Digital, as the great marketing machines never forget to tell us, is the only everything for the future. Someday, they say, all the work we do will be digital, and the world will be better for it. One can only hope its true. Certainly as an industry, printing has been massively and irrevocably altered by the introduction of digital printing and computerized processes – most of it for the better.
And while we have a great love for digital printing and all the fantastic things it can do, its important to remember that in printing there are other ways of working that can often provide higher quality, more consistent colors and a less expensive finished product.
First though a brief disclaimer. We are certainly aware that digital printing is a constantly expanding realm and there are new products that change the status quo available every year. Except for rare situations though, if you are choosing digital printing today you are choosing a machine that produces a finished image through mixing process CMYK colors only, and is using toner as opposed to actual ink to create that image.
When planning your next printing project, its important to consider which method is best for your work and which will get you the best results for your efforts.
So what do you need to consider in choosing between offset and digital? Here are a few key points.
1. Consider Run Size
If you are only printing a few hundred or thousand pieces, than digital could very easily be a cost-effective choice for you. When you start getting into larger numbers than you may just benefit both in price and in turnaround time by choosing to print offset.
2. Spot Colors
Of course digital can produce great color, but if you are looking to consistently have for example the same red and yellow in a logo, than you will usually be better served by using offset spot colors. At present there are some digital machines that have custom “spot” color inks available, but they are often mixed from four color process inks so they don’t match as exactly, and they can be expensive. By contrast a good pressman can mix a spot color from readily available inks both more easily and economically.
3. Mind Your Profiles
Another point to consider regarding color is that every machine you use has its own color profile which can affect the final output of a product. What you see on your screen should appear in the final output, but the process requires that your monitor has a consistent color profile. And don’t forget that different presses, often produce different color results.
4. Paper Choices
Many digital printers require paper that is designed for use on that individual machine. This can limit your choices compared to the seemingly endless selection available in offset printing.
5. Final Use
How the final piece will be used is also an important factor in choosing between offset and digital printing. A full-color letterhead printed digitally has the potential to be problematic for its end user. As a general rule, items printed with color toner are not considered laser-safe, which means if you take a digitally printed letterhead and try to print some text onto it from your office laser printer the result could be disastrous. At best you could have one ugly print on your hands, and at worst, you could need to start shopping for a new printer.
These 5 points are just a few beginning ideas of what you should be thinking about when choosing between digital printing and offset printing. Of course these two aren’t even your only choices when it comes to printing, so it pays to talk with your printer when planning out your ideas.
Of course if you have questions feel free to add them or a comment below.
