What is the difference between digital and offset? And what is the best solution for you?
Don’t you know what digital printing and offset printing are?
At PCG we will tell you what are the differences between digital and offset printing, and advise you to find the best solution for your company!
If you are not a professional printer, these terms may seem different. However, their definition is not so complicated, and making the difference between these two printing processes can help you avoid many problems!
Indeed, depending on whether your order is large or not, you will choose one or the other technique. Understanding the difference between the two can also help you to know which solution is best for you in terms of value for money.
The volume of printing
If you want to print in large quantities of the same design, we recommend offset printing. Highly accurate, this technique allows you to print your products identically with a wide variety of inks and colours, from pantones to CMYK and many others. Offset printing works with aluminium metal plates. Each primary colour requires a different metal plate. The costs of setting up offset presses would not be advantageous for small runs, for which digital will be preferred.
Speed and cost-efficiency
Are you late for the printing of your catalogues? Are you out of flyers during an important event? You need digital printing! Its quick turnaround time at a low cost is an undeniable advantage for simple, personalized and last-minute printing.
Original or unusual papers and materials
Although digital printing will allow you to print small and large formats on paper as well as PVC, the materials that can be printed with this method are limited. Offset offers a multitude of possibilities: different types of paper, smooth or granulated, PVC, but above all, they allow a greater variation in the thickness of the materials.
In fact, while the digital printer can print on materials with a thickness of 80 to 350 g (indicative range that can be slightly expanded), an offset printer can print on materials from 40 to 600 g thick.
Your interest in environmental issues
Preconceived idea: Although offset printing offers the possibility of printing with 100% ecological inks, the creation of an offset press requires very high energy consumption. In the end, there are few differences between the two techniques from an environmental point of view.
Let’s summarize. If you want to print small quantities of customised and classic formats (standard grammage), in a short time and at low cost, you need digital printing!
But if you need your products in large quantities, of high quality with great precision or on very thin or very thick materials, we recommend offset printing!
For all your offset or digital printing needs, PCG guides and advises you to obtain the best for all your printing product needs.
Contact with PCG
If you need a personalised quotation or would like our team to provide you with assessment for your projects, please feel free to contact us. We are a team of professionals from the sector that will look after your project from beginning to end.