You probably haven’t put much thought into different types of printing services available to your business. Some may think it’s just ink on paper, but you actually do have options! Traditionally, there are two main types of printing, digital and offset. We are going to dig into the details and advantages of both so you can make an informed decision on which one is best for your printing needs.
The Basics of Offset Printing
This printing system once ruled in large companies because it gave them the ability to print mass quantities at a low price. Offset simply means the image isn’t immediately transmitted onto paper. Instead, the inked impression is first transferred to printing plates then relocated onto a rubber blanket. The rubber blanket acts like a large stamp to then print onto multiple pieces of paper, as well as many other materials. This printing technique allows printing on many different surfaces such as wood, cloth, plastic, or even leather. When considering image quality, large quantities, or non-conventional surfaces, offset printing may be the best choice.
The Basics of Digital Printing
Digital Printing is likely the most familiar form of printing to most people. When digitally printing, you use things such as toners, or liquid ink to create your design. A digital-based image is directly printed to paper rather than being transferred to plates like the offset method. Due to the fact that digital printers are not utilizing plates in this system, there is a higher cost. However, this higher cost is balanced out when you consider the specialized process involved in using the compared method. Digital printing is the best route if you’re interested in low-quantity, high-quality printing projects.
Advantages of Digital Printing:
• Quick turnaround
• Lower quantity minimum
• Design flexibility
• Personalized printing such as names, addresses, or numbering
• Technology advancing digital quality benefiting more users
• Lower setup costs
Advantages of Offset Printing:
• Printing on a variety of surfaces
• Able to print multiple pages at once
• The more quantity needed, the lower the cost
• Minimizes wasted insufficient contrast prints with better ink control
• Consistent high image quality
• Rubber blanket conforms to the texture of the printing surface
How will I know which is best?
While both methods are very useful, it is ultimately going to depend on the requirements of your project. When you are producing mass quantities, printing on an unusual surface, or are using metallic or fluorescent colors, offset is going to be your best option. If you quickly need a page or two or individual information such as addresses or phone numbers, digital printing is perfect. The best part is that as a consumer, you have options that can be met with either of these choices, and no matter what they will be quality prints.
