Just Hit Print… Offset

Today I’m covering offset lithography or offset printing.

Offset uses the resistance method of printing. The basic principle of resistance printing is that oil and water don’t mix, so the same surface can be used for ink and un-inked surfaces.

Images and text are transferred to photosensitive plates (made of zinc or aluminum) photographically. The plate is then placed on a cylinder on the press. The plate obtains ink from the ink rollers, while the non-printed areas attract a water-based film (fountain solution), keeping the non-printing areas ink-free. The image is then rolled on to a rubberized offset cylinder, which in turn, inks the paper. The advantage of offset printing is the ability to print thousands of images from one plate.

Below is a side view of the offset process.

Offset Presses

There are two types of paper feeds on offset presses: sheet fed and web fed.

Sheet fed presses feed one sheet at a time through the rollers. It is commonly used for short-run jobs like brochures, letterhead, business cards, etc. Short-runs are considered less then 10,000 to 20,000 impressions.

Sheet fed presses also come in different sizes. In smaller print shops the presses are usually 2-head presses. That is that they can run 2 inks at a time. Larger print shops have 6+ head presses. These presses can run numerous inks and coatings at the same time.

Web fed presses feed off a roll of paper. Web fed presses are commonly used for large jobs like newspapers, catalogs, magazines, etc.  Jobs run on web presses exceed 10,000 to 20,000 impressions. Web presses generally have 4+ heads for ink.

Spot versus CMYK

When press people talk about ink it seems to be in a strange code: of spot, CMYK, PMS, etc. What they are talking about is ink.

Spot color is a solid ink color (versus a dot-pattern of CYMK). Letterheads and business cards are the most common users of spot color.

CMYK stands for cyan, magenta, yellow and black. CMYK is also called process color. Process color creates images using a mixture of dots from all four inks. CMYK is used in magazines, brochures, etc.

PMS stands for Pantone Matching System. Pantone creates solid and CYMK inks.

Digital Printing

Since the 1990s digital printing has slowly began to replace some offset printing practices. Digital presses do not use a photographic plate. The image can be sent directly from the computer to the press, eliminating the plate and the plate making processes.

The advantages of digital presses are a lower cost in printing. Images can be changed “on the fly”. This is convenient when only one or two aspects of the image are changed. Less wasted chemicals and paper.

Below are examples of spot color offset printing:

• Brett Dennen with Angus and Julia Stone Poster by Strawberryluna
• An Irish Toast to Your Coffin Poster by Madam Talbots
• Rebuilding by Kiriko Moth

Below are examples of process (CYMK) offset printing:

• The Brave Tabby by Bohemian Cats
• Miss Coquelicot Poster by Sybile
• The Bawdy Ladies: Bootsies by Art by Fox

Hope you enjoyed this little snippet about Offset Printing, next up Screenprinting.

Flip Camcorder Designs

I’ve added some Flip Camcorder designs to my CafePress site. These design are from some of my paintings. The great thing about the Flip is you can customize the case! I have 4 designs on the site right now, I will be adding a few more.

Are You A Professional?

An interesting thing happened the other day. I was in the local “go-to” art store in the Portland Metro are (Art Media) picking up a few items to finish up my current painting, and to fill some holes in my supplies. When I got to the check stand they asked if I was taking a class (student discount) and I said no, just picking up personal items. The clerk said “Are you a professional artist?” My first response was no, but I hope to be. And he gave me a quizzical look, which had me thinking… hope to be? I corrected myself and said, hey I’ve sold paintings, so yes I am a professional artist.

Isn’t interesting how we (as artists) are so quick to dismiss that we are professional, if we aren’t full-time artist. Or maybe even if we are. We always feel that we need to “qualify” our answers. Not only have I sold paintings, but have been working as a graphic designer for over 25 years. I am an artist, in a myriad of ways. Not only do I paint, I design, I create, I knit, and the list can go on and on.

So from now on I will attempt to not qualify my answers. Yes I am a professional artist. Carry business cards (all of them, for all the various businesses), and present them when need be. I will try not to hide behind the excuse that I don’t paint full time. But I DO create full time. I am an artist.

The Art of “Percolating”

Some advise to other artists, and our worst critics, ourselves.

In my previous blog I mentioned that I was letting a new painting “percolate”. It’s my personal expression for letting it sit, and me digest it for a few days, months or maybe years. Yes, I have sat on a painting for years before deciding it was finished.

I didn’t always let my art sit. I was quite willing to instantly rip apart anything I was dissatisfied with. Growing up, our neighbor and friend Judy Hatch was always quite horrified when I would do this. I’ve always been my worst critique, as is true with a lot of artists.

About ten years ago I decided I needed another method. I decided that if I was unsure or thought I really hated a painting I would sit on it and let it “percolate”. Sometimes the piece will sit for a few days. If I still can’t make up my mind, a little longer. Sometimes I put it away in a closet and won’t look at it for a very long time. In one case for almost 6 years. Sometimes my first instincts are wrong, sometimes they are right.

I still try not to throw them out, especially if they are easily stored. In one case, I sat on a watercolor for almost a year. After looking at it over the year, I still hated it. But, because it was a watercolor, it was easy to slip into a drawer. The painting sat for another year or so until I had a group showing and needed art. I pulled out the piece and examined it again… Nope still hate it, but I really liked the top right hand corner. In the end, I tore out the piece I liked, had it framed, and it appeared in the show. What was once an 8×10 fall landscape turned into a small 3×3 abstract that is hanging in my living room.

I also like to let a piece sit and percolate when I don’t want to overwork it. Sometimes a piece with just scream stop. And sometimes I could spend forever knitpicking it to death. Once again if I’m unsure it is done, I will let it sit for a few days, come in and check it out at various times of the day. Get a real feel for the painting, and then decided if it needs just a touch more or if it done.

As many artist know sometimes a piece is easy and it flows and its done before you know it. Others you work on for a long period over months or years. I finally finished my sisters 2007 Christmas present just in time for Christmas 2008. The delay was caused by over-zealous planning, some procrastination, some of it was simply percolating. It was a large piece, paying homage to her magnificent quilting artistry. It was also a huge challenge since I painted the entire piece is 1/2 inch squares. It was a slow piece to paint, I had to spend a lot of time stepping back and examining the overall piece, since I was painting in such little pieces. Finally after a year and a half of painting I did finish it and was thrilled and relieved to give it to her.

Really I’m Busy

Obviously from the lack of posts I’m drowning in stuff to do. I’m hoping that once I get through July I will have some breathing room and be able to create again.

Speaking of creativity… I finished the WVESSA Calendar, which goes on sale Friday, July 18th. Check it out here. You soon will be able to pay through PayPal… but I need to do some configuring on the website first.

Back to Blogging

After a year break from blogging, I am back. But changing things up. This blog is going to about my designs, whether for CafePress, or Two Peas Design (my freelance design company), my painting and what inspires me.

Hope you enjoy the show and come back for more.