Mar.15

Offset vs Digital Printing: Which One Will Suit You Best?

Technological advancements in printing industry opened a wide row of possibilities. Nevertheless, greater amount of options sometimes translates into higher level of confusion. Customers simply don’t know which type of printing will suit their needs best and why. Both offset and digital printing are marvelous technologies, providing a multitude of great options and features each. However in order to help those of us, who are uncertain about the method they should choose – we will discuss advantages and shortcomings of each of these methods.

What is Offset Printing?

Offset printing implies transferring images from aluminum plates to a sheet of rubber and then transferring this image to a sheet of paper. In other words, offset printing means that ink is not transferred onto the paper directly.

What is Digital Printing?

As opposed to the offset printing, where plates are used to transfer images, digital printing uses toners or larger printers that use liquid ink. Digital printing is usually used for small to medium orders, where each image must either be name differently or modified in compliance with certain criteria.

digital printing vs offset

Advantages of Offset Printing

The first and main advantage of offset printing is high quality of the printed images.

Apart from that, offset printing allows working with a wide range of surfaces, such as paper, metal, plastic, wood, leather and cloth.

Offset printing is ideal for large orders, because the more you need to print the less you will pay for each unit.

Recently there have appeared computer-to-plate systems of offset printing that allow further improvement of image quality.

Offset Printing Cons

Turnaround time is much longer in offset printing.

Cost is considerably higher, unless you’re planning on ordering large quantity of printed products.

Requires more workers – offset printing requires at least two operators and the set up procedure is quite time-consuming.

offset printing vs digital

Advantages of Digital Printing

Setting up digital printer is very easy, which is why turnaround time is amazingly quick.

Apart from that, digital printing guarantees that all copies with have the same saturation of colors, which offset printing cannot guarantee.

It is ideal for small or medium printing, because cost is very affordable for small printing runs.

Digitally printed materials are highly customizable, which comes in handy when you’re printing for example wedding invitations and need them to be the same except for the name. In such case replacing a name on each invitation will be a breathe with digital printer.

Digital Printing Cons

Digital printing does not allow very large sheets to be printed; it has limitations that are not characteristic of offset printers.

Lower quality remains one of the main shortcomings of digital printing. No matter how high is the resolution of the original, large images of it, digitally printed will still have pixelated outlook.

Conclusion:

If you are in a hurry and have a small order – by all means you should choose digital printing, however in case you are interested in high quality, have enough time to wait and need a great amount of copies – offset printing will be the right choice.

Digital Printing,Offset Printing

Mar.14

Digital Printing Trends for 2016

Success of every business depends on the company’s ability to advertise itself and attract new customers. Ever-evolving marketing strategies stimulate the development of advertising-related industries and digital printing is one of them. It provides much more freedom to the companies, catering both, international and local markets. Witty business cards, engaging promotional materials and simply an unusual and original “thank you for the purchase” letter can bring you loyal customers, who will be addressing you for the products they need.

Digital printing has many applications. For instance, at the moment it is widely used it package printing as well as interior decorations. It is a multibillion-dollar industry that has a stronghold in marketing.

Below we outlined the most popular digital printing trends for 2016:

1. Pastel Shades

People react to color in a different ways, nevertheless there are common notions about the essence of each color, in other words – what does each color represents. For example, orange represents happiness, joy and liveliness. Nevertheless, the majority of manufacturers, who want their advertising materials to carry the color palette of their brand, disregard the fact that some colors may be unpleasant to their clients. However, if they choose the same color, but of a calmer shade – the effect may be quite impressive.

pastel shades

2. Technological improvements

One of the most important advantages of digital printing is quick turnaround. Combined with decent quality and abundance of colors, digital printing is slowly winning over offset printing. Therefore, companies that manufacture printing equipment are working on improving digital printing and adding new features. New types of canvas, better color palette, more accurate prints. This year will be about the new developments and innovations in digital printing industry.

3. Large Format

The growing demand in industrial sized prints will continue to grow this year, which is why more and more companies are developing printers for larger sizes of prints. Printing for billboards, doors and other extensive surfaces, capable of serving as a space for advertising is a primary goal of every printing company, offering its services to a large audience.

4. Printing promotional materials for direct mail

As surprising as it may sound in the era of digital marketing, direct mail becomes increasingly popular. Being tired of spam and online advertisements, people will be much more likely to read hard copy of your promotional materials, which is why promo materials printing for direct mail will remain a prevailing trend in 1016.

5. Demand on finishing will continue to rise

Simply printed photo looks rather bleak nowadays due to the great amount of splendid finishes that can make your photos or promo materials much more striking and beautiful. Embossing, foiling or die-cutting will remain popular in 2016.

Bottom line:

Modern marketing techniques create the demand in new, innovative printing features that companies manufacturing printers are trying to meet. However, as in case of direct mailing – new and exited things can actually be old, but well forgotten ones. What digital printing trends are going to be the most widespread this year in your opinion?

Digital Printing