Offset printing is a printing technology widely used in cosmetic packaging for displaying logos and other graphical designs like cartoons or patterns in multiple color schemes. It derives from the age old technique of offsetting an inked image on a plate which is then imprinted onto the substrate. This article explores the traditional techniques and modern technologies of offset printing and why you should use it for packaging your next range of cosmetics.
What Is Offset Printing Technology
Offset printing technology can be rooted back to the traditional concept of Woodblock Printing, which was used for textile printing in China and India back in 200 AD. A woodblock with decorative carvings was dipped in paint and compressed on the fabric, thus imprinting the carved decor of the woodblock onto the cloth. This idea evolved down to Lithography, wherein the immiscibility of oil and water were used with a limestone working as the offsetting plate, mainly for reproducing artwork.
The first generation of modern offset printing was devised around the late 1800s and early 19th century, following the lithography or “litho” principle, which got polarized with the introduction of Robert Barclay’s rotary offset printer, that replaced the stone plates with cardboard sheet.
The latest system replaces the cardboard sheet with an aluminum or metallic plate and rubber blanket. The actual print is transferred to the blanket, and the blanket is used to roll over the substrate, finally offsetting the ink or paint onto the container. Since the ink is not imprinted directly from the plate and to the substrate, the process is called offset. One can use up to 8 colors on a single substrate, and for each color, a different plate is used, that are engraved to frame recesses, holding the ink. When the ink is fully transferred onto the blanket, it is compressed over the subjective container, transferring the ink onto it. This technology allows more precision and even distribution of color, with either or all of the options of vivid photographic images, graphic design, logo, in order to create one remarkable design.
Usage Of Offset Logo Printing For Cosmetic Package
The best use of offset printing for cosmetic packaging, is for colorful and vivid aesthesis and logos. The fact that one has to get custom made plates for each print project, it is more cost effective, to have them made for a bulk production, instead of small projects, so that you can use the plates for longer period. Therefore, the technology is ideal for large runs. It can workout extremely well with multi-color designs with immense control over the impact of each color. That said, here are more reasons why cosmetic brands widely choose this technology.
You Don’t Need to Dry The Colors Separately
When working with offset printing, the worker doesn’t need to wait after administering one color for it dry first, to apply the second. You can administer your color one after another, and dry them all together in the end through UV radiation or any other technique of relieving. You may use multiple colors at once, with combinations of PMS colors.
Fine Detailing & Avid Design Flexibility
Offset printing has great respect for dimensional variation, so you can work with different sizes of font, thick or thin lines, and other detailed graphical elements. You can even use different impacts of color, like gradient, ombre effect, or shading, and expect a neat impression of your prints in high resolution. There is avid flexibility for design, that you can use for wrapping paper, stick on labels or directly print on cardboard, plastic or metal containers.
Gentle On The Substrate
The fact that offset printing uses an intermediate blanket for transferring the ink, it makes the technique much easier to perform and gentle on the container.
Most Cost Effective For Large Runs
Offset printing is best used for large runs because this is the best way to utilize the plates. Therefore, many manufacturers have the policy of lowering the prices for large labeling projects. So perhaps this is not the most worthwhile package design for special edition, limited edition or seasonal products.
Substrate Must Be Flat Surface
If your lotion bottle of perfume bottle has curvy, unique shapes, then it will be difficult for the blanket to evenly distribute the paint. In that case, you can print the label separately and paste it onto the container.
Why Cosmetic Brands Need To Use This Offset Printing
Offset printing adheres to dynamic designing standards demanded by the cosmetic industry, that is constantly trending new ways of promoting their products. The standard practice would be about having no standard practice. For such an industry, printing technique turns up to be the most significant, especially when a branded cosmetic with a trademarked label has to be reproduced for long period, which you will have to produce in bulk. Color is a therapeutic element, and when used in packages, it readily grabs the attention of consumers. Therefore, the if you are looking for the ideal label with High Quality colored prints, offsetting will perhaps be an unparalleled solution to your cause.
