Digital printing is the process of converting a digital image to print. This is accomplished with a variety of different tools that include copiers and printers and more complex printing machines at scale.
Digital printing is completed by taking a digital image and converting the info provided into a physical manifestation. Once the image is uploaded, it can easily be converted into any medium, including paper, fabric, plastic, or cardboard.
While digital printing is not as heavily relied upon as it used to be, print media still has many uses and remains an essential service. Read on to learn more about what digital printing does and why it can be so beneficial.
The Benefits Of Digital Printing
Using digital printing services can provide a variety of benefits that include:
Consistent Quality
Unlike other printing methods such as screen or offset, digital printing can provide as many copies as you’d like, all at the same quality. Digital printing can offer the most customization options and the highest resolution when it comes to printing.
Efficiency
Getting a digital printing job done is fast and easy. The digital printing process involves a direct transfer of the ink to the surface, making it much quicker than other printing options. All digital printing requires is a digital image file and a few minutes to print.
Customization
Digital printing allows for perhaps the most flexible options when it comes to design and execution. Digital images can be manipulated in thousands of different ways using modern technology. All you need to do is adjust and customize the file to your liking, and you will receive the image exactly as you made it on print.
Cost
Digital printing is a cheap way to print out materials at scale. Depending on the type of ink, toner, and material used to print on, your costs may vary. However, compared to other methods, digital printing is usually less expensive and much more efficient for working professionals.
What Is The Difference Between Digital And Offset Printing?
Offset printing is another more traditional form of printing that involves printing plates, rubber blankets, and ink. In this process, aluminum plates transfer an image onto a rubber blanket that rolls over a sheet of paper, leaving a print.
This method is a tad bit dated and is not utilized often in our current age of technology. It is typically used because of its advantages for high-volume printing.
While offset printing is still used in some cases, digital printing can now match the quality of this method and is also able to print at a cost-effective rate.
Offset printing also takes a lot of time to set up, can cost a lot of money, and is subject to errors that can ruin entire batches of work if you are not careful.
In some cases, offset printing can be a good choice for high-volume printing jobs without tight deadlines. While this is true, digital printing offers the same advantages and added customization abilities and efficiency.
Digital Printing vs. Screen Printing
Screen printing is another commonly used method that takes a different approach than digital printing. Screen printing involves using a stencil (or screen) to apply layers of ink to a surface, one at a time.
T-shirt printing shops commonly use this method due to this method’s ability to provide vibrant, saturated, and clean-looking finishes to clothes.
Screen printing starts with using stencils with an image that are then placed over the substrate, and then a printer applies ink across the screen to push the image through the screen onto the surface.
Screen printing doesn’t apply pressure to the material, which is why it’s often used for printing on delicate substrates like balloons or thin fabrics such as clothes.
Screen printing is a great choice for large batches but can be a complicated and time-consuming process.
Both digital printing and screen printing are great options, but the right choice comes down to what you are looking to accomplish and how simple you want the process to be.
Why Digital Printing Is The Future
Digital printing is evolving quickly and is being used by people more and more thanks to its speed, cost-efficiency, and quality. This printing technology is likely to render older printing methods useless sooner rather than later and makes printing smarter overall.
By taking full advantage of digital printing capabilities, you can create high-quality products and marketing materials while maintaining cost-efficiency and the quality you need to represent.
Professional Graphics Inc. is a full-service graphic design and printing company operating for over 20 years. Their printing experts can help you find the printing solutions you need to get the job done quickly and at the right cost.