One main advantage of lithographic is that the soft rubber surface of the blanket can create a very clear impression on a range of different paper surfaces and materials. It is easy to recognise litho printing by its smooth print.

Lithography has equipment for short, medium, and long press runs. Sheet-fed and web presses are both used in lithography. Sheet-fed lithography is used for printing advertising, books, catalogues, greeting cards, posters, packaging, direct mail inserts, coupons, and art reproduction.

Many sheet-fed lithography presses can ‘perfect’, print on both sides of the paper, in one pass through the press. Web lithography is used for newspapers, preprinted newspaper inserts, advertising literature, catalogs, books, and magazines.