Printing plates are thin, flat sheets of metal commonly made from aluminum. They are used in printing products like business cards, catalogs, and brochures.
The term “printing plate” is often mentioned in the same breath as offset printing. Offset printing was the standard before the birth of digital printers — and some prefer offset printing to this day. The majority of products like business cards, brochures, envelopes, and catalogs are printed through offset printing.
Offset printing works by transferring an image onto a metal sheet known as printing plates through a photomechanical or photochemical process. Typically, there is one plate for every color in the design to be printed. Once done, the plates are attached to cylindrical plate holders where ink and water are applied as the paper material passes through.
Offset printing relies on the use of printing plates to transfer your design onto paper