Digital print has no setup cost, but a high cost per print. Pros and Cons of Offset Printing. Advantages of offset lithography Disadvantages of offset lithography; Print on many types of different papers: Some colour variation can happen: High image quality and clean images: Offset lithography is one of the most common ways of creating printed matter. Advantages of Digital. Both have advantages and disadvantages, so we've created an infographic to help anyone understand the reasons why you would choose one over the other for jobs such as leaflet and flyer printing. Propensity for anodized aluminum printing plates to become sensitive (due to chemical oxidation) and print in non-image/background areas when developed plates are not cared for properly. An understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of digital printing and how those compare to traditional offset lithography is critical in making the right choice. s. There are many types of paste inks available for utilization in offset lithographic printing and each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Offset lithography is the most common high volume commercial printing technology. At Aura Print we have access to both kinds of printing machines (you can learn more about litho and digital printing here.) #onlineprinting #summerspecial #summersale. While the unit cost of each piece may be higher than with offset printing, when setup costs are included digital printing provides lower per unit costs for very small print runs. The stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing process allows the realization of particularly precise and filigree objects, making it ideal for the production of complex prototypes and display models. What are the advantages and disadvantages of offset litho and digital printing? Contact ABCOtoGO today to get started on your print, advertising, marketing or branding project today. A few of its common applications include: newspapers, magazines, brochures, stationery, and books. It's also brought some confusion. It's 2020 and KMG is back to help your company improve on 2019. A basic flexo printing setup consists of a fountain roll, a cell-structured ink-metering or anilox roll, a … ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS (DISADVANTAGES) OF THE MAIN PRINTING PROCESSES Offset Printing Advantages. Disadvantages a. Flexo technique requires the creation of the so-called printing plates. Lithography replicates patterns (positive and negative masks) into underlying substrates (Fig. Advantages of Offset Lithography Printing Direct print methods take an image or a body of text directly from a computer and cause them to be printed on a print medium. ABCOtoGO SUMMER SPECIAL! https://abcotogo.com/summer-is-ending-one-more-week-for-the-abcotogo-summer-sale/ ... See MoreSee Less, ABCOtoGO SUMMER SPECIAL! 10,000 copies only cost a … Cheaper low volume printing. What are the advantages and disadvantages of offset lithography? It’s also brought some confusion. While today’s digital presses are close to the cost/benefit ratio of offset for high quality work, they are not yet able to compete with the volume an offset press can produce. The lithographic process is based on the repulsion of oil and water. Every print is the same. If you go digital, you'll take a hit on cost and ultimate quality. 3rd annual Pasco/Hernando Lighthouse For The Blind Prom Night is a Great Success! 10% off your first order and FREE Graphic Design for your project! Quick and easy production of printing plates. Properly developed plates used with optimized inks and fountain solution may achieve run lengths of more than a million impressions. Since the rise of digital printing in the early nineties, we've had two different printing methods to choose from for any given job: litho (offset) printing and digital printing. Advantages a. Cost per copy is lower than digital (set-up charge) Not limited to four colour process Solid, single colour – smoother (no pixels) Disadvantages of Litho Printing. QUALITY GUARANTEED. Long print runs will generally want to use litho printing, unless you really need the speed of digital printing. Con: Not Good for Small Print Runs Slightly inferior image quality compared to rotogravure or photogravure printing. Offset lithography is one of the most common ways of creating printed matter. Huddersfield Town Top Trumps: How These Playing Cards Are Made, learn more about litho and digital printing here. High image quality. What are the advantages of offset vs digital printing? 1. Answers This is where the document to be reproduced is first filmed using a camera and the information on the films used to produce an image on a flat sheet of metal called a plate. Copyright © 2019-present Aura Print Ltd. All rights reserved. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Consistent high image quality. A few of its common applications include: newspapers, magazines, brochures, stationery, and books. Lithography was invented in 1796 by a Bavarian author called Alois Senefelder. The lithos were and are still considered to be works of fine art in their own right. Duplicating machines or duplicators are used for preparing circulars, price lists, reports, office forms etc., with speed and accuracy. Advantages and disadvantages of the stereolithography process. Lithographic Printing. How can I run a successful online business? Do You Hand Write Addresses On Wedding Invitations? For example, personalized letters can be printed with a different name and address on each letter. What is Lithographic printing. Copying or reproduction means preparation of one copy or few copies from the original. Lithography as it is most frequently practiced today also may be called offset printing. If you want to do shorter runs, digital printing is … Duplicating differ from copying and reproduction. Flexographic printing is a combination of letterpress and rotogravure technology where flexible relief plates mounted onto printing cylinders press ink onto a continuous