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With the rise of digital printing and its affordability, manufacturers are turning to it more often than not. Offset printing, on the other hand, has fallen out of favor in recent years. Why is that? Let’s take a look at what the difference is between digital printing and offset printing and which one you should use.
Digital Printing
Digital printing is a printing process that takes place inside a printing press. The printing press uses metal plates to transfer ink from the ink engine to a rubber blanket, which then transfers the ink onto paper. To create a digital color print, the color and the text are digitally separated and printed onto separate plates. The color is printed onto a sheet, which is a digital image. The text is printed on another sheet, which is a digital copy. The image and copy are then brought together and fused to create the final print. This method of printing gives you control over the printing process. You can choose the ink colors and the type of paper, among other things. You can also print at different speeds depending on the type of paper and how large you want the print to be.
Offset Printing
Offset printing is a printing process that involves the transfer of ink from one surface to another—usually a rubber blanket and a paper sheet. The rubber blanket transfers the ink to the paper sheet by going through a printing press. In offset printing, the rubber blanket is coated with an ink that is bound to the paper’s fibers. The blanket is then placed on the printing press with the paper sheet above it. Ink from a print engine is then pressed against the blanket, which transfers the ink to the paper. Offsetting printing is still in use today, more than a century after it was invented. While it has been significantly improved over the years, offset printing is still not as efficient as it could be. What’s more, the technology used in it is also not as advanced as digital printing.
Differences Between Digital and Offset Printing
Now that we’ve looked at how the printing process works, let’s take a closer look at the key differences between digital printing and offset printing: - Image Quality - The quality of the images produced by a printing press depends on the quality of the paper used, the type of inks used, and the printing press itself. Digital printing, on the other hand, is all about image quality. If you have a low-quality image, a high-quality paper print won’t make much of a difference. If the paper used for offset printing has a high brightness value, the image will come out with a lot of glare and be difficult to read. In addition, if you select a printing press with a low resolution, the final print will have a grainy look. - Paper Quality - The type of paper used for offset printing can also affect the final print quality. A fine paper, for example, will produce a high-quality print. However, it will also use a lot of paper with each print. Coated paper, on the other hand, will produce a high-quality print with a low amount of paper. Depending on your design, you may or may not want to use it. - Speed - The speed of printing depends on the press you’re using. If you’re using an ink-jet press, the printing speed should be as high as possible to give you the best print quality. If you’re using a lithographic press, the speed should be low, making offset printing more energy-efficient. - Ink Tank - For offset printing, you need to remember to refill ink tanks for the press with new ink. But for digital printing, this is not necessary. Paper stocks, image size, and ink type also play a role in determining the quality of the print. If you want to give your print a quality edge, you’ll have to use the highest-quality paper, the best ink, and the best digital print stock available.
Advantages of Offset Printing
- Ease of Use - Offset printing is a highly automated printing process that is relatively easy to use. You don’t have to manually load the printing press, change paper stocks, or refill ink tanks. All you have to do is place the print job in a printing queue, and the printing press does the rest for you. - Ease of Accessibility - Offset printing is also easy to access. You can easily open your design and offset print shop windows and sell your printed products at reasonable prices from the comfort of your home or office. - Ease of Disposal - Offset printing is also easy to dispose of. You can simply throw the printed paper after you’re done using it. In addition, there are many paper recycling services that will take your paper and re-use the ink in paper stocks for other printing jobs.
Disadvantages of Offset Printing
- Paper Wastage - When using a lithographic press to offset print, you end up using a lot of paper. This is because you have to use coated paper stocks with a high brightness value. - Inefficient Use of Ink - Ink is a consumable item that can be expensive. You have to keep it stocked at all times, and it has a limited lifespan. If you use ink too often, it can become unusable. You have to replace ink in offset printing presses every 1,000 impressions. - Image Quality - Ink-jet printing makes use of dyes and pigments, which are also consumable items. The paper stock used for offset printing, on the other hand, has a long lifespan. So, it’s not as crucial for offset printing to have as high image quality.
Conclusion
Digital printing is the preferred method for printing for many manufacturers. It offers more versatility, speed, and image quality than offset printing. However, offset printing is also cheaper than digital printing and still used in many countries. The printing process used in offset printing is also less efficient than digital printing. However, it can be used for printing on a variety of papers. Digital printing, on the other hand, can be used for printing on only one type of paper.
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