6 Major Differences between Offset Printing and Digital Printing
Many times, printers in Sacramento have to answer this question. What is better for my book printing in Sacramento? Print offset or digital printing services? These are two options that many printing companies in Sacramento offer to its clients. It is over the years that we have realized that there is often a lack of knowledge regarding both options. So today we are going to explain what they are and when it is better to use them.
What is Offset Printing?
Offset printing is a method of reproducing/replicating documents on paper, which consists of applying a generally oily ink on a metal plate. It is based on the principle that water and oil cannot be mixed. It uses liquid ink, metal plates and complex machinery of gears and rollers for the transmission of ink to paper. Offset printing will be done using monochromatic plates, so that one plate must be created for each color of the four colors of the CMYK color mode (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black). The image or text is transferred by pressing a blanket of rubber to pass it to the paper. This printing process is much more complicated than digital, but it has advantages than digital printing services in Sacramento.
When Should I Use Offset Printing?
Offset printing can print thousands of copies in a short time, with higher quality and less physical impact on paper.
Throughout the process explained above, the start-up is more expensive than the digital one, so it should not be used in short runs.
You can use all kinds of special inks and different papers, for example, to make prints with silver and gold or coated papers.
Print quality is generally unmatched with offset printing and for image and photography is better than digital. Although today digital printing has achieved a lot of quality and variety.
Offset printing should be used for runs of many identical copies, since its cost is lower in this case and its higher quality, in addition to the cheaper production the unit goes.
What is Digital Printing?
Digital printing transfers file image or data directly from the computer to the printing machine, without using plates or intermediate processes. And this of course, it greatly reduces printing costs. These machines, less heavy and the high-end ones, could closely resemble offset machinery in terms of quality. You can search for local printing shops.
When Should I Use Digital Printing?
The printing machine is instantaneous and economical so you can print small and urgent runs overnight!
The printing cost is fixed so that large runs are not cheaper as the offset.
High-end digital printers have a lot of photographic and image quality almost no different from the offset.
The range of papers and inks may be more limited.
So, since the initial starting cost is much cheaper, you get a much better printing quote for low quantity runs.
Offset VS. Digital Printing
When talking about the differences between offset printing and digital printing, it is essential to note that they are less and less.
The incorporation of digital technologies to offset printing and the incessant advancement of digital is making both technologies begin to converge in a process that has only just begun. Despite this, today we can still point out significant differences between the two. If you don't know which one suits you best, this article will probably solve some of your doubts.
1. Different Printing Techniques
The first, main and most obvious difference between these two types of printing is the technology used. Offset printing is a second printing mode since the image is previously captured in what is known as the matrix plate, transferred to rubber support and, from here, printed on the sheet.
Digital printing, on the other hand, processes the image digitally and is printed on paper directly. The technique used, whether inkjet or laser, almost always involves direct printing.
2. With/Without Initial Cost
Digital printing has a distinct advantage in this regard since offset requires the preparation of an initial matrix on which modifications cannot be made. An initial cost that does not exist in the digital option. Despite this, it is necessary to highlight the technological advances related to offset printing. The cost gets less and lesser, as well as the time needed to replace the plate between printings.
3. Minimum Number of Profitable Copies
This aspect also refers to the costs to assume for each type of printing. Due to the particularities of each one, the number of copies is decisive when choosing digital or offset. The need to physically create the matrix plate means that offset printing is never a good option for short runs since with them, we can never make the cost of the plate profitable.
4. Printer Running at the Limit of Its Capacity.
Digital printing, however, creates a digital matrix without any cost. Therefore, it allows us to print both a single copy and hundreds, without extra cost creating the model. It is interesting to note that offset printing is still more profitable for large runs.
5. Quality of the Final Product
This point, rather than a difference, is a claim. It has always been said that the quality of offset printing is higher than that of digital. The reality is that today, only an expert would be able to distinguish at first glance that is two printed images using a matrix plate and rubber support or by laser toner injection.
6. Format
In this case, digital printing has a particular disadvantage concerning offset printing. While the digital file has to have a specific form that must correspond to the size of the paper or material used, the offset printing machine uses large-format sheets in which it is possible to combine several products. This is one of the factors that help you reduce costs on large runs.
When deciding the type of printing system you are going to use, it is imperative to be clear about the needs you want to cover. And although digital printing, today, has become the most popular, it does not necessarily have to be the best option.
We hope we have helped you, however in your trusted print shop in Sacramento, and they will tell you exactly what the necessary method for your printing is. The world of printing mode is super exciting, and in MM Printing Company in Sacramento, we help you to know it!