Offset vs Digital Printing

What is the difference between offset printing and digital color printing? First let's cover the basics. Offset printing is the gold standard for high quality, high quantity (1,000 or more). It requires the creation of aluminum plates for each of the 4 colors (CMYK) for each press run. Once the 4 plates are made they are installed on the press rollers. Each press sheet is fed into the press and is touched by each color separately. After the printing process the plates are removed and discarded for recycling.

We print on a large Heidelberg 40" presses that can accommodate various smaller images making up what is often referred to as "gang printing". Press runs are typically ran in increments of 1000, 2500 and 5000 at a time which offers the most yield per press run.

Digital printing also uses a CMYK color method but it does not require plates. Thus making it ideal for small quantities as well as variable graphic and data printing. We operate state of the art HP Indigo Digital Printing Presses that offer superb quality with no set up costs.

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Rich Black