You may find yourself in a strange situation where you have to choose between two options you may need to become more familiar with: digital and offset printing. The right choice could impact the end product, depending on the project.
Find out what type of printing will work best for your next print job.
What is digital printing
In the 1990s, digital printing gained popularity, although it was mostly called “copying.” Its primary purpose is to reproduce the contents of a document placed into the machine.
Digital printing can do much more today. Digital printing is a technology that rivals offset printing in many ways, not only because it streamlines many production processes but also because of the printing quality.
What is digital printing
Digital presses, instead of using liquid ink as offset printers do use, use different types of toner. A digital printing press can also be fed digitally, so producing printing plates in advance is unnecessary. It reduces the cost of setup and production. This also means that your PPU will remain the same with every print. Digital printing is, therefore, a better option for jobs with fewer than 500 pieces.
Digital printing has many advantages
Digital printing has many advantages.
Speed: Digital printing can be faster than offset since it doesn’t require printing plates. It is an excellent choice for projects that have tight deadlines.
Versatility – Digital printing offers Variable Data Printer (VDP), which allows you to customize details such as names, addresses, and images on your prints. Digital printing is also able to handle a variety of paper sizes and finishes.
Personalization: Prints can be customized with text and images.
Lower minimum quantities. Digital printing requires a smaller minimum amount than offset printing. This makes it an excellent choice for short print runs.
Digital printing is more cost-effective than offset printing for smaller print runs. The print cost decreases, but not as much as offset printing.
Environmental impact: Digital printing has a lower environmental impact than offset printing because it uses less water.
Digital printing: Applications
These are some examples of materials that are printed with digital printing.
Business Cards
Brochures
Marketing materials such as flyers, postcards, and HTML2_ brochures HTML2_
Labels, boxes, and packaging
Canvas prints and Photo
What is Offset printing
Offset printing involves the transfer of ink from a printing plate onto a rubber sheet and then onto a print surface. This method is popular for printing large volumes of material, including books, magazines, and brochures.
What is offset printing
Offset printing is similar to the early days of book printing. It uses metal plates made of aluminum to print your design onto paper. The printer must first burn the image on custom plates before printing can begin.
The plates then transfer the image to a rubber sheet rolled onto the paper. Offset printing is named this way because the ink does not print directly on the paper but rather via a rubber film.
Offset printing takes a lot longer to set up than digital printing. This is why there are better options for highly time-sensitive jobs. The plates are made, and there is no way to return them once they have been created. You can only correct a typo by doing a new print.
Offset printing has many advantages
Offset printing has many advantages.
High quality: Offset prints are usually high quality, with good color accuracy and a wide gamut. This method is ideal for printing small text and fine details.
Cost-effective printing for large print runs. Offset printing offers a cost-effective solution for large print runs because the cost per page decreases with the increase in volume.
Offset printing is versatile. It can print on various papers, including coated papers and thick cardstock. Printing can be used on many materials, such as metals and plastics.
Consistency Offset printing produces consistent results by converting digital files into printing plates. Each print will be the same.
Durability: Offset-printed materials are more durable than digitally printed ones because the inks are applied thicker, and the prints tend to fade or smudge less.
Offset printing has many applications
Offset printing has a variety of uses.
Book
Magazines
Brochures
Business Cards
Posters
Compare Digital and Offset printing
Both digital printing and offset print are effective printing methods. However, they differ in four critical areas.
Quality and Resolution
Digital printing: Digital prints can be produced with high resolution and good quality, but the rate will vary depending on printer settings.
Offset printing: This printing method produces prints of higher quality with a more excellent color gamut. It also has a good resolution.
Cost and turnaround time
Digital printing: It is more cost-effective to print short runs digitally and has a quicker turnaround time. This is because there are no printing plates required.
Offset Printing: Offset print is more cost-effective for large print runs but requires a longer turnaround due to the creation of printing plates.
Environmental impact
Digital printing is less environmentally harmful than offset printing because it uses less water.
Offset Printing: Offset print has a more significant environmental impact than digital print because it uses more water. It also produces more waste.
Customization and flexibility
Digital printing is flexible and allows each print to be customized easily.
Printing offset: This method is less flexible and allows less customization.
The print run volume
Digital printing is usually more cost-effective for short print runs. Offset printing is cost-effective when printing longer runs. Offset printing is the most economical option if you require many prints.
What type of materials or projects are being printed
Your choice of printing technique can be influenced by the project type and materials you plan to use. Print offset printing can give better results if you’re printing small text or fine detail. It produces crisper and more accurate prints. Digital printing is a good option for printing large areas in solid colors. It can also have vibrant and consistent colors.
The preferred turnaround time
Digital printing is faster than offset because it doesn’t require printing plates. It also allows on-demand printing. Digital printing is an excellent option to get your materials out quickly. If you are willing to give yourself more time to create the printing plates, offset printing is still a viable choice.
Decide whether digital or offset is best for your project
It is essential to consider your project’s needs and requirements when deciding whether you should use digital or offset printing. This includes the quantity of your print run, the type of printed material, desired turnaround time, and the budget. You can select the printing method which best suits your needs.
