Whether you’re printing a poster, brochure or flyer, you’ve got the choice of printing these items digitally or by offset. Offset is the traditional way of printing with large plates to a rubber blanket to the paper. Digital printing does not use plates or rubber blankets, and instead uses computer files that are transferred to a printer to create images.
When is digital printing the best printing process?
When you need to print only a few items. Digital printing is expensive so it’s best to use this option only when you need less than 100 items.
When you need print jobs quick. It’s easier to get a rush delivery on a digitally printed item because you don’t have to account for any time to create the plates as in offset printing. Also, in digital printing, the ink dries faster – usually not much longer than the time it takes to expose the ink to the air. You can often get an overnight project printed with digital printing.
When you want to print on something other than paper. Digital printers use an ink that adheres to materials like vinyl, plastic and fabric better than the ink used in offset printers.
Extra large posters (bigger than 50 x 100 inches) are printed on digital printers more easily. And, extra large posters are generally printed on more durable material, such as vinyl or fabric, which goes back to our previous reason for using digital printing.
When is offset printing the best printing process?
When you’re printing in large quantities or want a bulk discount. The high velocity rollers of offset printers can product many more brochures or flyers in an hour than a digital printer.
When you need faster printing of many items. The ink of digital printers might dry up faster, but the actual printing process itself takes a lot longer than an offset printer. If you’re printing over 1,000 items, you’ll be waiting for weeks for your digital printer to actually print your items. Although the setup of the plates is time-consuming, if you’re printing more than 100 items, you’ll more likely get your product faster by going with offset printing.
Offset printing has more industry standard poster sizes, brochure sizes and flyer sizes of paper ready to go. This can make it cheaper than digital printing for these sizes because digital printers might not stock as many of these papers, meaning you have to pay for them to get the paper and you also have to wait for them to get the paper. Going with an offset printer is often cheaper than digital when you have standard items to print.
When you’re on a budget. As of now, offset printing is cheaper than digital printing no matter what kind of item you’re printing and in no matter what time frame.
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