Making Lithographic offset printing more accessible through understanding our customers' needs.

Erawan has conducted numerous surveys over the years to better understand the requirements of our customers. One such survey, handled by a market research company, polled local companies of all kinds, ranging from manufacturing companies, service providers, to heavy industry. None of these companies were clients of Erawan at the time.

The survey set out to analyse how companies without internal graphic design departments or related expertise utilized various printing technologies, through marketing literature etc. It was necessary for respondents not to have intimate knowledge of artwork preparation, pre-press, or the typical print workflow. Moreover, we surveyed each company's relationship and satisfaction with their current printer(s).

The results were somewhat surprising. Over 60 % of respondents had no idea how documents were produced and what the lithographic printing process involved. 85 % of these respondents further replied that if they did have a clear, non-technical viewpoint of the printing process they would be in a better position to produce more effective literature for their companies.

Printer satisfaction overall, was low for a number of reasons. Lack of effective communication, variable quality printing with common print errors, process delays, lack of appreciation of standards and deadlines, and inflexibility in file formats and proofing options were all cited as factors behind overall dissatisfaction with current print providers.

This survey was of great value to us, we have re-assigned our priorities and service guidelines to make sure that our service addresses all of these issues. We have made new friends and clients as a result.

Common Offset Printing Errors and How to Spot them?

Uneven colour: Always make sure that the colour is the same on both sides of the sheet by rolling the sheet up so that you can look at opposite edges of the sheet side by side.

Ghosts: These are either images formed in areas where they should not appear, or formation of lighter areas where there should be even inking.

Hickies (aka Fish-Eyes): Non-inked circles created by lint on the plate or blanket. They are generally something that can be cleaned up when appearing on several sheets in a row. However, chances are you will never be able to eliminate every single hickie, especially if you have large solids in your printing piece and have to print thousands of sheets.

Picking: These are the non-inked areas that look like snow created in areas where the ink and some of the paper has been lifted off the sheet when the ink is too tacky. Picking can occur due to a paper related problem.

Muddy or Uneven Screens : These occur as a result of dot gain. In the worst case scenario caused by a muddy or uneven screen, you may need to remake a plate using a coarser screen. However, some dot gain can be alleviated by running the ink a little lighter and by ensuring that the gradients on your piece, if any, look even.

Offsetting: This is the appearance created on the back of a sheet by an image present on the sheet touching it. Offsetting happens as a result of too much ink insufficient driers in the ink or trimming of the job done when the ink is too wet.

Lithographic Offset Printing

Today's lithographic offset printing industry is a dynamic technology-driven service sector in the midst of widespread technological changes. These changes are driving quality up whilst reducing process time. This is highly beneficial to our customers and Erawan embraces technology as a means of providing a better service to our customers.

Whilst the printing process itself is important, most of our customers have very practical goals as far as their print jobs are concerned, namely to produce high quality documents, on time, and at a competitive cost.

At Erawan, we strive to exceed our clients' expectations on their print work. Our goals are clearly defined as part of our offset printing pledge:

• To make the lithographic print process more accessible to customers, thus allowing them to fully exploit the possibilities offered by the latest printing technology;
• To make the printing process a seamless and predictable experience, without introducing errors or unnecessary variability;
• To produce client's print work on time, or ahead of schedule;
• To produce client's print jobs to the highest possible standards of lithographic printing and assure quality at all parts of the workflow;
• To design original artwork and produce editorial to the highest possible standards.

Our Equipment & Staff

We offer full colour lithographic printing on Heidelberg Presses, from 1 and 2 colour GTO machines through to our Heidelberg Speedmaster Multicolour press. Our plant, 68 Km from Bangkok is modern, efficient, and managed to international operating standards.

We employ highly skilled local staff with the technical knowledge and experience to operate and maintain this state-of-the-art equipment to the highest possible industry standards. Our plant and bureau staff come from diverse backgrounds, having degrees in graphic arts, or perhaps having spent years in the trade as press operators and pre-press technicians.

Optimal Lithographic Offset Print Workflow

• DAY 1 - Clients FTP artwork to us (we can collect artwork on CD/DVD from local clients), in any format (page layout applications like QuarkXpress, InDesign, PageMaker etc - Vector-based applications like Adobe Illustrator, FreeHand and Corel Draw on Windows PC or Macintosh OS 9 or Macintosh OS X) - or PDF files (ask for specifications & latest versions ):
• DAY 2 - Calibrated digital (using HP 5500 large format inkjet printers with Onyx or Posterjet RIP) proofs are made from the artwork. Clients approve proofs or revise artwork and resubmit.
• DAY 2 - Printing plates are made. Client may see a print from this step if required.
• DAY 3 - Print job is sent to press, cutting, folding, finishing started.
• DAY 4-5 - Finishing or job complete (depends on finish type).

Pre-Press & Artwork

Pre-press work is handled in our studio where we have the latest typesetting and imaging technology, including CTP (computer to plate) on all presses. We employ highly skilled designers with years of experience in page layout, image manipulation, and illustration packages. We seek to make innovative use of the print press through the talent and creativity of our staff.

We have the flexibility to produce a wide range of printed products, from stationery, to sales, promotional and point-of-purchase materials through to medium and long-run multi-colour brochures, folders, flyers, and large format point of sales literature.

Our printing service is combined with a comprehensive finishing department to ensure that as well as printing we can assemble all your designs and ideas.

• Brochures can be - embossed, metallic foiled, folded and bound
• Folders - die Cut, laminated, spot UV'd and made up
• Mailers - perforated, folded, glued and inserted
• Showcards - laminated, mounted, cut to shape and strutted