Our Equipment

We have 3 generations of presses, each has certain abilities and strong points. For each job that comes in we decide what production method is best. Many jobs go through several presses and other machines on their way to becoming a finished product.

Digital Presses

We have a Xerox V180 press as our main digital press. It runs a sheet up to 13"x 26", and can take many different weights of stock. It is used mostly for short runs of flyers, posters, books and cards. We often combine digital with offset or letterpress to make things like raffle tickets, folders, door knob hangers or certificates with gold foil. 

Offset Printing

We have several offset presses up to 17½"x 22½" in size. Offset requires a plate and some setup before you can start. Therefore it is more expensive for short runs, but the quality is very good. Offset presses are also fast and less expensive than digital to run, so for longer runs this is the way to go. There are other advantages to offset: the ink adheres to the paper differently than digital and so can be varnished for protection and gloss, and the ink is also laser safe, so it is good for letterheads. Most envelopes are run offset.

Letterpress

Letterpress is the oldest method of printing we have. It dates back to the 15th century, when Gutenberg developed the first screw type press. Bi Sheng is credited with inventing moveable type in the 11th century in China. Modern clamshell and cylinder letterpresses came about in the late 19th and early 20th century. By the mid to late 20th century offset became the predominant method of production and letterpress soon fell out of use. Letterpress, however is the only method that applies a lot of force to the paper during the printing process - which allows for unique results that offset and digital can not duplicate. In addition to quality printing we can emboss, foil stamp and die cut. Images can be created with modern polymer cuts or with hand set type.