What’s the Difference Between Digital Printing and Offset Printing, and When Should Each Be Used?
When it comes time to actually start a print job, one of the first decisions you’ll make is whether to choose digital printing or offset printing. How are the two different, and when should each method be used? First, learn the basics of package printing What is offset printing? 1. The definition of offset printing Offset printing ...
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When it comes time to actually start a print job, one of the first decisions you’ll make is whether to choose digital printing or offset printing. How are the two different, and when should each method be used?
Learn the basics of package printing first
What Is Offset Printing?
1. The definition of offset printing
Source: printmoz
Offset printing uses an aluminum plate instead of printing directly onto paper. The image is first transferred to a rubber blanket, and then transferred onto the sheet. Because the ink is not transferred directly to the paper, it is called offset printing.
2. Advantages of offset printing
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- High-quality printing
The first advantage of offset printing is its quality. Because offset printing can use Pantone inks, color matching is highly accurate. It also produces less waste, so you can expect clean, crisp results every time without variation.
- Low-cost high-volume printing
One of offset printing’s biggest advantages is efficiency. Once it is set up, large-volume printing becomes easy and fast, and the more you print, the lower the unit cost. Being able to produce high-quality printed materials at a lower cost is a major benefit.
- A wide range of inks and paper stocks
Offset printing also allows the use of special custom inks such as metallic and Pantone colors, and it can be printed on many different types of paper. It can even print on specialty materials such as chipboard, leather, vinyl, fabric, wood, or plastic.
3. When to use offset printing
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Offset printing is suitable when you need to print hundreds or thousands of copies in large volumes. It is also the only choice when you need Pantone colors that require precision, or fluorescent or metallic colors rather than standard four-color printing. The range of paper stocks available is also very broad.
Some basic information about printing methods and terminology
What Is Digital Printing?
1. The definition of digital printing
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Unlike offset printing, digital printing is a direct printing method. It applies toner or liquid ink directly onto paper (or another medium) as needed. It is faster than offset printing for producing a single sheet, but its color accuracy for fine detail is not as high as offset printing.
2. Advantages of digital printing
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- Fast speed
Compared with offset printing, digital printing requires almost no time for initial setup. That makes it the best choice when you need printing done urgently. For large-scale print jobs, offset printing is needed because even though setup takes time, it can then process large quantities quickly. In general, however, digital printing is much faster for jobs under 1,000 copies.
- Cost-effective for small quantities
When you consider setup costs, digital printing is much more economical than offset printing because there is no need to produce printing plates. However, for large projects of more than 1,000 copies, digital printing becomes less cost-effective as the quantity increases. Meanwhile, for black-and-white printing, digital printing is generally cheaper.
- New technology and quality
Digital printing technology continues to develop rapidly. Depending on the application, there may always be a newer digital printing technology that is more suitable. It also allows unique codes, names, addresses, and other information to be entered as data for each product, so if that function is needed, offset printing cannot be chosen.
3. When to use digital printing
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For small runs of 500 copies or fewer, digital printing makes sense. It can even be used from just one sheet. It is also a good choice when variable data is needed, when the deadline is tight, or when a glossy finish or embossing effect is required.
Special packaging is essential for growing brand sales
If You’re Unsure Which Printing Method to Choose
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There are many different options in printing. Beyond digital and offset printing, there are countless other details to choose from. But if you make the wrong choice by mistake, the printed result cannot be undone. That’s why it’s best to work with an expert from the start. If you’re confused about what to do at each stage, from package design to printing, contact packaging expert Packative. You can create custom packaging easily and quickly!