Non-Traditional Digital Printing Vs. Traditional Offset Printing

With recent advances and strides in professional digital printing, traditional offset lithography is getting a run for its money. Whilst offset maintains a reputation as the printing method of choice for high-end corporate clients, professional digital printing is gaining ground quickly as the technologies of modern inkjets is poised to increase significantly in high quality and capability over the next ten years.

Unless and till professional digital printing catches up with – or surpasses – offset lithography, determining which of these 2 printing techniques is the greatest choice for the project requires a no-nonsense evaluation in the distinct advantages supplied by every one.

Benefits of Professional Digital Printing
•Time – Inarguably, professional digital printing takes much less time overall than regular offset lithography. With digital printing, the set up is carried out in a software environment, while offset demands mechanical setup that is both time intensive and ongoing – offset requires far more intricate management of print media and ink composition during the print run.
•Inexpensive Short Runs – Digital is the king of short run printing, for factors similar to the above. By eliminating the need for mechanical tinkering, digital printing can generate short runs of product in far much less time – and for far less expense – than offset.
•Variable Data – Once again, the software environment of a digital printing press allows the use of a technique known as variable data printing. This enables the user to alter print content material on the fly, and during the print run. Text, images, fonts, even colors can be altered on a per-sheet basis during the exact same run, eliminating the require for multiple runs of similar item.

Benefits of Offset Printing
•Image Quality – Presently, offset enjoys slightly greater image fidelity in most situations, and larger print runs that are graphics-heavy are most likely a much better candidate for offset.
•Media Variation – Offset lithography can print on almost anything, from wood to plastic to metal or leather. While digital printing is making strides in this region, offset remains the master of substrates.
•High Volume Efficiency – Whilst lithography setup takes significantly much more time than digital, once it is in place, creating a large print run can be more price efficient on offset machinery than on a digital inkjet.

For a more detailed look at digital printing technology, take a look at our free Digital Printing Matrix today!

Oliver David contributes articles for DigitalPrintingPress.org and other websites on subject matter like digital printing.