Printing

Digital vs. Conventional Printing at a Glance

Digital printing is automated direct image transfer to paper from a digital file by exposing an imaging drum directly inside the printing machine. Toner process and wet ink are both used in the digital process.

Conventional Printing (lithography) means images are transferred from electronic file to printing plates. Plates are then mounted to cylinders and wet ink is applied and transferred to paper. Direct-to-plate is the process of exposing printing plates using laser imaging machines and has improved the plate-making process significantly.

Advantages of Digital

• Digital printing is available in full color or black & white.
• Digital print pricing generally has a fixed unit cost independent of run length plus a charge for set up and finishing depending on the complexity of the project.
• Digital printing offers the advantage to apply personalized variable text and graphics.
• Quality from Velocity’s high-end digital machines is as good as most conventional offset lithography.
• Quicker turnaround.
• Set-up is minimal and output can begin within hours or even minutes of receiving a properly prepared digital file.
• Sheets are delivered dry and ready for finishing.

Limitations of Digital

• Cost effective for only short run color applications

• Limited to 11 x 17 sheet size.

Advantages of Lithography (conventional printing)

• Multi-color press formats from 1-color to 6-color presses
• Due to set-up (make-ready) cost per unit goes down as quantity goes up. (Short runs absorb more set-up cost driving up the per unit cost)

Limitations of Conventional Printing

• Versioning is expensive due to plate changes (true variable is not possible and must be done in the finishing operation through laser applications with significant limitations on graphics.

Helpful tips

· Stitched Books need to be created in 4 page increments.

· Grouping projects to print on one paper stock and use of common PMS colors can save costs in set-up time.

· On-Demand Printing can reduce waste and allow for more frequent changes.