What is an offset press?

An offset press is a sophisticated printing machine designed to produce fine quality reproductions.

Offset presses are used almost exclusively in print shops.

An offset press works as follows:

• An image from a camera-ready original is reproduced on a paper, vinyl, or metal plate.
• The plate image is transferred to a rubberized blanket on a cylinder.
• The image is then transferred to the paper being printed.

Here is a diagram of an offset press:

Illustration

• Working with a print shop

• Concept module: offset press
• In overview module: Glossary (Literacy): O
• In modular book: Glossary of literacy terms
• In document collection: Reference materials
• In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 8 December 1998

© 1999 SIL International