The Difference between offset and digital printing.

It can be frustrating going to a Printing company and having to decide what paper you want where there are various different types of papers and  printing  to choose from, with various qualities, quantities, sizes, brightness, and weights. This is confusing especially if one doesn’t know what each different kind of printing and paper is used for. We will guide you on the various types of printing and printer papers, specific paper that goes with specific printers, and the different facets to consider when choosing printing  and paper to help you decide what printing and paper is best for you.

Digital paper printing refers to methods of printing from a digital-based image directly to paper through a variety of media such as inkjet and laser printers. Digital printing has a higher cost per page than more traditional offset printing methods. But this price is usually offset by avoiding the cost of all the technical steps required to make printing plates.

Advantage of digital printing compared to other printing methods includes:

• It also allows for on-demand printing, digital printing is used for personalized printing for example, children’s books customized with a child’s name, photo books (such as wedding photo books), or any other books.
• Photos – digital printing has revolutionized photo printing in terms of the ability toretouch and color correct a photograph before printing.
• It has short turnaround time, It’s ideal for printing small to medium quantities ie 1-1000 units. And You can even have modification of the image used for each impression
• Digital printing is a simpler process compared to offset. Without the need for plates, mixing inks etc the final print can be delivered faster.
• Cost effective. No set-up costs, no minimum print quantities and no plate costs. Some digital machines are also capable of doing inline finishing like binding eg saddle stitch, perfect bound or wire binding, so costs and turnaround times are reduced.
• Also known as variable data. This allows you to tailor your message to your audience so you can personalize invites with the recipient’s names ie wedding invitations. We’ve heard of a national retail store using this method for posters given each store had different details, they printed the job digitally in one go.

Few of its common applications include: business cards, flyers, pictures, brochures, letter heads, and invitation cards.

Offset printing is a commonly used printing technique in which the inked image is transferred (or “offset”) from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface.

One of the most important functions in the printing process is prepress production. This stage makes sure that all files are correctly processed in preparation for printing. This includes converting to the proper CMYK color model, finalizing the files, and creating plates for each color of the job to be run on the press.

Few of its common applications include: newspapers, magazines, brochures, Folders, gift bags, triplicate books, stationery, and books.

Compared to other printing methods, offset printing is best suited for economically producing large volumes of high quality prints in a manner that requires little maintenance.

Advantages of offset printing compared to other printing methods include:

• Consistent high image quality. Offset printing produces sharp and clean images and type more easily.
• Quick and easy production of printing plates;
• Longer printing plate, properly developed plates used with optimized inks and fountain solution may achieve run lengths of more than a million impressions;
• Offset printing is the cheapest method for producing high quality prints in commercial printing quantities;

Disadvantages of offset printing compared to other printing methods include:

• Time and cost associated with producing plates and printing press setup. As a result, very small quantity printing jobs may not be able to be produced by offset.

Every printing technology has its own identifying marks, as does offset printing. In text reproduction, the type edges are sharp and have clear outlines. The paper surrounding the ink dots is usually unprinted. The halftone dots are always hexagonal though there are different screening methods.