Ozalid printing was one of the more common techniques employed before digital technologies were readily available, which involved copying documents or artwork onto light-sensitive paper to produce photographic-quality copies of these original documents or works of art.
The Ozalid process was first developed during the early 20th century and quickly adopted. It’s an economical yet straightforward method of producing high-quality reproductions of books, technical drawings, architectural plans, and other printed materials such as books.
Ozalid Paper was an industry brand used for this process. It could replicate exact copies of whatever documents or artwork had initially been displayed upon it by exposure to light and development. Once exposed to sunlight, this paper could create identical copies.
Ozalid’s process involved several steps. An original document would first be placed onto a special glass plate and fed into an Ozalid machine for projection onto Ozalid paper using backlit light projected through it from behind, before being transferred to a development machine for chemical development before finally producing its printout with white backgrounds and blue text/lines.
Ozalid prints were known for their superior level of detail and clarity, often used for proofreading, editing, or producing multiple copies quickly and cost-effectively without incurring costly printing equipment costs.
Ozalid printing technology has fallen out of favor among the book and publishing industries due to advances in digital printing technology. Digital prints offer faster turnaround times and greater flexibility without needing physical plates or chemicals for changes; additionally, they produce higher-quality images with vibrant colors and sharper images than their Ozalid counterparts.
Ozalid is an industry term referring to an old printing method utilized before digital technology became mainstream. It relies on light-sensitive paper and UV lighting to expose original documents or artwork before producing high-quality prints on light-sensitive paper. Once known for its cost efficiency and ease of use, digital technologies printing solutions have since replaced this process.