Litho Printing

During this time we have developed a deep and commercial understanding of how print fits into the overall marketing communications mix.

Your company brochure, stationery or other printed material is often the first impression people get of your company, so it’s essential that it conveys the right impression, first time – this is where a high-quality printing process such as litho printing comes into play. Good print gives your customers confidence in what you do, and you the confidence to approach them.

A number of elements need to combine to ensure the delivery of high quality commercial printing solutions: skilled craftsmen, sophisticated technology, effective quality control and strong project management. LEA have invested heavily in all of these areas. Our new Mitsubishi, 5-colour and coater, alcohol free litho press utilises state-of-the-art technology to store colour settings and duct profiles to ensure colour continuity across the entire range of your printed material – from the business card and letterhead, to the corporate brochure, to mailing packs and promotional leaflets. LEA’s clients include small, local businesses and large, multinational corporations, all of whom have benefited from the constant attention to detail and time-efficiency that form the working ethos of our highly skilled team of litho printers.

Based on our unique partnership approach, we’ll let you in on some of the industry secrets that will help you get the most out of your budget. We’ll advise you on paper stocks, inks and formats and generally how best to put your ideas onto paper.

What is Litho Printing?

Litho printing – short for lithographic printing – is a high-quality printing process based around the simple principle that water and oil repel each other. The process works by applying printing ink to a flat plate which is divided into ‘hydrophilic’ and ‘hydrophobic’ regions – meaning that some areas contain a thin layer of water that repel the ink onto other areas that accept it due to differences in surface tension. The ink on the printing plate is then transferred onto printing stock such as paper to leave the desired impression.

The first litho printers emerged in the late 18th century after the process was originally invented by the Bavarian author Alois Senefelder who required a way to print theatrical works in a cost-effective manner. Since then, modern litho printers have replaced the limestone printing blocks originally used with metal printing plates, as well as utilising digital technology to accurately control and monitor the whole operation. The beauty of litho printing lies not only in the quality that the process offers, but also in the fundamental simplicity of the printing form itself, which is still used in a simplified manner by many artists.