In an effort to operate more effectively and efficiently, businesses of all sizes have made astonishing breakthroughs in the use of technology. Innovative technology has been shown to save you time and money through simplified processes, decreased manual effort, streamlined transactions and more. However, not all technologies reach their full potential in the early stages. This can be a frustrating realization inside your organization as well as when working with outside vendors. One example of this phenomenon is digital printing.
The general perception of digital printing in our industry was somewhat lackluster as recently as 10 years ago. However, thanks to continuous innovation and the advancement of technology, digital printing is not what it used to be. For instance, extraordinary advancements have been made in flood coating and spot coatings. Digital equipment can now take an entire surface or specified area and coat it with ink, adhesive, varnish and more, giving your printed materials the ability to stand out.
To see if digital printing could provide value to your organization, you need a good understanding of the materials and processes that are used. Digital printing differs from standard offset printing by providing faster turnaround, lower costs for shorter runs, timely setup, simplified proofing and more. If you are looking for high-quality print with the potential for both cost and time savings, digital print could be a viable option for you.
Improvements to digital printing have brought about different types of digital printers. The two most common types include laser and inkjet. Inkjet presses use ink while laser presses use a toner to produce images. These images are typically sent to the press through a digital file like a PDF instead of the plate that is needed for an offset press. Here are a few specifics you might want to take into consideration:
Digital presses run on a four color processing system but can also simulate or color match the use of Pantone® ink.
Smooth, bright coated paper produces sharper images that don’t allow the ink/toner to absorb into the paper and feather out, which can distort the image.
Since there is little setup to digital printing, single-sheet prints and file changes can be made prior to the run allowing for quick proofing and variable data edits. Variable data allows you to tailor your messages on each printed item in one run.
The ideal run size for a digital press is a small- to medium-sized project. No matter what the scale or scope of your business, it’s likely that digital print production has an important role to play.
Because there is no plate creation and files are digitally designed, there is a faster turnaround time between implementation and final product stages as well as lower setup and maintenance charges.
As environmental sustainability becomes a core strategy for many businesses, digital printing technology is rising to the fore and with good reason:
Digital printing could very well be ideal for jobs that would not have made sense just a few years ago. If you have any questions regarding this process or if it fits with your company standards, feel free to leave a comment or reach out to us directly.