What is Gang Printing?

Gang Printing 101 ...

Gang printing is one large sheet with numerous customer files on it and this will show why there may be variations in color. In a perfect printing world, all colors will be in the same area on the sheet to avoid variation in color or color shifting of your files. Different papers can also affect "saturated values" in output -- we attempt to always use the same paper week after week, but occasionally will try something new (always ensuring the quality is similar).

GFX specializes in full color gang printing.

The Benefits of Gang Printing

It's very economical because many print jobs share the same "run" (film, plates, makereadies, press time, etc.) and reduces paper waste, while still maintaining photographic quality output on some of the best card stocks available. GFX is also a traditional offset printing company using only Heidelberg presses, which means we don't cut corners on quality. Gang printing also means that there are no paper or coating choices -- GFX only uses a coated card stock and Aqueous coating.

Illustration A: Each box represents a postcard, business card or other product being run at the same time and represents a perfect way to place each card on the sheet if everyone uses the same colors.

Illustration B: Since it's unlikely that everyone will be using the same colors, below represents how a typical sheet looks and will explain why there are variations in colors.

At GFX, we make every attempt to put shades of a particular color together to avoid much color variation. For example, if we placed the black card located on the bottom-right to the top-right, you can probably imagine that it would affect the light yellow below it. Or if that light yellow was actually bright orange, it would affect every single card below it -- this is what GFX avoids.

We want to be your color card printing partner.

If you are about to place your first GFX online printing order, we’re happy to be working with you. Be assured that it’s just like working with offline printers. Just a whole lot easier and faster. Throughout the process, you’ll be able to contact us as much as you need to. Once you’ve received your cards and seen for yourself how efficient, reliable (and affordable!) our service is, we’re sure you’ll be back every time you need color cards printed.