Stop the Presses : it's Time to Go Digital!

New age printing methodology has plodded along since Gutenberg invented the first printing press in the 15th century. We all remember from our history of the American colonies where Benjamin Franklin made a name as a printer and publisher using hand set type on a one-off platen press. Since that time the most notable changes have been made to the speed at which an image can be produced.

Digital printing is a 20th century printing technology and has become the most popular method used today. The technique mainly involves reproduction of digital images on substrates such as paper, cloth, and plastics. Printing technology prior to digital also printed on the same substrates, but with analog devices usually involving a camera, ink, and a larger mechanical imaging press, many still in use today. These processes are indeed mature, but not necessarily old fashioned. They too have been updated with digital technology. Mostly notable with the advent of the digital plate maker thereby making much of the analog process obsolete.

In the digital age, a picture or business form is described in bits and bytes and then rendered through a digital processor into a much smaller mechanical process for output. Such is the case of a color laser printer or high end photocopier. Digital printing technology has advantages over the traditional analog offset printing press. The main advantage is faster turn around times and cost per piece, especially on lower quantities. Digital printing is the fastest and most affordable printing technique for a quantity of 500 prints or less. Your print professional will be in the best position to advise you which method is most suitable for your project. The traditional lithographic printing method is still very competitive at higher quantities. The conventional printing process involves making plates, employing skilled press operators and etc. So, the front end cost of doing the job is higher than digital. But once the printing press is running the cost to produce drops sharply whereas the digital printing devices tend flatten the cost curve quickly and remain fixed to a higher degree. The traditional press easily prints on nearly any kind of paper or envelope; a digital press would need to be more selective.

Digital printing is often used for printing business cards, flyers, and brochures but may not be suitable for letterheads and envelopes. It depends on the digital equipment configuration. The digital press has much flexibility with color. It easily jumps through the hoops for consistent pleasing output unattainable by other methods. Lastly, a major advantage to digital printing is something called variable data printing. VPD is the process of customizing a piece, such as a brochure with the name and important details of individual recipients embedded in the marketing message. VPD is the ultimate in customizing a message and is only available through digital printing.

If you would like additional and instructional tips related to your printing projects, you are invited to visit the "Hot Ideas" section of the West Printing Company. All the downloads are gratis.