Unless you know the difference between digital and offset printing advantages, choosing the right method to make marketing or business materials like brochures, flyers, newsletters, and business cards is a difficult decision. The offset process has been around for over a century. It consists of transferring an image from a metal plate to a rubber roller, which then prints it onto the final material. Despite being an older process than the more modern digital method, offset often outweighs other options in certain situations. Here’s what you need to know about offset printing advantages and disadvantages.
Offset Printing Advantages
- When it comes to offset printing advantages, quantity is a key factor. This process produces larger quantities in a more cost-effective way than digital printing.
- Maybe you want metallic ink or a special kind of paper for your project. Offset offers more options for ink, material, and finishes, and is therefore more flexible than the digital method.
- Size matters for finished materials. Offset handles a variety of larger sizes that digital can’t often accommodate.
- When using the Pantone Matching System for printing in color, offset provides accurate color matching because it uses Pantone ink. This is important when reproducing logos or color-specific images.
Offset Printing Disadvantages
- Because the offset process includes the added steps of creating plates and performing the transfer, this method requires extra setup time. If you need a quick turnaround, last minute project, or any time-sensitive situation, digital is the way to go.
- Does your project need a personal touch? If you want customized pieces like letters, postcards, or direct mail items that require different information, like addresses, digital printing delivers more efficiently.
- Projects that require shorter print runs benefit from the digital process. The extra time and materials spent setting up the offset process is not cost-effective on smaller batches.
