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In a general sense, printing is nothing new. The technology to print ink on paper in quantity has been around in centuries.

However, it’s safe to say that the printing techniques that are used today are definitely not the same as those that were used to print the Gutenberg Bible in the 1450s.

Technologically speaking, printing has come a long way in the last few centuries, and the development of new and better printing methods seems certain for the future.

If you need to have brochures, pamphlets or packaging printed, then you likely will be asked to choose between an offset printing process and digital printing.

Which technology is right for your project? Is one of these printing processes inherently better than the other?

Few clear-cut answers will emerge that can be applied to all projects. However, by considering your budget, the time Which technology is right for your project? Is one of these printing processes inherently better than the other?constraints, the substrate on which you’ll be printing and other factors, you will be able to more easily make a choice between offset printing and digital printing.

If you need more information about designing custom packaging for your brand, just get in touch with Mid-Atlantic Packaging. Our design experts are always happy to help whether you need assistance from the ground up or just need a trusted partner in the packaging industry.

Offset Printing: The Old-School Choice

Sometimes called lithography, offset printing has been around for a long time. In fact, it remains a popular choice when companies need to print a high volume of finished products.

Perhaps you have had a chance to see offset printing in action. This is the case if you’ve ever seen recordings of newspaper printers at work in a movie or television show.

The process behind offset printing is relatively simple, but it also can be kind of time-consuming. This is because the printer must begin by burning the needed design or designs onto metal plates. Each plate is capable of inking one color onto the substrate.

Offset printing relies on the four basic printing colors which are: cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Typically, you will see these colors abbreviated as CMYK for convenience. While these are the most common colors used in offset printing, it also is possible to select custom colors. Many companies choose Pantone colors or their own exclusive color.

The printer then transfers the design from the various plates onto rubber rolls. The various ink colors that are being used are spread onto the rubber rolls, then the paper is run through them. As the paper moves through each roll, color is added layer by layer. Once the paper has passed through all of the rolls, the final image will appear.

When Offset Printing Makes Sense

Offset printing may be the old-school choice, but many companies still like this process because it delivers excellent image quality. Text and images are distinct and clean, and there are really no such things as spots or streaks.

Additionally, offset printing promises superior color fidelity. When the accuracy of the color on your packaging is absolutely critical, then offset printing is probably the far more reliable choice. The secret to this is the fact that offset printing can use inks that are custom mixed just for your job. It’s never been easier to get the colors precisely right on your packaging.

If you are needing a large-volume job, then offset printing frequently makes a great deal of sense. That’s mainly because you simply get more for your money. It’s true that getting started with an offset printing project is costlier and requires more time. However, once your plates are created and all of the materials are at hand, you might be surprised to learn that big-quantity jobs actually are less expensive than digital printing. Remember that those plates can be used again and again, so you won’t have to invest the time and expense on getting plates made every time.

Moreover, offset printing works well on virtually any material. Whether you’re printing on paper, cardboard or something else, you’ll be pleased with the results every time.

Does Offset Printing Have Any Drawbacks?

If you are working on a low-volume job, offset printing may not be the best choice. That’s because of all of the time and money that are required in creating the plates. Likewise, any printing projects that are time-sensitive probably are not best suited to offset printing.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that errors in the offset printing process can be especially costly to correct. Customers are always given an opportunity to proofread the plates before the batch is run, but if a typo doesn’t get caught at this stage of the game, then it will be necessary to start over. You definitely don’t want packaging with a typo out there in the world.

Digital Printing: A Newer Technology

Do you need to get a printing job done in a hurry? If so, then digital printing is the way to go. This process does away with the printing plates as well as the rubber bed.

That’s because digital printing is a direct printing process. Accordingly, the design is directly applied to the printing surface using powdered toner or liquid ink.

You have probably already seen digital printing in action if you have a laserjet or inkjet printer at home or in the office. Printing companies simply hare larger versions of these machines that handle much more high-volume, and more complex, printing projects.

When Digital Printing Is the Best Choice

As you might guess, there are many benefits to choosing digital printing for certain projects. Turnaround time can be lightning fast, which is a major asset when you’re trying to meet a critical deadline. Additionally, digital printing technology makes low-volume jobs really affordable. With no need to make plates, the turnaround time on digital print jobs in undeniably quicker.

Some companies prefer digital printing because it’s easier to change the information that’s being used in the print job. For instance, if you wanted to create a special holiday version of your brand’s shipping boxes, it would be a cinch to do so on the computer and then have the job printed digitally.

Digital Printing Drawbacks

Unfortunately, digital printing isn’t the perfect choice in all situations. Printing on absolutely any material is not realistic. You further may notice that the color fidelity isn’t quite as reliable as it is with offset printing. That is owed to the fact that digital printers use standard inks that do not necessarily match your colors with as much precision. However, it is worth noting that digital technology is constantly evolving, which makes obtaining better color fidelity a genuine possibility in the future.

Some people also say that digital printing just doesn’t have the same quality as offset printing. There may be some reduction in clarity and crispness, and digital printing will cost you more if you have a high-volume job.

How to Choose Between Offset Printing and Digital Printing

Before you can choose the right printing process, it is necessary to consider certain factors such as:

• The size of the project
• How much time you have before a deadline
• What material is being printed on
• The colors you would like to use in your design
• The amount of customization needed in the design
• Whether or not you need to see samples before embarking on the full project

The size of the project is a huge factor when determining whether offset printing or digital printing will make the most sense from a financial viewpoint. However, if you need high-volume print jobs, then it always makes sense to spring for offset printing. You’ll save on volume and get outstanding results.

In some cases, turnaround time will be the deciding factor. When you are working with a really short deadline, then digital printing will get the job done for you in record time.

The material on which your design will be printed may be a complicating factor. Offset printing can work on absolutely any material, even if you choose something that is unusual or unique. However, you can choose either printing technique if you will be printing on materials like paper and cardboard, so you may want to let other factors help you to make your choice.

Either printing technique can be used on:

• Primary product packaging
• Secondary product packaging
• Packaging for shipping
• Accessories like ribbons and tissue paper

Frequently, color is the deciding factor when choosing a printing technique. Your marketing department may have put considerable effort into crafting a proprietary color or color scheme that is central to your website, promotional materials, business cards and everything else. If you want your packaging to reflect that color scheme as accurately as possible, then offset printing is definitely the right choice. If you can afford to be less choosy about color, then digital printing will work.

Another factor to consider is how unique or unusual your design is. The easiest, least expensive way to get it going is with digital printing. This process also makes it easier to make changes on the fly.

Do you need to circulate proofs to various team members before plunging into the larger project? If so, then digital printing will give you an advantage. Getting a proof from an offset printing project will necessitate the creation of plates, which is expensive and time-consuming.

Are You Ready to Print?

Talk to the custom packaging experts at Mid-Atlantic Packaging to learn more about your options. By visiting our dedicated custom printed retail packaging page, you can start a quote today.