Offset printing presses rely on the four essential CMYK ink colors—cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K)—to produce vibrant and detailed printed materials. Each color is applied using a separate printing plate, with tiny dots of ink precisely arranged to simulate a wide spectrum of colors. This method ensures consistent quality, especially for large-volume print jobs. Additionally, specialized offset printing can utilize pre-mixed inks such as metallics or Pantone shades, allowing printers to achieve custom hues beyond the standard CMYK range.

The offset printing process involves three key cylinders. First, the plate cylinder carries a customized aluminum or plastic plate, which is treated so that the image areas attract ink while non-image areas repel it. As this cylinder rotates, it contacts rollers that apply both ink and dampening solution.

Next, the offset blanket cylinder—wrapped in a rubber blanket—rotates in the opposite direction, receiving the inked image from the plate cylinder. This cylinder creates a mirrored impression of the image, which helps preserve detail and quality by minimizing direct contact between the plate and paper.

Finally, the impression cylinder, made of smooth steel, rotates against the blanket cylinder. It presses the paper onto the rubber blanket, transferring the inked image onto the sheet with precision.

Offset printing presses are known for their speed and efficiency, with some capable of printing up to 18,000 sheets per hour. Each sheet can contain up to 48 pages of A4 or letter-sized content, meaning a high-capacity offset press can produce over 120,000 pages per hour. This makes offset printing ideal for magazines, books, brochures, and other large-volume print projects where consistency and quality are essential.