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Offset printing is an important method of planographic printing, which uses rubber (blanket) to transfer the graphics and text on the printing plate to the substrate. This printing method is named after the existence of rubber blankets. In the offset printing process, the rubber blanket plays an irreplaceable role as it can effectively compensate for the unevenness of the substrate surface, facilitate the full transfer of ink, and reduce the transfer of water from the printing plate to the substrate.

Offset printing usually involves three cylinders: plate cylinder, blanket cylinder, and impression cylinder. The printing plate cylinder is attached with graphic and non graphic parts. The graphic part can absorb ink, while the non graphic part absorbs moisture to repel ink. When the printing plate cylinder comes into contact with the blanket cylinder, the ink in the graphic part is transferred to the blanket, and then the blanket cylinder comes into contact with the impression cylinder (carrying the substrate, such as paper), transferring the ink graphic to the substrate and completing the printing process.

In 1904, Caspar Hermann of Germany and Ira Washington Rubel of the United States almost simultaneously began to attempt improvements to lithography technology. In an accidental experiment, Rube discovered an indirect imprinting method, where the image is first transferred from the printing plate to the rubber blanket of the imprinting cylinder, and then printed onto paper. This method produces higher quality printed products. The technology of uniformly transferring ink on the surface of an elastic rubber blanket is the prototype of offset printing technology.

In 1912, the world's first rotary offset printing equipment Universal was introduced, marking the transition of offset printing technology from laboratory to industrial production. The speed of this device has reached 8000 printed sheets per hour, greatly improving printing efficiency.

In the 1920s, offset printing technology was further promoted. These companies have launched their own single sheet and roll offset printing equipment, and developed automated printing equipment with paper transfer units, refrigeration units, folding and drum drying components, etc. Soon, a company launched the world's first four-color single sheet offset press - Planeta Deca, which enables offset printing technology to simultaneously print multiple colors and meets the market's demand for color printed products.

In the 1970s, commercial printing began to develop vigorously, and prepress technology shifted towards automatic high-end color separation technology and full page layout design systems. The application of computers in offset printing and the emergence of film output machines have greatly improved the efficiency of offset printing machines. Printing factories have begun to use computers to control the printing process, and offset printing machines have achieved functions such as ink transfer, plate lubrication, alignment adjustment, and automatic reading of printing plates.

Types of Offset printing ink

Substrate for Offset printing