The most common types of printing type would be offset and digital printings. Offset is the traditional method of printing which is produced on a printing press using printing plates and wet ink. The printing process of the offset printing takes a longer time period as there is more setup time and the initial cost. However, it produces the highest quality available from the widest set of options and gives a higher control over colors. Offset printing uses plates, usually made from aluminum, which is used to transfer an image onto a rubber “blanket”, and then roll that image onto a sheet of paper. It’s called offset because the ink is not transferred directly onto the paper. Because offset presses run so efficiently once they are set up, offset printing is the best choice when larger quantities are needed, and provides accurate color reproduction, and crisp, clean professional looking printing.
Digital printing, is the quickest way of providing short-run productions with lesser investment. If you are in the business of producing brochures, business cards, and other related corporate printing, you many know how much important is to have the perfect design, color scheme, to make sure you provide an excellent service. Digital printing doesn’t use plates the way offset does but instead uses options such as toner (like in laser printers) or larger printers that do use liquid ink. Digital printing shines when lower quantities are needed; think of a run of 20 greeting cards or 100 flyers. Another benefit of digital printing is its variable data capability. When each piece needs a unique code, name, or address, digital is the only way to go. Offset printing cannot accommodate this need. Here’s where it gets interesting, and noteworthy for small businesses seeking to maximize their return on investment: For short runs, digital printing negates a setup fee so it can be far more economical than offset printing. However, because offset presses can print so rapidly your offset price per piece is not static – it diminishes with quantity.
Thus, for large runs offset printing becomes far more economical than digital printing because your setup fee is absorbed by the diminished price per piece. Depending on the type of project you’re printing, digital printing is typically the best choice when you’re printing fewer than 500 to 1,000 pieces; and offset printing is typically the best choice when you’re printing more than 500 to 1,000 pieces. You can research the differences per project type using PsPrint’s instant price quote widget. Keep in mind that many resources that publish information regarding offset printing versus digital printing have a vested interest in one or the other; but when you work with a printing company that has state-of-the-art printing presses for both offset and digital applications, you can get unbiased recommendations that work within your budget, quantity and quality requirements so you can get the best possible print job for your money – whether it’s offset or digital.
