Offset Printing vs. Digital Printing

Outside of the printing business, you may be unfamiliar with many of these terms. Offset printing and digital printing are two types of commercial print services that are common throughout the industry. Here’s what you should know:

What is Offset Printing?

Offset printing is a method of applying ink to paper using metal plates. A new metal sheet is required for each color utilized. Offset printing is time-consuming and costly, therefore it’s only used by professional printers for large-scale jobs.

In offset printing, the greater the number of copies you print, the less preparation will be required between runs. The typical ratio for most offset printing projects is 2,000 copies to keep the project cost-effective for the buyer. This implies that a customer should only consider offset printing if they have a large batch of their work to print. Otherwise, you’ll be paying more than necessary.

What is Digital Printing?

Drums are utilized to apply toner through a heating procedure to the paper in digital printing. Digital printing, simply put, employs heat generated to “fuse” the ink with the paper, resulting in a long-lasting print that appears sharp and clean.

Because it’s a less time-consuming process, professional printers working on small-scale projects under 2,000 copies prefer to use digital printing. The time it takes to set up a digital printing job is also considerably lower, making it more appealing for projects that need to be completed quickly.

Ready to Get Printing?

Whether you’re managing a small or large copy job, it’s important to get it done right. J & B Business Copiers have tons of new and reconditioned copier machines and can help you upgrade your office equipment for greater efficiency and effectiveness. Contact J & B Business Copiers today for more information about copier repair services and our Ricoh and Savin photocopiers.