You may need to print your documents or many other things and look for printing services. Nowadays, printing is done by professionals as well as common people. When it comes to printing, the leading names are offset and digital. Both offset and digital printing are essential for people’s printing-related tasks. But you need to have rough or even detailed information about each type of printing if you need to print frequently. So, in this blog, we will be covering various aspects of offset printing and digital printing, the difference between offset printing and digital printing, what offset and digital printing include, and many more.
Table of Contents
What is offset printing?
Offset printing is a popular printing technique. Offset printing, sometimes referred to as lithography, includes transferring ink from an etched plate to a rubber sheet (also known as a blanket) and then onto the printing surface. Looking deeper into the past, we discover that in 1875, in England, Robert Barclay invented the first rotary offset lithographic printing press. Offset printing has changed significantly since it was first invented. Prepress production is currently one of the most crucial steps in the printing process.
In offset printing, each page is printed using unique plates on a very large press. Any print that simply needs static printing is best suited for offset printing. Because of its size, this type of press is most effective for printing large quantities of prints. Traditional offset printing also produces stunning, high-quality results that digital printing can’t always match.
What are the offset printing uses?
Offset printing is generally better than digital printing when it comes to getting prints for newspapers, magazines, brochures, stationery, pre-printed forms, brochures, flyers, business cards, bulk postcard mailings, branded coasters, mouse mats, product advertisers, hotel door hangers, plastic menus and tent cards. Moreover, Offset printing is best for book printing.
What are the types of offset printing?
There are two common types of offset printing machines for publication today: sheet-fed offset printing and web offset printing.
Sheet-fed presses use pre-cut sheets of paper called parent sheets. They are mostly used for short or mid-range i.e. 250 to 10,000 units.
Sheet-fed presses give the highest quality printing, a wide range of specialty options, and low per-unit costs. But they are highly costly for setup and offer medium, minimum order sizes.
A modern offset printing press called Web Offset is connected to a huge roll of paper. Paper forms an unbroken “web” through the press as it unwinds. Each paper roll has a maximum weight of one ton. Presses for web offset printing might be as big as a full structure. Web presses are utilised for high-volume printing (10,000+ items). The cost per unit for these presses is incredibly inexpensive.
How does offset printing work?
- First, four custom metal plates with the text or images for your print project are created. These plates hold the four types of ink-cyan, magenta, yellow, and black-used in offset printing.
- Each of these plates is wrapped around a rotating rubber cylinder.
- The paper is then run through each cylinder. Here, the ink on the paper is placed during the process.
- Finally, the four layers of ink blend together to create the final product.
Offset printing requires more setup time than digital printing.
What is Digital Printing?
Digital printing is a newer form that uses inkjet or laser technology. People choose digital printing as it has become very accessible due to the fact that everyone now has a digital printer at home or at the office. Another fact is that digital printing typically gives easy and quality prints. Here, digital files such as PDFs can be sent directly to the digital printing press in order to print on paper, photo paper, cardstock, canvas, fabric, synthetics, and other substrates.
What is digital printing suitable for?
Digital printing machines can print on a number of different things, including thick cardstock, heavyweight papers, fabrics, plastics, folding cartons, T-Shirts, linen, business cards, flyers, brochure, flyers, leaflets, posters, and polyester. Moreover, digital printing has made life easier for everyone who requires fast and convenient printing.
What are the types of digital printing?
The two most popular types of digital printing are inkjet and laser. Printers with inkjet and laser technology are widely used in both offices and private residences. A digital electrostatic printing process is laser printing. This digital printing uses a laser beam that is continually passed back and forth to print high-quality text, graphics, and acceptable-quality pictures. Solid Ink is more frequently utilised for larger-scale printing projects, like those undertaken by graphic designers.
What is the digital printing method?
Digital printing technology and the process are way different from offset printing technology. In fact, digital printing does not need the use of printing plates. Moreover, digital printing takes a different approach and assembles the images ready for print. When you select print, you can print the document on one or both sides, on a certain type of paper, and in any direction you wish. The file and your chosen print settings are sent to the printer by the computer. The printer analyses the data, choose the most effective printing strategy for your paper and then prints it.
