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Printing and digital reproduction
Since the first printing of land records by the Surveyor General in 1788, Graphic Services has continued to grow with new expertise and technologies to become the quality printing specialists we are today.
Our offset printing facilities cover a broad range of products from small format (e.g. stationery, forms and book covers) to large format (e.g. maps, posters, books and catalogues). We also offer a range of digital printing solutions aimed at short-run, fast turnaround production. Whatever the job, we have the experience in commercial and public sector printing to ensure that our customers get what they want when they want it.
Large format
In 2003, Graphic Services installed a new Mitsubishi 5F press. Along with greater reliability , the Mitsubishi offers automated plate loading, colour profiling and fine screen reproduction.
The maximum sheet size of the new press is 1310mm x 940mm - allowing for A0+ printing which is ideal for map production. We produce a wide range of topographic, tourist and custom maps as part of the department's core mapping service. We also have the capability to produce maps for external clients - both in Australia and overseas.
In addition to map production, the large sheet size provides the opportunity for greater flexibility and economies for smaller print runs - saving our customers time and money. Our large format product range includes maps, posters, publications (e.g. books, reports, magazines), folders, brochures, and multiple copy forms and stationery.
Small format
For smaller jobs, we use our Heidelburg two-colour press. This machine is suited to small to medium print runs and is ideal for book covers, stationery (e.g. letterhead, with compliments slips and business cards), forms, brochures, certificates, envelopes, posters, and small format mapping.
Digital printing - A4 and A3
Graphic Services use high quality colour laser copiers in both Sydney and Bathurst for small format and short-run colour jobs. For many jobs, the quality of laser copying is comparable to conventional printing - as evidenced by the small format mapping projects we have completed for the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Digital printing is also a fast alternative for content proofing when colour is not a critical factor.
Our colour copiers are networked via a Raster Image Processor (RIP) that processes large postscript files to enhance printing speed. The ability to receive and process customer files electronically means that we can have them printing in minutes.
We can also print directly from hardcopy. Our digital product range includes business cards, stationery, reports, presentation handouts, labels (e.g. CD labels) and promotional products.
Black and white reproduction - A4 and A3
Graphic Services are leading the way in smart use of technology with black and white copiers. Current trends indicate a shift away from generic black and white production (i.e. mass produced circulars, memos and forms) to overprinting a blank 'shell' with personalised information which can then be folded, inserted into envelopes and distributed - all from our Bathurst facility.
Both of our facilities in Bathurst and Sydney can print black and white A4 and A3 duplex copies from electronic files or hardcopy.
Whatever your requirements, we can offer a cost-effective solution for reproducing your information.
Colour proofs and posters
We have responded to the growing need for short-run posters, accurate digital proofing, and digital aerial enlargements by increasing our capabilities for printing large format individual (i.e. one of) jobs. Our plotters offer a width up to 910mm and any length for large glossy prints.
Utilising our electronic colour control capabilities means that colour proofing can be performed digitally, giving the press operators a match proof. The colour accuracy comes from complex colour profiles developed to match the characteristics of the presses.
Previously, the proofing process was a chemical process using separated film. The digital proofing solution has seen a substantial reduction in wastage as the proof is created before high cost plates - hence there are considerable savings in material and labor costs over analog proofing. Working with digital proofs also means that any errors can easily be corrected on the files before final output to plates.
In the aerial photography field, we are catering for a niche market who require output of high resolution scans onto photographic grade paper. Our equipment has been designed specifically for photographic enlargements and we are experiencing a growth in demand for this service as technology shifts from analogue to digital production of aerial photography products.