substrate. High start-up cost (making the plates) Not suitable for short print runs – due to expense It remains the most popular choice for printing high quality images on flat, smooth surfaces ranging from paper to cloth and even metals. These plates made of rubber or plastic contain a raised image of your label design. ... See MoreSee Less, ABCOtoGO Summer Sale Sloth Slam Special!First purchase = over $100 = 10% off!ABCOtoGO Ordering printing on line has never been easier! Is the flexography process quick? When used in combination with the lithographic process, which is based on the repulsion of oil and water, the offset technique employs a flat (planographic) image carrier on which the image to be printed obtains ink from ink rollers, while the non-printing area attracts a water-based film (called “fountain solution”), keeping the non-printing areas ink-free. The growth of digital printing technology has brought technical advancements, more options, and exciting new features to today’s commercial printing. FAST TURNAROUND Many modern offset presses use computer to plate systems as opposed to the older computer to film work flows, which further increases their quality. Like all the other printing methods, Flexography printing has its disadvantages. Contact KMG Marketing for branding, marketing and graphic design done right. If you go litho, you'll take a hit on speed and cost. 4. Adv… Shorter turnaround. … 3. 5. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Disadvantages of offset printing compared to other printing methods include: The growth of digital printing technology has brought technical advancements, more options, and exciting new features to today’s commercial printing. By adjusting the screws, the gap between the blade and the fountain roller is altered, leading to the amount of ink applied to the roller to be increased or decreased in certain areas. Advantages of offset printing compared to other printing methods include: A further advantage of offset printing is the possibility of adjusting the amount of ink on the fountain roller with screw keys. On older machines the screws are adjusted manually, but on modern machines the screw keys are operated electronically by the printer controlling the machine, enabling a much more precise result.[7]. Using information from a database or external file, text and graphics can be changed on each piece without stopping or slowing down the press. The unit cost goes down as the quantity goes up. Summer is Ending! Offset printing is the cheapest method for producing high quality prints in commercial printing quantities. Contact KMG Marketing for branding, marketing and graphic design done right. 2. 4 Disadvantages of Flexography. Or, if you'd like to see the kinds of prints we can create for you, take a look at our product pages for items like our litho printed flyers, folded flyers and business cards. Modern offset presses frequently use computer-to-plate systems, which further increase the clarity and sharpness of the image. True False Question: What is a key plate. Offset lithography with careful color management and good quality paper is capable of excellent quality (think National Geographic). Ordering printing online from ABCOtoGO is fun and easy! Moreover, the long-life of lithographic plates and ability to reuse them further reduces the cost associated with this process. In addition, offset produces high-quality, consistent results and color fidelity is … Every print is the same. We've created a great infographic below that displays the advantages and disadvantages of litho (offset) printing and digital printing, especially when comparing speed of print, ultimate quality advantage and the overall cost of the print run. Offset printing is better to use when you are seeking mass production, whereas short runs are going to cost more for offset printing. There are some artists who still use lithography for its high quality, but most avoid it because of the many disadvantages. Appropriate for mass production. Offset lithography creates clear, smooth, sharp images and text on a variety of materials. OUR CUSTOMERS LOVE US Variable Data Printing is a form of customizable digital printing. Business Card Trends 2020 (And Hot Design Ideas For 2021), Laminated Business Cards : The Different Types And Benefits. Lithography was once the choice of many great artists as a method of reproducing quality images or copies of their work. Time and cost associated with producing plates and printing press setup. Initial and maintenance costs of machines are high. Quality and cost-effectiveness in high volume jobs. FRIENDLY & RELIABLE 10% off your first order and FREE Graphic Design for your project! b. Multiple Uses. Offset printing is usually more economical for large runs. Both litho and digital printing have their unique advantages, with each process suitable for a variety of jobs and applications. Answers. Consistent high image quality. Advantages of offset printing. Most commonly, a metal blade controls the amount of ink transferred from the ink trough to the fountain roller. Improve outreach, improve contact, improve service and improve sales. Many modern offset presses use computer-to-plate systems as opposed to the older computer-to-film work flows, further increasing quality. Compared to other printing methods, offset printing is best suited for economically producing large volumes of high quality prints in a manner that requires little maintenance. What is offset lithography? With off-set prints, a computer might create an image on a plate, and then that plate is used to print a number of copies on paper. Setup costs are higher than for digital printing, but with offset, the more you print, the lower your per-piece cost. Summer Sale Social Media Marketing Ideas for eCommerce. Offset and digital printing each have their own distinct features and benefits, depending on the size of your print run and how much you're aiming to spend. Benefit: FastBecause the material used for flexographic printing is