Lithography or flat-printing is the most inexpensive printing process. Saint Clair uses this form of printing to create informal social invitations and correspondence for young adults. While there is nothing inherently wrong with lithography, we have seen many examples of home-made or print-shop business cards and stationery which are, quite frankly, a disgrace. This has less to do with the printing process than the paper stock, how the paper is cut and the appalling use of color in the design. If you are starting a new business or are self-employed, you would be well advised to spend a bit of time to have an experienced stationer work with you to develop your business correspondence.
The great advantage of lithography is that it is affordable and relatively easy to learn. Much of our in-store printing is done with laser and ink-jet printers that are well within the financial reach of most households. While some of our clients print boxed invitations purchased at the store themselves, most leave the job to our experienced graphics staff. Color resolutions on monitors and in printers need to be continually adjusted to achieve “true” color matches. Also, certain printers can only handle papers of limited thickness and length. As such, heavy paper stock or place cards may be beyond the printing capabilities of many home or office printers.