
As a business owner, you know how important marketing yourself is. When you market well, new customers flock to you.
Chances are you’ve considered or already understand the power of commercial print media. Print marketing is a surefire way to reach your customers. Sharing your business brochure or mailing out incentives spreads the word about you.
When it comes to business prints, do you know what options are available to you? Business owners often don’t know how many versatile commercial printing methods there are.
Each one can be harnessed to better represent you and grow your businesses. Read on to learn about 10 business prints you’ll want to use.
1. Digital Printing
Use Digital Printing for:
- Pamphlets
- Business Brochure
- Labels
- Newsletters
- Menus
Digital Printing is the best-known printing type. Digital Printing is inexpensive and has a great turnover time. Best yet, you can change things as you go, as there’s no physical plate that needs to be engraved.
The image or text will be printed directly from the printing device onto the paper. There are two types of digital printing available. Both inkjet and xerographic printing fall under the category of digital printing.
2. Inkjet Printing
This sub-type of digital printing is good for posters, newsletters, and limited-edition booklets. Inkjet printing is the most common type of printing in home and commercial settings.
The printer uses drops of ink to create images and texts loaded onto your printer’s computer.
3. Laser Printing
Laser printing, or xerographic printing, is another digital printing option. You will find this one is useful for books, documents, and direct mail.
You can quickly print large runs of text-only documents using a laser printer. Like inkjet printing, laser printing is inexpensive and versatile.
4. Offset Printing
Use Offset Printing for:
- Cardstock
- Magazines
- Plastic
- Posters and paper
- Boxes
Offset printing uses plates and water-based ink to print your image or text. Offset printing is great for high-volume printing needs.
It has great printing and image quality.
You will need to pay a bit more than digital printing. You can’t change or tweak the final inked image as quickly as digital printing. That’s because the plate must be engraved.
5. Silkscreen Printing
Use Silkscreen Printing for:
- T-shirts
- Baseball caps
- Posters and banners
- Tote bags
- Glass signs
- Metal signs
Silkscreen printing is a great option if you want to create merchandise or swag bags. This versatile method of printing works on many different materials.
Printers transfer your design onto a fine mesh screen using photographic emulsion. Once they transfer the image or text, they’ll power wash off the emulsion. This leaves a negative image behind on the screen.
The silkscreen printer then uses a squeegee and ink to push the ink through the screen.
6. Flexography
Use Flexography for:
- Product packaging
- Plastic bags
- Gift wrapping
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Wallpaper
Flexography is great if you need to print on an irregular surface. The print is made using a printing cylinder and modular relief plates.
This means you can use this type of printing on plastic bags and other uneven materials.
7. Large Format
Use Large Format printing for:
- Posters
- Banners
- Large advertisements and billboards
You’ll want to use Large Format printing when you need to send a loud message. Bigger can be better when it comes to marketing!
If you need a “Grand Opening” banner or a large billboard, look for a large format printer near you.
8. Gravure Printing
Use Gravure Printing for:
- Magazines
- Fine art prints
- Gift wrap
- Wallpaper
- Vinyl printing
- Printed textiles
Gravure printing is similar to offset printing. They both provide incredibly high-quality image reproduction. Gravure printing uses etched copper plates.
The plate is inked and placed directly on the paper to create a print. It is more labor-intensive and expensive than other methods. But the quality of the prints will be top-notch.
9. LED printing
Use LED printing for:
- Posters
- Papers
- Books
- Brochures
- Pamphlets
LED printing is a newer method. This method of printing uses UV light to seal the ink to the paper. This means your print will dry quickly, as there’s no heat needed.
The ink is less likely to smudge or bleed due to UV curing. And a bonus, it’s better for the environment.
10. Special Effects Printing
Use Special Effects printing for:
- Holiday gifts
- Marketing material
- Cards and certificates
Special Effects printing will take your marketing materials to the next level. You can opt for metallic foil to catch your customers’ eyes. You can also opt-in for embossing or debossing to add texture to your materials.
Raised ink and 3D spot varnish are other ways to capture attention. Printing experts like http://www.teamconceptprinting.com/ offer special options. They also offer traditional offset printing.
Be sure to do your research to find a printer with versatile offerings.
Use Business Prints to Up Your Game
Let’s look at a quick case study. Say you’ve designed a brand new logo as part of your rebranding.
Rebranding takes time and effort. Your marketing materials and campaigns will need to reflect that. Now you’ll want to decide if you want to make new materials.
Will you go for a business card print run? You can decide if you want to use special effects printing like embossing or raised ink.
Or perhaps you want a new run of T-shirts for your employees with your logo. That’s when silkscreen printing will be your best choice.
Be Prepared and Print Away
Now you know about each of the 10 most common types of printing. Next time you need to work with a commercial printer, you’ll communicate clearly.
When you pay careful attention to each type of printing, you’re better prepared. Regardless of the type of work you need to make, there’s a method to match. When it comes to marketing or operations, you’ll have the best business prints for your goals.
If you enjoyed this article, be sure to check out our other useful business and marketing blog posts!