Litho Printing
Heidelberg rank us no’1 in Europe for B2 sheet-fed print capacity. Five of our eight litho presses have advanced colour management capability, using Inpress Control. For speed, capacity and accuracy, look no further. Get a quote todayWhat Is Litho Printing?
Lithographic printing, or litho printing, is a process that uses oil-based ink, water, and printing plates to transfer images onto paper with stunning clarity and vivid color. Unlike digital printing, litho printing is especially suited for large print runs, as its initial setup cost is offset by a lower cost per unit. It delivers consistent, high-quality results across thousands of copies, making it a cost-effective choice for bulk printing.
Precision and Quality in Every Print
Since 1985, Bishops Printers has delivered industry-leading litho printing services to a diverse range of clients who prioritize quality, value, and reliability. We combine traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology and precision, ensuring outstanding results with every print order.
Litho printing remains one of the most trusted methods for high-volume, high-quality print jobs. Our litho printing service is designed to meet the exacting demands of trade clients as well as organisations looking for vibrant colour reproduction combined with cost-efficiency, quick turnaround and dependable delivery.
A Print Partner You Can Rely On
Choosing the right print partner is about more than presses and production capacity. It’s about working with a team that understands your objectives and makes the process straightforward from start to finish.
When you work with Bishops, you’ll have a dedicated account manager and estimator who will guide your project from quotation through to delivery. Whether you need advice on specification, paper stocks, finishes or quantities, we’re here to help you achieve the best possible result.
Our customers benefit from:
- Dedicated account management
- Fixed quotations for a minimum of 30 days
- A no-quibble guarantee
- Production operating 24 hours a day, 363 days a year
- Fast, friendly and knowledgeable support
It’s a simple approach, but one that’s helped us build long-term relationships with businesses, publishers and trade print professionals across the UK.
Litho Printing Made Simple
Whether you’re looking for someone to take care of your design, print and mail or if you’re a trade printer looking for discretion, we do it all and we do it well.
Unrivalled Production Capacity
With six Heidelberg B2 presses, including five equipped with advanced Inpress Control colour management, we’re trusted by trade print professionals and organisations across the UK to deliver consistently high-quality litho print.
Whether you need a few thousand brochures or hundreds of thousands of catalogues, our capacity allows us to meet demanding deadlines without compromising on quality.
More Than Just Litho Printing
Litho printing is only part of the process.
Alongside high-volume print production, we offer specialist in-house services such as finishing, binding, fulfilment and mailing services through our group of companies, giving you a complete solution from print through to delivery.
Trade Printing Service
At Bishops Printers, we’re more than just a printing partner, we’re your silent ally. Trusted by printers, agencies, and brokers alike, we produce high-quality print materials while ensuring your clients will never know we’re involved. With our discreet and reliable service, your secret is safe with us.
Why Choose Litho Printing?
Below are some of the key reasons organisations continue to choose litho printing. From exceptional colour consistency to lower costs on longer print runs, these benefits explain why litho remains the preferred choice for many commercial print projects.
1. Superior Quality and Consistency
2. Cost-Effective for High-Volume Runs
A major advantage of litho printing is its efficiency in high-volume runs. The setup costs for litho printing can be higher than those for digital printing, but as the quantity of prints increases, the cost per piece decreases significantly. Once the printing plates are created, they can produce thousands of identical prints without additional setup.
3. Pantone and Custom Colour Matching
Our litho printing services allow you to achieve precise ‘spot colour’ or Pantone colour matching, which is essential for brands that require exact colours in their logo or marketing materials. Pantone colour matching guarantees your brand colours stay true across all your printed materials, but it does cost more than CMYK print. Metallic inks and other custom inks and finishes are also available, enabling you to give your materials a unique touch that stands out.
4. Wide Variety of Finishes and Textures
Litho printing allows you to use a wide variety of paper stocks so that you can create printed materials that are reflective of your brand, whilst remaining within budget. You can choose uncoated, gloss or silk papers in a range of weights and thicknesses. You can even combine different paper stocks in bound products to create highly tactile publications.
In addition to standard gloss and matt lamination, we also offer specialist finishes such as soft touch lamination, embossing, foiling and spot UV gloss varnish, enabling you to add an extra layer of sophistication to your printed materials.
5. Environmentally Conscious Printing
Bishops Printers is committed to sustainable practices. Our litho printing process use eco-friendly, vegetable-based inks, our presses are the most energy efficient available and our investment in Inpress Control reduces set-up paper waste by a third. We’ve eliminated the use of chemicals in our plate making process, which is industry leading in its energy efficiency. By opting for Bishops’ litho printing, you’re choosing a method that minimises waste and maximises efficiency.
6. Precision in Every Detail
Litho printing’s unique process allows for an exceptional level of detail that makes images and text crisp and vivid. For businesses that rely on brand consistency and professionalism, litho printing is the ideal choice. Whether it’s a detailed illustration or finely crafted typography, every element of your design will be rendered with sharp, accurate lines.
Client Reviews
I have just inspected 10 random catalogues – one off each pallet, and we are delighted with what we have seen. Thank you to you and your team for this job.
Deborah L. Elstead Lighting
Thank you to you and all the production team for the fabulous brochures. As per usual, a brilliant result.
Sue H Print Professional
Please can you pass on a HUGE THANK YOU to all who sorted, processed and printed my latest Mag. It looks absolutely brilliant. Thank you everyone!
Kassie A. Design Professional
I’m looking forward to continuing with our excellent working relationship. Thank you to all concerned –[we] are very happy with the service you have provided.
Helen G, Publisher
I just wanted to flag that the Proofdesk team is absolutely fantastic, and if I could send a G&T their way right now, I would!
