subject: The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Using Digital Printing UK [print this page] The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Using Digital Printing UK
If you are having difficult deciding whether to use digital printing UK services or to opt instead for offset printing, then hopefully this article will give you the advantages and disadvantages to help you reach an informed decision.
Offset lithography is the most common method of high volume printing. The image you want to print is burned on to a plate and then offset from this plate onto a rubber blanket and then on to the printing surface. Lithographic technology is based on the principle that oil and water do not mix and is a great method to create clear, high quality images.
Commercial digital printing is however gaining momentum as an important print method. It saves time as you do not have to make the plates, films and colour proofs so there is a shorter turnaround. Another advantage is that there is no variation - every print is the same - as you are not relying on the rollers and plates to produce the image.
Digital printing UK is highly used amongst direct mail companies as it allows them to print the exact same letter or leaflet but personalise each one with the recipient's name. This information is fed to the digital press via a database or external file and even though each print-out is personalised, there is no slowing down in the printing process.
Before you get carried away with the benefits of commercial digital printing is it worth exploring the disadvantages of using this printing method. The main one being that the quality is not as high as using lithographic printing methods. Lithographic print can also be applied to many more different surfaces such as wood, metal, plastic and cloth.
Digital printing UK is cheaper for small print runs as there is very little set up involved but offset printing sees the cost per unit come down as the quantities go up. Therefore if you want small quantities of business cards or flyers, you may be best opting for digital print but if you need large quantities of high-quality print onto a surface other than paper, offset printing offers the better solution.
