To understand commercial printing and its various offerings, it’s important to tell the difference between heatset and coldset printing. Each type of print offers different advantages for your print media, and the offering you choose is dependent on your goals. Heatset and coldset web offset printing each offer unique advantages that are suited for different printing applications. In this blog, we’ll highlight the differences between heatset and coldset press lines in commercial printing, so you can determine which is the best option for your company’s advertising, marketing or publication needs.
Heatset press lines, also called heatset web offset printing or heatset printing, are a type of offset printing that deposits ink onto paper before being passed through heat sources like dryers and lamps to evaporate moisture and dry the ink. Lastly, chill rolls are used to bring the temperature back to normal after the heating process. Heatset printing is a great coated paper option, resulting in a glossy, high-contrast print image.
Coldset press lines, also called coldset web offset printing or coldset printing, are a type of offset printing that deposits ink onto paper—the ink then absorbs and evaporates into the material. This process sets the ink using a natural air-drying method and is frequently used for newspapers and paperbacks. Unlike heatset printing, it doesn’t use glossy, coated paper and results in traditional book-type printing.
When determining whether to use heatset or coldset printing for your business, it comes down to your print marketing needs. Do you value a high-quality, glossy print or do you prefer to have a more traditional newspaper-style print? Are you trying to cut costs or deliver a premium print marketing product? Here are some of the top factors to consider when making your decision between heatset and coldset offset printing:
If you need assistance deciding which printing method will work best for your company, our team at Signature Graphics can help you narrow down your options and find the best print marketing solutions for your needs.
While both heatset and coldset printing each come with a unique set of benefits, deciding which type to use depends on your company goals and the print campaigns you’d like to try. With years of experience using both heatset and coldset press lines, our team at Signature Graphics can help you figure out what will work best for your budget and business needs in a commercial print setting. We offer both heatset and coldset printing options to ensure that your needs are met regardless of your goals. If you’d like to explore our various options and get a professional opinion on which printing type to use, contact us today to get started with our print marketing team.