Ginny T. Publisher
High-Volume Print, Expertly Produced
Litho printing remains the most cost-effective solution for medium and long print runs, combining exceptional colour consistency with excellent unit costs.
Every year we print more than 287 million B2 sheets for publishers, educational organisations, charities, commercial businesses and trade print professionals. From brochures and catalogues to magazines, folders, leaflets and direct mail, our team will recommend the most appropriate specification for your project and manage everything from print through to finishing and delivery.
Why Choose Us
Customer Service
98% of customers say they would recommend us. We aim to pick up the phone within 3 rings, always answer emails, and deliver a straightforward, friendly and knowledgeable service.
Stable Prices
Our quotes are valid for a minimum 30 days and our low prices are consistently competitive. Printing 287.9 million sheets a year, our buying power is reflected in our prices. For regular publications, fixed pricing is available.
Quality
92% of customers rate us good or very good for quality. 70% of our customers are trade print professionals who trust us with their reputations and rely on our trade printing service.
Environmentally Sensitive Printing
FSC® Certified Paper
We use FSC®certified paper and hold FSC Chain of Custody certification FSC-C141091.
Solar Powered
We've installed 1,500 solar panels on our 85,000 sq ft roof for sustainable energy and another 100 at our mailing house.
Everything Recycled
We recycle all our waste: aluminium plates, metal ink tins, plastic ink cartridges, the ink itself, cardboard and plastic wrapping.
Litho Printing FAQs
What is litho printing?
Litho printing (short for lithographic printing and aka offset printing) is a high-quality printing process that uses printing plates, ink and water to transfer an image onto paper.
It’s widely used for large print runs because it delivers consistent colour, sharp detail and a lower cost per unit as quantities increase. This makes it ideal for items like brochures, magazines, catalogues and marketing materials.
How many litho presses do you have?
Bishops Printer is Heidelberg’s no’1 printer in Europe based on B2 sheet-fed capacity. We have six Speedmaster XL75 litho presses. Three are 10-colour presses, two of which have Inpress Control, two are 8-colour with Inpress Control and we have one 5-colour press.
When should I choose litho printing over digital printing?
Litho printing is usually the best choice when you need larger quantities and consistent quality, but not if your print requires personalisation. Your printer will usually make the decision for you, unless you specify otherwise, based on run length and cost efficiency, to give you the best price.
In general:
- Litho printing is more cost-effective for medium to high-volume print runs
- Digital printing is better suited to personalised content, smaller quantities or quick turnaround jobs
If you’re unsure which option is right, we can help you choose the most efficient and cost-effective approach for your project.
What are the advantages of litho printing?
Litho printing offers several key benefits:
- Consistent colour across long runs
- High image quality and sharp detail
- Lower cost per unit at higher volumes
- Flexibility with paper stocks and finishes
- Accurate brand colour reproduction
These advantages make it a preferred choice for businesses that need reliable, professional print at scale.
Can litho printing match brand colours accurately?
Yes. Litho printing is particularly well suited to precise colour matching, including Pantone (spot colour) printing.
This is important for brands that need their colours to remain consistent across different print materials. Litho printing allows for greater control over colour accuracy compared to many other print methods.
Bishops Printers has invested in Prinect Inpress Control colour technology for its Heidelberg litho presses, an advanced inline spectral measurement system that automatically monitors and adjusts colour and register during the printing process. It delivers the highest level of electronic colour control to provide perfectly reproduced and consistent images.
What types of products are best suited to litho printing?
Litho printing is ideal for a wide range of high-volume printed materials, including:
- Brochures and catalogues
- Magazines and programmes
- Leaflets and flyers
- Direct mail campaigns
- Corporate stationery
If your project involves larger quantities or requires consistent quality across every copy, litho printing is often the best option.
What paper options are available with litho printing?
Litho printing supports a wide variety of paper types and finishes, including:
- Gloss, silk, uncoated and recycled papers
- A range of weights and thicknesses
- Different cover and internal paper combinations
This flexibility allows you to tailor the look and feel of your printed materials to suit your objectives, brand and budget.
Bishops Printers litho presses typically produce work on 90gsm – 400gsm. Lighter paper weights require the presses to run slower and can cause the paper to jam and tear.
Can you add special finishes to litho printed products?
Yes. Litho printed work can be enhanced with a range of finishing options, such as:
- Matt, gloss or soft-touch lamination
- Spot UV varnish
- Foiling and embossing
These finishes can add durability as well as decorative effects to help your printed materials stand out.
Is litho printing environmentally friendly?
Litho printing can be a responsible choice when managed carefully. For example, Bishops Printers uses vegetable-based inks rather than oil-based inks, which significantly reduces the release of potentially harmful VOCs. With a focus on reducing waste and improving energy efficiency through modern press technology, controlled production processes, recycling and solar power use.
Bishops Printers also offers FSC® certified paper stocks, helping customers make more sustainable choices for their print projects.
Can you combine litho printing with mailing services?
Yes. If your printed materials need to be posted we can arrange a complete print and mailing solution through our fully owned company, The Mailing People. As an added bonus, we don’t charge to deliver your print to The Mailing People.
The Mailing People handle fulfilment and mailing services, allowing your project to move efficiently from print to delivery without the need for multiple suppliers.
Why choose Bishops Printers for litho printing?
Litho printing is all about consistency, control and capacity, and that’s where Bishops Printers stands out.
With six high-performance Heidelberg presses and advanced colour management technology, we’re able to maintain accurate colour and quality across very large print runs. Our scale, 24/7 operation, and extensive print finishing department allow us to handle demanding schedules without compromising quality.
