.png)
The world of printing has two primary methods that are the most popular in the industry – offset printing and digital printing. Both are wonderful for creating high-quality printed materials, but they are both very different in a variety of different areas. Understanding the differences between these two types of printing can help direct you toward the best choice for your printing needs. Both have positives and drawbacks, depending on the particular project, and they have a lot of differences from cost to quality to customization.
The decision between these two options for your large format printing in Denver comes down to a specific project, and the professional printer you trust with the project will be able to shed some light on which option might be best suited for your needs. By understanding the different factors that go into the printing process, and detailing those specific needs, this guide will be able to help you make a more informed decision when it comes to your large format printing.
What is Offset Printing?
Offset printing is a traditional printing technique that has been around for a very long time. Also known as lithography, this process involves transferring ink from a metal plate to a rubber blanket and then onto paper or other materials. The term “offset” refers to how the ink isn’t transferred directly from the plates to the paper. Instead, the ink is offset onto the rubber first, and then applied to the paper. This type of printing is often used for larger runs because of the setup process. Each project requires custom plates for each individual project. Once those plates are a created, the actual printing process is fast and consistent, making it a great option for jobs with high volume.
The process of offset printing is encompassed by four steps. First, the design gets created. This is usually done digitally and then is etched onto a metal plate. From there, each color that will be used in the design requires a separate plate to be made. For example, there would be four plates when working with the CMYK color system, and one for each color when using the Pantone color system. The ink is then applied to the plate and transferred to the rubber blanket, which presses the ink onto the paper or other material. Once the ink is transferred, the printed materials are typically dried to make sure there will be no smudging.
What is Digital Printing?
Digital printing is the modern printing technique that involves sending a digital file directly to a printer, which bypasses the need for the plates. This makes digital printing a much more efficient option when dealing with smaller print runs or projects that need to be turned around quickly. Unlike offset printing, where the ink is physically applied to paper or other substrate, digital printers use toner or liquid ink to recreate the image directly onto the material. This type of printing is known for its ability to handle customization, making it a very good choice when printing personalized materials.
The process for creating digital prints is much more streamlined than the process for offset printing. In digital printing, the design is created digitally and set directly to the printer from the computer or laptop. From there, the printer replicates the image by applying the appropriate toner or ink directly on to the paper or other material. Since digital printing requires no plates or drying time, the printed materials typically come out dry and ready to use immediately after printing.
Main Differences Between Offset & Digital Printing
One of the main concerns for any printing project is cost, and both of these can be cost effective for the right projects. Offset printing is more cost effective for larger print runs. The creation of plates is expensive, but once they’re crated, the cost per unit decreases as the volume increases. Digital printing has a much lower setup cost, making it ideal for smaller runs or one-off projects because the cost per unit stays consistent regardless of how many items are printed. Because of the setup process, there is a longer turnaround time for offset printing. For quick runs with little or no complexity, digital printing is ideal because it can be sent off to the printer almost immediately.
Quality is another main concern, and offset printing has typically offered superior quality in terms of color accuracy and consistency – especially in those large print runs. The ability to used custom inks (including Pantone colors), allows for precise color matching. Finer details and textures are also better represented in offset printing, which makes it ideal for high-end projects. Digital printing technology has closed the quality gap between digital and offset printing. Digital still provides fantastic quality for most everyday projects, but offset printing is still the standard for projects that need exact color matching or attention to fine details.
Customization is also a major difference between the two, as digital printing is much more flexible than offset printing. The plates used in offset printing are used for a specific design, which means changing them out in the middle of printing would require new plates – adding cost and time. Because digital printing can be changed on the fly, it’s much easier to personalize materials, such as invitations with individual names or marketing materials tailored to specific clients. This makes digital printing the best choice for any project that requires personalization.
When to Choose Offset Printing
Understanding the differences between the two is one thing, but it still might be a bit murky when to decide between the two choices. Offset printing is the best option for projects that require large runs, since the cost per unit is very low after the plates are set. Offset also delivers the best quality, making it the proper choice if your project requires perfect color matching or needs precision with intricate details. If your print job needs specialty materials, offset printing is probably the way to go because it can utilize things like metallic inks and more textured papers. If you have a large product with a deadline that’s a good time away, the longer setup times of offset printing may not be an issue.
Offset printing is best suited for things like catalogs, magazines, and books because of the extensive amount of copies that need to be created. The high-end quality also makes it a great option for things like packaging for luxury products, or brochures that need a look of sophistication and elegance. If your marketing materials aren’t personalized for individual clients, offset printing can also make those look sharp and professional. It’s also the perfect medium for reproducing art prints and other posters with fine details, due to the reproduction of colors and details through the overall high quality of the process.
When to Choose Digital Printing
Unlike offset printing, digital printing is the go-to process when you need short print runs of fewer copies. This will be a much more affordable solution for those runs that only need a small amount of copies, and you’ll be able to get it quicker because of the quick turnaround time. No setup time makes it ideal for last-minute projects as well. This is also the premier option when you need multiple items personalized. Digital printing is great for what is called variable data printing, because you can potentially customize each individual printed piece. Digital printing is also great for those with smaller projects on a tight budget. Because there is virtually no setup cost, digital printing will often be the more cost-effective option.
The flexibility of this process makes it a great option for projects like personalized direct mail campaigns. This allows not only for the address to be updated for each recipient, but it also opens the door for a personalized message on each piece of mail. Along these same lines, digital printing is also great for invitations and greeting cards that need individualized text. This can not only help make your items more personal, but it can also make them look more elegant and luxurious. One of the most common ways to use digital printing is for small-run marketing campaigns for business, but it’s also a cost effective way to produce business cards, flyers, and posters for promoting local events.
Both offset and digital printing are viable options that will produce high-quality, good-looking results. However, both have their advantages and disadvantages, and both are suited towards different types of products. The choice comes down to what you need for your specific project, what your budget is, and how individualized you need each item. Be sure to go over all of the considerations before committing to one type of printing process. When trying to figure out what process to use for large format printing in Denver, be sure to speak to a professional printer to get insight into the right process for your project. For more information, reach out to the experts at Cottrell Printing today.