Offset Lithography
Top
Quality at Affordable Prices |
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We
strive to provide our clients with top-quality printing and
mailing services at the best prices in the industry. All our
presses conform to international standards for offset lithography
and offer clients options for print jobs running from slick,
4-color magazines to one-color newsletters in smaller runs.
Our
knowledgeable staff will work with you to determine the most
cost-effective approach to print the quality product you
want. |
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Green papers
Our customer service staff is happy to help you navigate the confusing
world of paper stock and work with you to identify the paper that
will produce the best results for your project.
Our house paper is ChorusArt® gloss and silk coated
papers. ChorusArt® papers
are FSC-Certified, acid-free and Elemental Chlorine-free, and contain 50%
recycled content including 15% post-consumer waste. Available in Superb Gloss
and Luxurious
Silk finishes, ChorusArt® papers excel in readability performance
for fine text. The blue-white shade and 90 Tappi brightness reproduces images
in crisp
detail. The even surface provides exceptional ink holdout and superior smoothness.
We can also offer clients a variety of Sustainable
Forestry Initiative (SFI), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Rainforest
Alliance, and Green-E certified products from paper manufacturers including
Domtar, Finch, Fox River, Mohawk, Monadnock, Neenah, and Smart Papers.
Chemical-Free
Processing |
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Printing
Services was among the first printers in the state of Maine
to adopt an entirely chemical-free, Computer-to-Plate (CTP)
platemaking process. We also use 100% vegetable-based inks
on all our presses. |
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Computer-to-Plate Processing
The CTP process uses
anodized aluminum plates with carbon coating, processed using a Dimension
800 Plate Burner.
Electronic files for press are sent to the Dimension 800, which uses
16 lasers to burn away the carbon coating and create a durable, positive
plate. The plate making process is completed with a water wash to scrub
loose carbon residue from the finished plate. Plates created through
this process incur fewer defects, including damage from dust, scratches,
and other artifacts.
Vegetable-Based Inks
Printing Services uses 100% vegetable-based inks in our printing. Vegetable-based
inks use vegetable oil rather than petroleum solvents as a vehicle
for carrying pigments. Vegetable inks present environmental advantages
over petrolium-based inks primarily in that they release far fewer
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and are derived from renewable
resources. Vegetable-based inks are also biodegradable and are easier
to de-ink during the recycling process.
Equipment
Printing Services can also rent press time to other printers
in the region. Please contact Dan Curtis, Associate Director of Printing
and Mailing Services, 581-3772, for more information and scheduling.
14" x 20" (36 x 52 cm) Heidelberg GTO 2-color Offset
28" x 40" (71 x 102 cm) Heidelberg 1-color Offset
20" x 28" (52 x 72 cm) Heidelberg 4-color CMYK Offset
20" x 28" (52 x 72 cm) Man Roland 1-color Offset
13" x 17" (34 x 45 cm) Ryobi 3200 MCD 1-color Offset for envelopes and business
cards
Halm Super Jet envelope press for 1 or 2-sided; 1 or 2-color output.
Submitting Offset Press Orders
In order to serve you better, we ask customers to please:
1. Complete and submit an Order Form, available online or as a downloadable PDF.
2. Submit a firm, dated deadline (not “ASAP”) with your order.
3. Submit your document both as the “native” design file, and as
a Press Quality PDF file, online, by e-mail, or on disk.
4. When possible, submit a hardcopy mock up of your job.
5. Be available to review page proofs and blue lines.
Please visit our Pricing page for current pricing information.
