Offset vs. Digital Printing

Over the years, printing firms used both offset and digital printing to produce newspapers, personal cards, and marketing tools. These printing processes are commonly mistaken as one and the same, and only a few understand how they differ. In this article, you’ll learn more about these printing methods and the factors to consider in choosing between the two.




Understanding the Printing Process




Digital printing involves electronic files and printing them using imaging devices like dry-toner based printers or inkjet printers. In the process, the printer fires jets of ink into a substrate (hence inkjet) where the ink is not absorbed by the medium (paper) as compared to how conventional inks work. Instead, the ink forms a thin layer on the medium and is adhered to it using a fuser fluid through heat process.




Offset printing, on the other hand, involves “offsetting” or transferring images into different cylinders using an image-etched plate. These plates contain printing areas which accept inks and non-printing areas which attract water. The plates will then be rolled out into a rubber blanket to remove the remaining water before setting the image into a third cylinder which contains the substrate (paper).

Comparing the Two Methods

Both printing processes have aspects that you can take advantage of. To better judge which printing process to choose, here are some factors you can use to compare the two:

Turnaround Digital printing has quicker production time for short-runs. You won’t need plates and rubber blankets or allot time for set up unlike in offset printing. You only need to prepare the files to start the printing process. However, for large quantities, offset does it faster since after etching the image on a plate, you can start roll printing as much as you want unlike digital press which re-draws the image in every page.

Consistency of prints Offset presses produce a clearer impression and smoother surface compared to digital presses. The former absorbs inks into plates as opposed to digital where heat from the printer directly infuses ink on the paper. The homogeneity of printed images is proven more consistent in offset printing as compared to digital printing.

Quantity Digital printing is suitable for short-runs because it doesn’t need as much preparation as offset printing which needs plates. On the other hand, offset printing works well with thousand copies since the same set of plates will be used to produce any number you want. Simply put, using a digital press is more cost-effective for lesser number of copies, while offset is better for larger quantities.

Coating UV protective or Aqueous-based coating is possible in offset printing and not for some digital printers. Coating involves heat and may cause damages on images printed directly on paper.

Cost Offset printing process goes cheaper the more copies you order while digital printing process becomes more expensive as the quantity goes higher. This is because, for offset, you pay for the plate (or space in the plate if it is ganged) only once – while for digital press, the cost per copy doesn’t go down since the same material and amount of effort is used all throughout no matter how many copies you order.

Offset and digital printing process differs in a lot of ways. Fact is, one process can’t be better than the other because what separates them is their cost-effectiveness according to demand.Be guided by the reminders above and take advantage of the strengths of both printing processes according to your printing needs.