Printing personalised Perspex, or acrylic, requires an appropriate process. Of the two processes most commonly used-the one frequently used is digital printing and screen printing-each has its benefits and downsides that will be considered in this blog to help you choose the right course for your Perspex project regardless of your location in Australia or elsewhere in the world.
Table of Contents
Understanding the Basics of Perspex
Before comparing, let us get familiar with the material being compared. Perspex is a product that’s strong, clear and versatile and so is ideal for various applications like sign making and displays, etc. It holds on to the smooth finish surface, which makes it ideal for both digital and screen printing, or even for other methods like UV printing and sublimation.
Let’s get close and personal with some investigations of digital printing v/s screen printing for your next Perspex project.
Digital Printing: Precision and Flexibility
Digital printing is a highly modern, automated method of transferring digital images directly onto a surface. It’s known for its accuracy, the quick turnaround time, and relative ease with which complex designs can be produced.
Benefits of Digital Printing for Perspex
- High Resolution: One of the advantages of using digital printing is producing images of very high resolution that feature relative detail and rich colours, especially suitable for projects demanding photographic quality or detailed graphics.
- Quick Setup: Digital printing is faster to set up without the usage of custom screens or stencils, best for small print runs or projects with fast turnaround.
- Cost-Efficiency: Setup and take down costs are not very high in digital printing, making it a better option compared to offset printing for small quantities or one-off production runs.
- Versatility: Digital printing allows printing directly onto the different surfaces including flat as well as curved Perspex sheets, this provides great flexibility in designs.
- Customisation: Variable data print is another benefit which offers individual print customisation without any additional set-up time.
Limitations of Digital Printing
- Cost for Large Runs: While awesome for small orders, digital printing gets too costly when you get into large quantities.
- Ink Durability: UV-curable inks used for digital printing are quite robust, but yet may not last longer than their screen-printed counterparts in cruder outdoor conditions.
Screen Printing: Durability and Vivid Colours
Screen printing is more traditional and utilises a stencil, or screen; it then applies layers of ink to the Perspex surface. It has been a popular method in creating long-lasting prints; however, sometimes the products turn out fragile, thus not ideal for the production of large-scale projects.
Benefits of Screen Printing for Perspex
- Durable and Long-Lasting: Screen printing uses thick coats of ink to create vibrant, long-lasting images. It is particularly ideal for outdoor applications where the print has to last through harsh weather conditions.
- Cost-Effective for Large Quantities: Although the initial setup cost of screen printing-that is, making the moulds, is very high compared to other methods for large orders, the moment a mould is made, it can print again and again. As such, it becomes very cost-effective for large runs.
- Vibrant and Brilliant Colours: Screen printing can apply thicker layers of ink, which means that the final product has rich, bold colours that are much more vibrant than many other forms of printing.
- Durability on Uneven Surfaces: It works well with uneven or textured surfaces of Perspex, hence ensuring even and robust coverage.
Limitations of Screen Printing
- High Initial Setup Cost: This is due to the fact that one needs to have developed screens for every colour, which makes it very expensive. It is not so ideal for small print runs.
- Limited Design Complexity: Screen printing does pretty well in providing strong colours, but it is not preferred for intricate or photographic print because of the very nature of the process.
- Longer Lead Times: Because of the extra setup involved, screen printing often takes longer than digital printing, particularly for multi-colour jobs.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Digital and Screen Printing
1. Project size:
- For bulk printing, however, screen printing would be more cost-effective as you can reuse the screens, and it is cheaper per print when running big numbers.
- Digital printing suits low volume or one-off print runs since it makes for speedy setup and relatively inexpensive costs.
2. Design Complexity
- With digital printing, you can enjoy having higher precision as well as a finer image quality, especially when intricate designs are to be printed.
- Screen printing is very durable and vibrant for bold, solid-colour designs that do not require intricate details.
3. Durability Requirements:
- Outdoor signage or display whose outdoor application will have to face weather conditions would best be done using the more durable ink in screen printing.
- In general, digital printing will therefore give better results for indoor applications and quick turnaround.
4. Budget:
Large order sizes make screen printing very economical, but for smaller jobs, or budget-conscious projects, digital printing would be much cheaper and more practical.
Other Printing Options for Perspex Projects
In addition to digital and screen printing, other ways Perspex projects can be done in Australia include:
- UV Printing- UV curing of inks for longevity and full colour depth
- Offset Printing- mass reproduction with maintained quality.
- 3D Printing: Unique designs on Perspex made possible with cutting-edge innovation
- Sublimation Printing: Ideal for reproducing high-resolution images on specially designed Perspex with a proprietary print-coating.
Why Choose Any Shape Plastics for Your Printing Needs?
Any Shape Plastics specialises in customised solutions for every project, whether digitally printed, screen printing, or any other method. This is why you should consider us for your next Perspex work:
- Expertise: With years of experience in Perspex customizations, our team can guide you towards the most appropriate method of printing suited to your specific needs.
- State-of-Art Equipment: We use both digital and screen printing using the best technology and equipment available so that every time we print, we do so with quality.
- Comprehensive Services: As we cater to all the printing needs of our customers, we offer complete services: ranging from UV and flexographic printing to 3D and lithographic options, to give you one roofing solution.
- Customer-centric approach: We believe in delivering projects that not only meet but exceed expectations. Our customer service is built on communication, reliability, and transparency.
- Made in Australia: We operate locally, and therefore know the specific needs of the Australian business environment and are prepared and geared to process any order, whether large or small.
Conclusion
Screen printing and digital printing both have their advantages, but the right choice for your Perspex project would depend on the specific details of your design, the size of your project, the endurance requirements it may need to withstand, and your budget. Whether you want precision and flexibility or durability and vibrant colours, the team at Any Shape Plastics is here to help bring your ideal print to life.
Ready to get started? Contact us today for discussion on your next project!
