WHAT IS PRINTING?
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing machine. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, even though there are lots of small scale industrialists and other people earning their livings from the printing profession. It has served an essential part of publishing, packaging, security prints, production of educational materials and office stationeries among others.
Stages of Printing
The printing press as an industry includes establishments primarily engaged in printing text and images on to paper, metal, glass, and some apparel and other materials. Printing can be divided into three distinct stages.
1. P R E – P R E S S : T H E I N I T I A L D E S I G N S TA G E S A N D PREP ARA TION OF MATERIALS FOR PRINTING.
2. PRESS: THE ACTUAL PRINTING PROCESSES.
3. POST -PRESS OR FINISHING: THE FOLDING, BINDING AND TRIMMING OF PRINTED SHEETS INTO THEIR FINAL FORM.
Complete printing companies that provide all three services first prepare the material for printing in the prepress department which essentially involves graphic design, digital separation and lithography . The actual prints are carriedout in the press department and finally taking for trimmings, binding and packaging in the post-press department. Increasingly , printers are also involved of provision database management, mailing, or distribution services to meet customer needs.
