Differences Between Offset Printing And Digital Printing

Nowadays, you find different types of technology for commercial printing inSacramento used to print brochures, catalogues, magazines, agendas, books, business cards, signs, office stationary, etc. It can even be a bit confusing to know what digital printing is and in what way it differs from offset printing, and how one can help us and not the other.

Offset Or Digital Printing: What Type Of Printing Is Best For My Product?

Here we will try to clear this concept clear, or as clear as we can to our knowledge. In MM Printing, which is one of the leading printing companies in Sacramento, we have both technologies, and we have clients that print in digital and clients that print in offset, as well as clients that print using both techniques in combination. We have an opinion that inevitably coincides with the rest of the market in many aspects. Read below.

What Is Offset Printing?

It uses liquid ink, metallic plates and complex machinery with gears and rollers for the transmission of the ink to the paper. There are different types of printing machines used depending on the size of paper that is capable of going through them, the larger the format of the sheet, everything itself increases proportionally. Various processes are followed to be able to print the design on the paper through the computer.

What Is Digital Printing?

There are two technologies for digital printing, inkjet (special liquid ink other than offset) and toner (particles with pigment). These printing machines use an electric charge to deposit both toner and inkjet on paper. They do not need metal plates, as they have photoreceptor imaging units. They are less heavy machines, more fragile but cheaper (except some high-end ones that could closely resemble offset machinery). They print directly from the computer to the machine, so there is a considerable cost reduction.

What Are The Differences Between Digital Printing And Offset Printing?

An offset printing press is capable of reproducing thousands and thousands of copies relatively quickly, and with a higher quality (depending on the plot used). Offset printing is done with fairly large machines, from the CtP's (machine that films the plates) to the printing machines themselves. It is a technology with high amortization costs for printing short runs (of a few copies).

Digital printing, in general (there are various types of digital printing), is characterized precisely on the contrary in this aspect. They are smaller machines, do not require plates or additional costs, and can reproduce what they have to print directly from the computer to the machine. Although with speed significantly lower than those of offset printing, the quality is not as good as it should be. Digital printing is ideal for short printing runs, precisely where the offset is not competitive.

What Is The Most Significant Advantage Of Offset Printing?

The first advantage is the quality and ability to reproduce thousands and thousands of copies quickly, reducing the price to more copies.

And, Of Digital Printing?

The much cheaper initial start-up cost, offering a much better price for low quantity runs (ideal for flyers, for example). Digital printing allows us to open our minds to new possibilities in communication, such as personalization, segmentation, printing on very diverse and strange media (ideal for business cards), the use of inks special fluorescent color, metallic, embossed inks, etc. Get your print quoting today!

Conclusions

As a customer, you should not worry about the differences between digital printing and offset printing. At MM Sacramento printers, you will be equally satisfied with both the quality and the resolution of the job. MM Printing responds to the needs of its customers in offset and digital printing.