Offset

To get  these colours onto products a popular method is know as Offset lithographic printing. This is also called lithography. It is a commonly used mass production technique where the ink image is transferred (offset) from an aluminum plate to a rubber blanket, then onto the printing surface. This is a high quality method of printing used to print on paper, cardboard, plastic and many other flat surfaced materials. 

In a 4 colour printing machine like the image bellow the intake is at the far end where paper is automatically fed into the press. There are 4 printing towers which each print one colour, black (usually printed first), cyan, magenta and yellow. At the front you can see where the end result comes out and also the control monitor console.

Offset is currently the most commonly used printing technique for a variety of products such as magazines, books, newspapers, stationery, posters and so on. Nowadays printing promotional material is gradually moving to digital printing while some packaging printing is moving to Flexo.

Flexo

In flexography the content that needs to be printed is on a relief of a printing plate, which is made from rubber. Water based Ink surrounds the plate and the inked image is transferred onto the surface. These inks dry quicker and allow for quicker production and more effective results. This process is used to print on paper as well as plastics, metals, cellophane and other materials. Although it is mainly used for packaging and labels, few times even newspapers.