subject: Know the ins and outs of COMMERCIAL and DIGITAL PRINTING [print this page] Know the ins and outs of COMMERCIAL and DIGITAL PRINTING
Commercial printing also known as offset printing is the most commonly used printing technique that is used in today's world. The invent of such type of printing was first done in 1875 by Robert Barclay when he made his first print on the tin. Later in 1903 Ira Washington Rubel made printing possible on paper. In this technique inked image is first transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket and from there to paper. It involves a lithographic process which involves repulsion of oil and water and involves a flat image carrier on which the image absorbs ink from the ink roller thereby not affecting the non-printable area. It is the best printing method available today which produces large volume of prints economically with minimal maintenance cost.
Commercial printing has a lot of advantages such as it produces high- quality images. The printing plates enjoy longer life as compared to the plates used in other printing methods. To add to these, the costing is very less which makes it a very profitable business option.
But with the advent of modernization and invention of computers digital printing is also gaining momentum in the market and slowly replacing offset printing. This printing method involves inkjet and laser jet printing methods. Here printing depends on the choice of the printer and every printed page can be different as there are no plates involved in the printing. Printing quality depends on the quality of the ink and toner used and also the printing technique involved. The setup space required is very negligible and is very cost -effective when it is concerned with small scale printing. Digital printing is still considered as a personalized printing method. It is basically attached to the tag of PRINT ON DEMAND where you can print a document whenever you require it. Digital prints can also be done on photographic paper.
So, basically offset printing is still considered to be the commercial form of printing whereas digital printing is still in a phase of gaining shares of offset printing though it seems to be a potent replacement for offset printing technique.
