If you want printing but can't come to a decision whether to work with a digital printing company or select instead for offset printing, then I hope the next few paragraphs will show you the advantages and cons of each option to allow you to arrive at an educated decision.
To begin with let's look at offset printing. Offset lithography is among the most common method of high-volume printing. It operates by burning the picture you wish to print onto a plate and then offsetting from this plate onto a rubber blanket and then onto the printing surface. This offset or lithographic technology is based on the principle that water and oil don't mix. It is an ideal way to generate clear, high quality images.
In the second instance let's look at digital print. Digital printing companies are more popular than ever as digital print becomes a crucial printing solution. There is no need to produce the films, plates and colour proofs, which save you time and there is a shorter turnaround. Another benefit to digital printing is that there is not any variation - each print is the same - mainly because you don't depend on plates and rollers to create your image.
Digital printing is usually used by direct mail companies as it permits them to print specific duplicates of leaflets and letters whilst at the same time being able to personalise every one, for instance by incorporating the recipient's name. An external file such as a database feeds this data to the press despite the fact that each print is customised; the printing process isn't delayed in any way.
Whilst also taking into consideration the advantages of choosing a digital printing company is it worth checking out the disadvantages of utilising this printing solution to ensure you understand the kind of print you require.
The main downside of digital printing is the quality just isn't as high as when utilising lithographic methods. In addition, digital print has its limitations in terms of printable surfaces, whereas lithographic print can be placed on many different surfaces including cloth, plastic, wood and metal.
Digital printing companies do offer the more affordable solution for small print runs because there is hardly any setup involved, whilst with offset printing the charge per unit reduces as the quantities rise.
To summarize, if you require small quantities of print, for example business cards or flyers, you may well be best to pick a digital print company. However, if you'd like large volumes of high-quality print, maybe onto a surface other than paper, offset printing will provide you with the best solution