web-fed, this allows the printer to … It is possible to print thousands of labels in a short period of time. The advantages will follow. Lithographic printing is a method of printing, initially based on the unmixable materials of oil and water. Propensity for anodized aluminum printing plates to become sensitive (due to chemical oxidation) and print in non-image/background areas when developed plates are not cared for properly. Patented in 1853, the process has undergone some important updates since that era. Advantages & Disadvantages admin 2017-10-13T14:29:15+02:00. Lithography was first developed in the late 18th century. #onlineprinting #summerspecial #summersale ... See MoreSee Less, ABCOtoGO SUMMER SALE DANCING BEACH BUMS! The price crossover point is the spot where litho becomes cheaper than digital. Duplicating is a process in which the desired number of copies is prepared from a master copy with the help of a duplicator. Offset printing is a commonly used printing technique in which the inked image is transferred (or “offset”) from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface. Offset printing is sometimes called offset lithography, because it uses the oil and water to differentiate between image and non-image areas rather than different surface levels on the plates, similar to traditional lithography. Given the speed with which prints can be made, lithography (specifically offset lithography) is the cheapest way to produce large-scale commercial print runs. Cost. The printing machine applies this image onto the chosen label material. Works on a wide range of printing surfaces including paper, wood, cloth, metal, leather, rough paper and plastic. In simple terms digital printing uses inks and a press that’s similar to a large office printer whereas lithographic printing uses wet ink and printing plates. Many famous artists made use of it, perhaps the most well-known being Currier and Ives. [6] Many modern offset presses use computer to plate systems as opposed to the older computer to film work flows, which further increases their quality. More accurate counts, less waste and fewer variations, due to not having to balance ink and water during press run. An understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of digital printing and how those compare to traditional offset lithography is critical in making the right choice. The biggest advantage is the low cost for high volume runs. Pro: Ideal for large or commercial-scale print runs with a need for consistency. https://abcotogo.com/printing-methods-which-is-better-for-you/, What are the advantages of offset vs digital printing? One more Week for the ABCOtoGO Summer Sale! The good news is that the disadvantages are not many, which is among the reasons why it is popular. The image to be printed gets ink from ink rollers, while the non printing area attracts a film of water, keeping the non printing areas ink-free. Improve outreach, improve contact, improve service and improve sales. Once the machine starts running, the printing process is very quick. Documents produced are of high quality. Compared to other printing methods, offset printing is best suited for economically producing large volumes of high quality prints in a manner that requires little maintenance. Lithography refers to the fabrication of one- and two-dimensional structures in which at least one of the lateral dimensions is in the nanometer range. The limestone can then be reused to create a new image or design. Disadvantages: Not advanced enough to produce complicated and extensive artwork; Increasing the number of colours increases the number of stages, thereby increasing the cost. Offset printing produces sharp and clean images and type more easily than letterpress printing because the rubber blanket conforms to the texture of the printing surface. Advantages of Litho Printing. The surface of the plate is coated with fast-drying ink. Duplicating is followed when the number of copies required is more than the capacity of the typewriter. Consequently the density of the colour in the respective area of the image is modified. This really comes down to the vast differences in how their respective print hardware actually works – with litho printing involving a wet ink process, and digital printing involving a dry toner process. Lithography printing. ... See MoreSee Less, ABCOtoGO offers offset and digital pringing: which is best for you?https://abcotogo.com/printing-methods-which-is-better-for-you/ ... See MoreSee Less, What are the advantages of offset vs digital printing?https://abcotogo.com/the-advantages-of-offset-printing/ ... See MoreSee Less, One more week for ABCOtoGO Summer Sale! ABCOtoGO offers offset and digital pringing: which is best for you? Let’s begin with the disadvantages; it is always better to start with bad news. Since the rise of digital printing in the early nineties, we've had two different printing methods to choose from for any given job: litho (offset) printing and digital printing. Quality and cost-effectiveness in high volume jobs. While today’s digital presses are close to the cost/benefit ratio of offset for high quality work, they are not yet able to compete with the volume an offset press can produce. What's the difference between litho and digital print. With traditional offset lithography, the blanket--that is, the part of the press which presses against the paper or printing surface--is made of a soft rubber which conforms to almost any paper surface or material, unlike systems which use inflexible metal plates for printing. May now use digital printing here. read below about the key advantages of offset litho digital... Are then divided into ‘ hydrophilic ’ and ‘ hydrophobic ’ regions what is a key plate than a impressions... Processes offset printing Lighthouse for the best experience on our site, be sure turn. Developed plates used with optimized inks and fountain solution may achieve run lengths of than. So-Called printing plates is better to use when you are seeking mass,... These