| When weighing which printing method is most | | | | Digital versus offset: the speed |
| appropriate for your project, there are certain | | | | Offset printing proceeds at fast rates but, at the same |
| considerations that you have to take in such as quality | | | | quantity, digital printing finishes printing jobs faster. Much |
| and speed. But other than these two, another | | | | of this can be attributed to the shorter process |
| important factor is cost. Cost determines if you can | | | | involved in the latter. |
| afford quality and speed. By carefully comparing digital | | | | In addition to this, digital printouts dry faster than offset |
| and offset printing, you can get affordable printing while | | | | outputs. Ink in printouts have to be allowed to dry first |
| also achieving the other pluses. | | | | before sending them to the next processing step such |
| Digital versus offset: the process | | | | as folding, binding and packing to avoid the ink from |
| Offset printing involves film making and color | | | | smearing. |
| separation. Images are transferred from plates onto | | | | Since digitally produced printouts dry faster, the waiting |
| rubber blankets and then on the surface of the paper | | | | time is automatically eliminated. Succeeding processing |
| or cover stock. | | | | steps can be done as soon as printing is finished. |
| Unlike the previous process, digital printing is shorter. | | | | Digital versus offset: the cost |
| Film making is no longer done, and the file is directly | | | | A significant part of the cost of offset printing goes to |
| transmitted to the printer. | | | | the preparation step prior to printing. After this, only |
| Recently, a method called computer-to-plate | | | | minimal cost is added due to the ink and paper. |
| technology came into the picture and revolutionized | | | | With digital printing on the other hand, set-up cost is |
| offset printing. Through this, the image is transferred | | | | lower but bigger cost is incurred as the number of |
| onto a printing plate without passing through the step | | | | prints increase. This is contrary to offset printing |
| of film making, and this results to sharper printouts. | | | | wherein the cost is reduced by increasing the number |
| Digital versus offset: the quality | | | | of copies to thousands. |
| Some claim that outputs of offset printing cannot be | | | | Note that once printing commences, the cost of digital |
| outdone by those of digital printing. Offset printouts | | | | prints cost more than offset prints. |
| have consistent results with high image quality. | | | | The trends are actually simple: for offset printing, as |
| Moreover, offset printing makes it possible for specific | | | | the number of copies increase, the price decreases |
| colors or shades to be duplicated with the use of | | | | whereas with digital printing, as the number of copies |
| Pantone inks, an option not available to digital printing. | | | | decrease, the price decreases. |
| However, digital printouts are continuously improving | | | | Digital versus offset: the verdict |
| and some digital printers are actually capable of | | | | Both printing methods can offer affordable printing and |
| producing printouts that are comparable to offset | | | | certain levels of quality and speed. It just depends on |
| outputs. | | | | what kind of printing project you have and what |
| Another development with digital printing technology is | | | | material you need. Just remember to reserve high |
| the increased consistency in results and vibrancy of | | | | volume orders for offset printing and low quantity |
| images. | | | | printing jobs to digital printing. |
