Definition

Noun: A commercial printing technique where the inked image is transferred (or "offset") from a printing plate to a rubber blanket cylinder, and then from that blanket to the printing surface (usually paper). It is the most common form of lithographic printing, based on the principle that oil (ink) and water do not mix.

Usage

This term refers specifically to the industrial printing process. It is a compound noun used to name the technique itself. * The magazine was produced using high-quality offset lithography. * Offset lithography is favored for its ability to produce consistent, sharp images on various paper stocks.

Advanced Usage

• Web offset lithography: A high-speed variant where the printing surface is a continuous roll (a "web") of paper, commonly used for newspapers and magazines.
• Sheet-fed offset lithography: A variant where individual pre-cut sheets of paper are fed into the press, often used for brochures, posters, and packaging.

Variants and Related Words

• Offset printing (n): A broader term that encompasses the offset transfer principle, which can be used with other plate-making methods besides lithography. Offset lithography is a specific type of offset printing.
• Lithography (n): The original planographic printing method based on the oil-and-water repulsion principle. Offset lithography is a mechanized, indirect application of this principle.
• Photolithography (n): A related process used in microfabrication (e.g., for computer chips), not to be confused with commercial printing.

Synonyms

• Lithographic offset printing
• Offset printing (in common, though technically broader, usage)

Related Phrases and Technical Terms

• Printing plate: The aluminum sheet carrying the image to be printed.
• Blanket cylinder: The rubber-covered cylinder that receives the inked image from the plate.
• Dampening solution: The water-based solution applied to the plate to keep non-image areas ink-free.

Noun

1. offset printing by lithography