Thursday, December 31, 2009

Printing Services - Changes Through Time

By Sam Smith

When it comes to distributing information to a large number of people, print is one of the most popular media. The current form of the printing services industry is a result of years of change and evolution in printing styles and techniques. Today it can fulfill almost any need of the customers connected to printing & its additional requirements.

Large volume printing services first began sometime in the--00's when Gutenberg invented the world's first printing press and the whole concept of relief printing came into being. A slight elevation of the printed image from the base, like in a rubber stamp, is a key feature of relief printing. Relief printing is rarely in use these days, though there are still some instances where it is used.

Printing methods have transformed radically down the years, and these transformations have been brought about by upcoming of newer technologies. Modern printing techniques are quite diverse and come to a variety of uses. In fact, most customers now feel puzzled with the printing choices available in the market.

One of the most well known printing techniques in the market today is offset printing. This technique uses a restricted amount of ink to print the image on metal plates first and then it transfers it onto paper. This inexpensive and quick technique of printing is highly favoured and used when bulk printing is required.

Other printing techniques that have evolved with progress in technology are electrostatic printing, which is akin to photocopying, and thermal printing, which uses a procedure of selective heating of layered thermal paper.

However, digital printing is the latest technological innovation in this field. As is clear from its name it uses a computer to create an image, which is then analysed and if found to be accurate, printed onto paper. This mode is fast and flawless, but is appropriate usually for small volumes. As this technique allows each print to be modified it has resulted in some novel uses like computer form printing, where items like bills and receipts are printed on a standard layout but with differing contents for each customer.

Another important development in printing has taken place with the arrival of the internet. There are many firms in the market now, who allow you to order and modify prints straight through their websites, which is providing excellent convenience to the clients.

Technological innovations have always brought about significant positive changes in printing techniques and the quality of the prints. The heartening news is that this trend of change is not going to slow down any time soon and you will keep witnessing changes slash the costs and improve the process.

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