Digital Printing vs Offset Printing- The Ultimate Difference
Well, there are differences between digital printing and offset printing. Getting clear on “What’s the difference” is helpful for those who are planning to get suitable printing services. Let’s get into learning the main difference between offset and digital printing and see which one becomes the winner in offset printing versus digital printing
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Quality
The first thing is the difference in the quality of printing. When it comes to the quality of offset printing, a higher resolution and consistency on long runs is observed, but it is hard to tell the difference in appearance between high-end digital printing and offset printing. However, in digital printing, colours may drift in the long run.
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Cost
The benefit of digital printing is that they are of fixed cost per print and are cheaper for short-runs; however, long-runs for this printing are expensive. Offset printing cost is high; hence it is expensive in terms of short-run printing due to plates and press setup, but for higher print runs, they offer a lower cost per print.
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Customisation/ variable data printing
Offset printing has each piece the same; meaning offset printing cannot give variety unless it uses different pieces that require separate plates. But digital presses and printing are perfect for personalisation and each piece can be unique. This implies that digital printing gives more customised prints for people.
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Time
Digital printing is recommended if you want your printing task to be done fast. However, in the case of offset printing takes time to complete as you have to create custom plates.
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Volume of printing
Digital printing shines when it is in the context of small-run printing, while offset printing produces prints that are excellent for larger printing projects that require a lot of prints.
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Colour
Colour printing is popular among people for their various educational or professional endeavours. In digital printing, they print CMYK using toner or inkjet, but they do not offer inline Pantone colours or Metallic colours as well as there is no option for varnishes or coating options.
But offset printing prints CMYK, Pantone and Metallic colours using ink. It also has inline varnishes and aqueous coating for protection and effects.
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Material and Paper Stock
People can use offset printing on a range of materials, but when it comes to digital printing is limited to certain types of paper. Offset printing can print on any stock, textured and specialised paper, but for digital printing, there is a limited stock selection.
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Proofs
While offset printing uses a kind of proof to simulate how the job will appear on the press, digital printing produces a flawless depiction of the finished result. Digital printing is a considerably faster and more cost-effective solution if you need to create proof before beginning a job.
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Options
There are more possibilities available to you with offset printing in terms of size, materials, and finishes. However, digital printing comes with extra restrictions.
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Turnaround
In offset printing, you need to produce plates, mix ink, press set-up, and adjust ink densities before printing job. Also, this indicates delivery in 5 to 7 days. Another key thing is that inks need to dry before printing the second side or sent for binding.
Offset printing is never superior to digital printing as it is quicker – with no hassle for the press to be made ready. This indicates that digital printing provides 24 to 48 hours delivery. Another interesting fact is that it is able to print without the need for drying time. It can be passed to the next production process (folding, trimming etc.) instantly.
All in all, these two printing methods offer us different prints for different purposes, and their pros and cons balance out each other. So, we can’t say that only digital printing offers the best service. Both of them are good at their place, and you have to be sure of using offset or digital printing as they drastically differ in terms of prints.
Why consult a professional printer for your printing endeavours?
The utilisation of expert printers or printing services results in a number of benefits. A professional printing company has access to a vast assortment of resources as well as are rich with printing-related years of knowledge. Further, they offer faster, superior printing services.
Professional printing services are more affordable than buying printers if you do not require frequent printing. When it comes to the branding aspect, these expert printing services would be aware of the brand colour and would never contaminate the consistency of the colour in any of your documents or printed products. These points amply support the benefits that knowledgeable printing service providers like Anyshape Plastics can offer to brands.
What makes Any Shape plastics the best digital printing?
Any Shape plastics deals in commercial printing services and offers top-notch Custom Design Digital Printing Services in Sydney Area. We ensure to provide customers with personalised service with our custom artwork, rush jobs, special prints run, etc. Along with our expertise in digital Textile Printing, Digital Fabric Printing, Digital Wallpaper Printing, and Digital Photo Printing, we offer print banners, POS displays, pull up, vinyl, conference stands, signage, adhesives label for food, corporate, fashion apparel, shoe stores, jewellery stores, and medical industries, and package printing.
With us, all your digital printing endeavours are achieved. You can contact us for your next print project and further queries. We are always happy to help you.
