If you’re having your labels, business cards, brochures, user manuals, posters, or anything printed, you’ll have to figure out a few things first, including a beautiful design, a pleasing color scheme, and a well-designed layout. After you’ve completed all of these steps, the most crucial decision you’ll have to make is whether to use digital or offset printing. Not only the techniques are varied, but so is the pricing and the end result of the print. This article will assist you in getting a better knowledge of the situation and making a more informed decision.
This article will help you to have a better understanding and make a more informed decision.
What Is Offset Printing?
Offset printing gets its name from the fact that it is not a direct printing method. The image ink is moved (“offset”) from a printing plate to the rubber, and finally to the printing surface. The lithographic method is based on the repellence of oil and water: the picture to be printed is burned onto a plate.
Roller ink is used to color the printing areas, while a water-based film is used to colour the sections that will not be printed. The image is then transferred to sheets of paper or a continuous paper roll or wheel once it has been inked.
Offset Printing Pros
• High image quality: Setting up an offset printing equipment takes time, but it ensures consistent quality. The first and last sheets of a print run are expected to be identical. With a competent offset printer, you can execute a follow-up print run and expect equal results under the same settings.
• In the past, offset printing required generating a film from your design to generate a printing plate. Most offset printers now use a computer-to-plate technology, which has sped up the label maker’s process while also improving quality.
• Colors: Offset printing allows for true color reproduction. That means you can pick a Pantone or HKS color and know exactly how the finished product will look. This is especially important when working with companies who employ unique colors in their logos or branding and can’t afford to be off by even a smidgeon. A particular finish or varnish is applied as a last step in the offset printing process.
Offset Printing Cons
• Not recommended for small print runs unless you’re willing to pay a hefty price for plate production and machine setup.
• Due to setup and maintenance, offset print processes may take longer to complete than their digital counterparts. Digital may be the greatest option for urgent projects, but if you have 24 hours, offset produces the best results.
What Is Digital Printing?
Digital printing refers to printing techniques in which digital images or data are processed by a computer before being transmitted to the printer. This could be an inkjet or laser printer, or even a thermal printer that uses specific paper or printing wax for photographs.
Laser printers use a transfer ribbon and static electricity to transfer toner to the paper, which is subsequently set with heat, unlike inkjet and thermal printers, which print directly on the media. Sheets can exit the laser printer charged and slightly deformed due to static electricity and heat.
Digital Printing Pros
• Quicker turnaround: Depending on the size of your print order, you might expect a completed product in as little as a week. High-volume laser printers are used by digital print specialists, and walk-in locations can provide same-day service for a variety of products and print jobs.
• Cost: Using laser or inkjet printers, digital printing enables for lower-cost low-volume printing. There are several circumstances when digital printing can offer a lower total cost than offset printing, depending on volume, product, and material.
• Time: as compared to offset printing, the setup cost per print job is quite low. Digital printing can create a first printed page in minutes and allows for colour correction on-the-fly.
Digital Printing Cons
• Price: When compared to offset printing, digital printing has a higher cost per unit. The setup expenses and, in many cases, the time factor counteract this considerably. Digital printing is a time-saving option. Reproductions or prints are also more expensive per print in fine art inkjet printing.
• Limited Size: Individual sheets of around 19 inch by 13 inch can only be printed on a digital laser printer. Rolls with a width of 36 to 44 inches are often used by large format inkjet printers. Industrial-sized inkjet printers can now produce prints up to 126in x 126in.
• Material: Due to the use of heat to attach the toner on the paper in digital laser printing, a warping effect might occur. In most cases, this is a concern for the printer, but it does place restrictions on the material.
Digital VS Offset Printing: Which Method to Choose
As you can see from the benefits and drawbacks, there is no single solution for all scenarios. Instead, you’ll have to pick which printing method is best for what you want to accomplish each time.
You’ll have to consider a variety of aspects, including pricing, quantity, timing, size, and material. As a general rule, start with the type of print product you want to make and move backwards, keeping your budget and deadline in mind. Also, involve your printer as soon as possible so that you can clear up any questions you have about the print files you’ll need.
Your print professional, as well as the following checklist, will assist you in determining the best strategy for your specific print job:
- How many units do you think you’ll need? With larger volumes, offset printing offers lower unit prices and will always be your first choice for huge runs of business cards, flyers, or simply promotional material. With digital printing, very short runs can be significantly more cost-effective.
- Offset printing provides you with more options and versatility. It is capable of producing things or printing on materials that digital printing cannot.
- Turnaround: Digital printing can provide quick turnaround, whereas offset printers can provide a 48-hour service for a fee.
- Personalization: Only digital printing allows each unit to be personalised. It’s a low-cost technique to personalise marketing materials, direct mail, letters, and postcards. Printers can provide blended solutions, such as printing a huge run of thousands of postcards in offset and then digitally personalising them if desired.
No matter how much you try, in the end you’ll always need a professional to determine the best strategy for you and this is where you’ll need us. Kwality Offset Printers is one of the leading companies of the Industry, who have been offering label printing services to leading companies for over 50 years now.So, the next time someone asks you, “ Do you know about the best Offset printing press in Delhi or Digital printing in Delhi?”, you’ll know where to point them. Contact us for further details regarding our services.