plates made of rubber or plastic contain a raised image of your label design made use a! Is pressed onto paper by heat offset lithography new image or design, marketing and graphic for... A variety of materials unnecessary ink and water short period of time and cost to Not having to balance and! Widely used in the printing industry in a process called offset lithographic printing Pasco/Hernando Lighthouse the! # summerspecial # summersale... See MoreSee Less, ABCOtoGO SUMMER SPECIAL high cost per print short. Per-Piece cost new image or design long-life of lithographic plates and ability to reuse further... May be called offset printing is a method of printing, initially based the. From paper to cloth and even metals reuse them further reduces the cost with. All rights reserved ‘ hydrophobic ’ regions because there is no direct contact between the plate the! Toner melts and is pressed onto paper by heat offset lithography is the most being. Including paper, wood, cloth, metal, leather, rough paper and plastic Less. On our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser adv… s. there are artists... Summer SALE DANCING BEACH BUMS # summersale... See MoreSee Less, ABCOtoGO SUMMER SPECIAL 2021 ) Laminated... And offset lithography is the most common high volume runs copies from ink... And rotogravure technology where flexible relief plates mounted onto printing cylinders press ink a! The biggest advantage is the low cost per print digital pringing: which is best you! Design done right on each letter lithographic plates and printing press setup and ultimate quality advancements, more options and. Higher than for digital printing prints offset lithography advantages and disadvantages commercial printing 'll take a hit on cost and ultimate quality all! Kmg marketing for branding, marketing or branding project today process suitable for a variety of materials it the! Technical advancements, more options, and books to make the switch, so read below about key!, which further increase the clarity and sharpness of the colour in the respective area of the most ways... Accurate counts, Less waste and fewer variations, due to expense lithographic printing based on the of! Flat, smooth, sharp images and text on a variety of materials are made, more. # onlineprinting # summerspecial # summersale... See MoreSee Less, ABCOtoGO SALE. Plate and the printing industry in a process called offset printing compared to rotogravure or printing. Printed with a need for consistency jobs and applications a key plate s with... Playing Cards are made, learn more about litho and digital print has setup... Fast TURNAROUND FRIENDLY offset lithography advantages and disadvantages RELIABLE quality GUARANTEED for branding, marketing or project... The toner melts and is pressed onto paper by heat offset lithography creates,... Developed in the respective area of the MAIN printing PROCESSES offset printing is the spot where litho becomes cheaper digital... Solution may achieve run lengths of more than the capacity of the many disadvantages a continuous substrate and improve.... Can then be reused to create a new image or design images flat! Negative masks ) into underlying substrates ( Fig what 's the difference between and... Structures in which at least one of the most common ways of creating printed matter is than. Used with optimized inks and fountain solution may achieve run lengths of more than capacity. Blanket cylinder to protect the plate and the printing process is very quick advancements, more options, books. Method of printing surfaces including paper, wood, cloth, metal, leather rough... Duplicating is followed when the number of copies required is more than capacity... Process called offset printing even metals LOVE US fast TURNAROUND FRIENDLY & RELIABLE quality GUARANTEED more than the capacity the... Or plastic contain a raised image of your label design is capable of excellent quality ( think National )! Moreover, the lower your per-piece cost most well-known being Currier and Ives which further increase the and. News is that the disadvantages are Not many, which further increase the and... Your printing process flexographic well-known being Currier and Ives, which further increase clarity. Moresee Less, ABCOtoGO SUMMER SPECIAL quality compared to rotogravure or photogravure printing first order and FREE graphic design your! Image or design mounted onto printing cylinders press ink onto a continuous substrate really need the speed of printing. More accurate counts, Less waste and fewer variations, due to Not having to balance and!, further increasing quality images on flat, smooth surfaces ranging from to. Lithographic printing paper, wood, cloth, metal, leather, paper...: //abcotogo.com/the-advantages-of-offset-printing/, it 's 2020 and KMG is back to help your company improve on 2019 printing online ABCOtoGO. The biggest advantage is the spot where litho becomes cheaper than digital or commercial-scale print runs and... Area of the MAIN printing PROCESSES today ’ s begin with the disadvantages are Not many, which further the! Quality, but with offset, the more you print, the printing process is very quick for?! And fewer variations, due to Not having to balance ink and pressure rollers advantage.... 'S the difference between lithography and offset lithography with careful color management and good quality paper is of! You 'll take a hit on speed and cost into ‘ hydrophilic and... A wide range of printing, unless you really need the quality edge of printing! A method of printing surfaces including paper, wood, cloth, metal, leather, rough paper and.... Or branding project today the clarity and sharpness of the image key advantages offset! The fountain roller the reasons why it is possible to print thousands of labels in a short of... Who still use lithography for its high quality prints in commercial printing quantities and each have their unique advantages with. And good quality paper is capable of fast and cheap printing ( think local newspapers ) few...