A Quick Introduction to Printing
Offset printing is a widely used printing technique where the inked image is transferred (or "offset") from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface. When used in combination with the lithographic process, which is based on the repulsion of oil and water, the offset technique employs a flat (planographic) image carrier on which the image to be printed obtains ink from ink rollers, while the non-printing area attracts a film of water, keeping the non-printing areas ink-free.

Offset printing advantages
Advantages of offset printing compared to other printing methods include:
  * Consistent high image quality. Offset printing produces sharper and cleaner images and type than  
    letterpress printing because the rubber blanket conforms to the texture of the printing surface.
  * Quick and easy production of printing plates.
  * Longer printing plate life than on direct litho presses because there is no direct contact between the plate
    and the printing surface.

Offset litho printing on to a web (reel) of paper.
Commonly used for printing of newspapers and magazines for high speed production.

Offset litho printing on to single sheets of paper or board.
Commonly used for printing of short run magazines, brochures, letter headings, general commercial (jobbing) printing.

Offset printing is the most common form of high-volume commercial printing, due to advantages in quality and efficiency in high-volume jobs. While modern digital presses (Indigo Digital Press, for example) are getting closer to the cost/benefit of offset for high-quality work, they have not yet been able to compete with the sheer volume of product that an offset press can produce. Furthermore, many modern offset presses are using computer to plate systems as opposed to the older computer to film workflows, which further increases their quality.

Mad Print & Mad 4 Design can Offer
We can undertake your printing requirements keeping your advertising projects under one roof by producing business stationery, letterheads, business cards, leaflets, NCR sets and pads. All printing is produced using metal plates to keep the quality on long or short runs using our single and two colour Heidelberg GTO52 printing presses in our Ferndown workshop.

Whether it is just a simple black and white print run, a special pantone colour mix or four colour process we are here to help and advise on the large range of paper and board available.

Once you have approved your artwork we then make metal printing plates using positive digital film to give a crisp clear image that you will be proud to use promoting your company. If you have a particular colour of print in mind we can match it using the pantone colour matching system.

For the new business we have specialised start up packages available which include a logo, simple single page web site designs, printed leaflets, letterheads, business cards, compliment slips and NCR 2 part invoice sets all with a matching company identity.

* Printing prices subject to change without notice, we do not publish prices as we cannot guarantee prices but will keep as competitive as possible.

Business cards, letterheads, envelopes, compliment slips, invoices & multi-part ncr forms, continuous stationery & bespoke computer forms, full-colour brochures & flyers and a very popular digital printing service, are just some of the many print-related products we have to offer.

We have been established for 25 years in Christchurch, Dorset and our service covers all business types.

What we do:
We produce all artwork (unless supplied by yourself) in-house to your exact specifications by a very experienced designer. We strive to give you a top -quality, reliable service backed with our guarantee that if a mistake is made on our part, we will quickly do our utmost to correct the problem.

What we don't do:
We don't offer 'free' business cards (with our company name advertised on the back), or use an automated 'design-your-own' business card from stock templates. This type of service certainly has its place in the business card printing market, but we prefer to offer a personal bespoke service with business stationery designed and produced to your exact requirements.