Did You Know…?

Conventional offset printing is the most common and well known way to print. However, for the past few years waterless offset printing is becoming more and more popular due to the benefits it has for the environment and your health. Many still have questions about waterless and wonder what it is and how it is used.

Unlike conventional offset printing which uses ink, water and fountain solution; waterless printing uses Computer to Plate (CtP) technology and silicon plates to eliminate chemicals and water altogether. Waterless printing also uses waterless-soy based inks exclusively to further reduce resource use, pollution and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) emissions. A major source of manmade VOCs are solvents, which can affect the environment and human health. VOCs contribute to smog, respiratory, allergic and immune effects, just to name a few. These VOCs are found in conventional offset but are dramatically reduced with waterless offset printing.

• Many conventional presses can consume hundreds of thousands of liters of water per year and 10,000 liters of alcohol per year.

• Because presses running waterless hold consistency throughout the press run, paper savings of 30% to 40% have been reported.

• With up to 50% less dot gain than conventional printing, print buyers and designers can expect to print much more photographic detail. This means far more clarity and depth, especially in shadow and mid-tone areas of the picture.

We’re pleased to be one of only a few companies on the West Coast offering waterless offset technology. Your collateral can now be printed on equipment that produces 90% less VOCs than conventional offset presses. Waterless printing gets up to color and register very quickly, and holds color more consistently from first sheet to last. These benefits are available at PMG with no sacrifice to quality and they directly equate to savings for your budget and for the planet.