. Digital printing involves printing directly from digital files, which means that you can receive your materials quickly. Digital printing is the method used by home and office printers, and it is one of the many methods used by commercial printers.  

Digital printing is one of the most common commercial printing methods due to its many benefits for businesses. Its speed and flexibility make it the best option if you’ll be printing many originals or if you need a quick turnaround time. It can print a wide selection of products on many types of paper and can approximate almost any color.

Offset Printing

Offset printing is another common commercial printing method. In the offset printing process, a printing company creates a plate containing each page of your design, puts ink on that plate, and then transfers that ink onto paper. 

Once the printing plates have been created, your print partner can print many copies quickly. This makes offset lithography printing the best option for items such as business cards, stationery, and other items that consist of many copies of only a few originals. 

Offset printing also allows for exact color matching, which makes it the best choice if this is important to your commercial print job.  

Screen Printing

Screen printing is a method that involves pressing ink through a mesh screen containing your design. It can print items in multiple colors and creates well-defined designs. Screen printing is often used for printing on fabrics, and it is a top printing method for company apparel, tote bags, and signage. 

Screen printing can apply thick layers of ink to materials, which makes the designs durable. Given that a screen needs to be made for every layer and every color in your design, screen printing is a suitable printing method when you are creating many copies of a small number of originals. 

On-Demand Printing

On-demand printing is a printing method that ensures that you always have the print materials you need. When you work with a printing company that provides on-demand printing, your printing partner keeps a digital record of your print designs and paper and finishing preferences. 

When you use on-demand printing, you order a smaller number of copies when you need them, and your printing partner quickly prints them and sends them to you. This method saves storage space since you’re ordering fewer copies, and it reduces waste since you don’t need to recycle huge numbers of printed copies when you change or update your print materials. 

On-demand printing is also easy to combine with custom print portals, which make ordering to multiple locations with pre-approval a breeze. 

Eco-friendly Printing 

In this day and age, working with a printing company that treats the environment well is a must. Eco-friendly printing consists of a few methods, including using chemical-free plates, recycled papers, natural dyes made of soy, and renewable energy resources. 

The field of printing is constantly updating to become greener and greener, and many printing companies are offering services that treat our planet well. Feel free to ask your commercial printer what they’re doing to protect the planet, as well as what eco-friendly materials they use. 

What Is The Most Common Commercial Printing Method?

In this day and age, digital printing is far and away the most common type of commercial printing. Digital printing offers the flexibility and quick turnaround times that businesses need, as well as the ability to print on many different materials. 

In many cases, digital printing is also the cheapest printing method. When you have many originals, are printing in many colors, or need your materials quickly, digital printing is the way to go. 

However, for certain print jobs and materials, offset printing can be the best option. Offset printing has been a popular printing method for centuries, and it is still a common solution for businesses around the world due to the high-quality printed materials it creates, its cost-effectiveness for large orders of few originals, and its ability to match colors exactly. 

Types of Offset and Digital Printing Collateral 

Digital and offset printing create a wide range of print materials. Here are some of the kinds of print collateral that digital and offset printing make possible. 

• Brochures. From bi-fold to z-fold brochures, digital and offset printing make your brochures pop. 
• Flyers. Flyers use a strong headline and visuals that pop to help you advertise services, products, and events. 
• Posters. Posters make your message clear. Digital printing can create posters containing hundreds of colors, and offset printing creates posters with crisp, clear designs. 
• Booklets. Digital and offset printing make printing booklets easy. Booklets can meet almost any need your business might have, including marketing, training, and providing information about events. 

Digital and offset printing also create a wide range of other products, so ask your printing partner about the solutions they can provide for you. 

Get Started With The Print Authority

Now that you can answer the question, “What is the most common commercial printing method,” you’re ready to get started. 

When you’re ready to take the plunge with commercial printing, The Print Authority is here to help. With over three decades of experience in providing print services to businesses in a diverse range of sectors, we know how to deliver the products you need at a price you’ll love. 

To learn more about how professional commercial printing can help your business increase profits, contact The Print Authority today.