When it comes to sending your project to print there are two different routes for you to consider – Offset Lithography Printing (usually referred to as Litho) or Digital Printing. For a complete novice it can be hard to determine which is best suited to your job and budget. So, to help make things a little easier, we’ve listed the benefits of each technique below.
Litho Printing
This is the traditional method of printing. The inked image is transferred from a printing plate to a rubber blanket and then the image is transferred again to the paper. Because of this complicated and time consuming set up, Litho Printing is best suited for larger runs and has a longer turnaround time.
So what are the benefits?
- Litho Printing offers a greater flexibility, allowing you to print on a diverse range of papers and card stocks
- Once the plates have been made, actually creating the prints is fairly simple and cost effective for long-run print jobs (such as leaflets or brochures)
- Printing is not limited to four-colour process and special or spot inks can be included which can greatly enhance the artwork. If you are using specific Pantone colours you can expect a more accurate colour match
- Litho Printing is much better for large areas of solid single colour. The colour comes out smoother and with a higher quality
Digital Printing
This is the more modern type of printing as it eliminates the need for a printing plate. It is usually done on methods such as laser or ink-jet printers. This type of printing technique is more suited to fast turnaround time print and lower volumes.
So what are the benefits?
- Much shorter turnaround time, so ideal for jobs that you need done quickly
- If you are just looking for a small print run then this will probably be the cheapest option for you
- Digital printing is ideal for personalised direct mail campaigns due to variable data printing. This is the process when information is taken from a database or external file and text and graphics can be changed on each piece. So, for example, you can change the address on an envelope or the name on a letter.
- Digital is more environmentally friendly than its counterparts as there are no pre-press stages between the digital document file and the final print. This means that there is no need for film plates or photo chemicals.
We offer both types of these printing styles and have had excellent results with each of them. It’s simply a case of looking at your requirements and finding the best fit for the job.