When determining which print process to use for your print job, we know things can get a bit confusing! Screen print, litho print, digital print… each have their best-given applications depending on your requirements, and that’s before we get into ‘finishing’ like folding/lamination/manufacture, but we’ll save that for another post!

Many factors influence which print process we decide to employ to get the best result, and KSP are ideally placed to offer you a diverse range of end products that we manufacture in-house. But before we can get started, we thought it would be useful to give you a checklist of things that we’ll need to know. Don’t worry if you haven’t got every bit of detail or are a little unsure; we’ll be happy to talk you through everything.

Your print specifications checklist:

  • Quantity required
  • Dimensions
  • The end use of the product
  • How long has it got to last
  • Material preference
  • Indoor or outdoor use
  • Your budget (price/quality/timescale factors)
  • Timescales
  • Do you need help with design/engineering?

KSP have been producing Screen, Digital and Litho printed products since April 1985, so we have a wealth of knowledge to be able to advise you on the best print process and materials for your job. You can count on our wealth of experience – there’s not much we’ve not produced over the years, but we appreciate that everyone’s requirements are different!

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but here’s a breakdown of the main print processes, along with some of the considerations we’d take into account when advising which to use:

We’d usually recommend screen printing when the following factors apply:

  • Much higher opacity ink or special ink finishes
  • Excellent quality of ink adhesion to the substrate
  • The longevity of the end product
  • Most suited to single or limited number of colours
  • Print runs generally shorter (although not always!)
  • Pantone or specific colour matching is critical
  • Light colours are required onto dark materials
  • Light fastness for outdoor use is critical

We’d generally recommend digital printing when the following factors apply:

  • You require a small amount – down to just 1 item (but can be thousands!)
  • Very quick turnaround required
  • Very accurate colour matches aren’t required
  • More artwork variations are required

We’d generally recommend litho printing when the following factors apply:

  • Larger quantities
  • Print reproduction is paramount
  • Unit cost has to be low
  • Item to be printed is flat

Don’t worry if some of this seems complicated or confusing – that’s what the team at KSP are here for! We will help you select the most appropriate print process, so get in-touch to find out how we can help you get the very best out of your next print job.