All about digital printing press
Digital printing has become increasingly popular as it is significantly more efficient than traditional offset printing. However, both cost the same amount. Its numerous advantages include the ability to change the image with each printing and to print on demand with very short turnaround times. Discover how digital printing could be the ideal solution for your printing needs.
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Advantages
Cost and efficiency
Digital printing refers to the professional printing of digital images on different media using large scale laser or inkjet printers. These images can be created using desktop publishing or other digital sources.
Although digital printing costs more per page than traditional printing methods, it recoups these costs with the savings realised in not having to make printing plates. The absence of printing plates means that digital printing also has a significantly quicker turnaround time.
As a result, digital printing costs are on par with offset printing while offering greater efficiency and control over the printing process.
Desktop publishing
Among the major reasons for the popularity of digital printing is the fact that it allows desktop publishing, a very inexpensive way for businesses and domestic users to meet their printing needs.
Sophisticated software packages from Adobe, Corel and Microsoft allow most people to get professional results.
Control
The ability to vary data with each printing is another significant advantage which allows for greater flexibility in meeting printing demands. For example, it is now possible to print personalised letters or books that include a child’s name and personal details.
Digital colour-printing also allows for more control over retouching and colour-correction of images, allowing the publisher to manipulate the images for artistic purposes.
POD
Digital printing also allows for printing on demand (POD) where printing is carried out only once an order is received for an item such as a book. The need to create printing plates for offset printing methods such as letterpress and lithography meant they were not economically viable for smaller print runs.
However, the advent of digital printing and POD has been a boon for self-publishing writers and small printing presses who have limited funds to invest in the printing process.
Thus digital printing enables the printing of books and documents that would otherwise have gone without being published.
The final word
Digital printing offers many new possibilities for small businesses, authors and others with diverse printing needs.