| The word digital has become commonly used in the | | | | Also, the aluminum plates used for the technique |
| modern world. Modern processes in industries such as | | | | become sensitive due to chemical oxidation, and if they |
| banking, advertising, production, insurance, investments, | | | | are not cared for properly, they may print in |
| and just about anything else have become digital. The | | | | non-printing areas. |
| printing industry is not spared from this digital wave, | | | | In terms of economic viability, offset printing is not |
| and most printing companies are employing powerful | | | | practical for individual print or low-volume runs; the cost |
| computers and high-tech printing machines for their | | | | to print a low number of documents is often prohibitive. |
| digital printing services. | | | | So is offset printing archaic in this digital age? |
| There are many advantages to digital printing | | | | Hardly. It is still the most common choice for efficient, |
| technology. For example, digital printing processes | | | | high-quality, high-volume printing. A single print run can |
| electronic files and produces beautifully colored images | | | | produce thousands of copies; and the more copies are |
| without the need for printing plates. Without the plates, | | | | printed, the lower the unit cost. Printing high volumes |
| setting up the printing machines would require less time. | | | | using digital printing, on the other hand, is very |
| Another advantage is that color manipulation, | | | | expensive, which is why digital printing is more suited |
| color-to-color registration, formatting, and all other | | | | for individual or low-volume print jobs. |
| image alteration processes are done electronically, | | | | Digital printers are more expensive to maintain than |
| which reduces the amount of waste. With digital | | | | offset printers, taking a huge chunk of a company's |
| printing, short-run documents and images can be | | | | operating budget. Offset printers, on the other hand, |
| printed on a relatively affordable price. Indeed, the | | | | produce high-quality copies using cheap and quick |
| benefits of digital printing have made it immensely | | | | plates. |
| popular. | | | | While offset printers use simple oil-based inks, digital |
| Offset printing, on the other hand, is a more traditional | | | | printers utilize more expensive special inks and toners. |
| printing technique where the inked image from a | | | | Additionally, while offset printers can print on all kinds of |
| prepared plate is transferred to a rubber blanket then | | | | paper and other surfaces such as plastic, wood, cloth, |
| finally to a printing surface such as cardboard or paper. | | | | and metal, digital printers need special paper stocks |
| Offset printing is generally used in combination with | | | | that are manufactured specifically for digital printing. |
| lithography, which acts on the opposite properties of oil | | | | Needless to say, these stocks are more expensive |
| and water. The image to be printed receives the | | | | than traditional ones. |
| oil-based ink from the offset machine's rollers. The | | | | In the end, it all depends on the job requirements |
| non-printing areas, however, draws a thin film of water, | | | | whether a client should choose digital or offset printing. |
| which prevents ink from saturating the non-printing | | | | One thing is for sure though, unless a better method to |
| areas. | | | | provide high-volume copies cheaply and efficiently is |
| Offset printing produces images whose qualities are | | | | developed, offset printing is here to stay. |
| somewhat inferior to those produced by digital printing. | | | | |
