Digital vs Offset Printing: 15 Pros & Cons You Need to Know

Are you interested in learning the differences between digital vs offset printing?

At Graphic Technology Group, this is a common question we've received throughout the years.

In this article, we'll take a look at fifteen pros and cons between digital vs offset printing.

What Is Offset Printing?

Offset printing has been around since the 19th century and is a very traditional form of print.

This type of printing technology uses metal plates to roll images onto a rubber blanket.

Once the image is on the rubber blanket, the image is printed onto a sheet of paper.

The reason this is called "offset printing" is because the ink isn't transferred directly to your media.

What Is Digital Printing?

Digital printing is more modern and uses inkjet and laser technology to transfer ink directly to paper.

This means digital printing equipment doesn't require metal plates or rubber blankets like offset.

Inkjet digital printers spray droplets of ink onto your paper from individual nozzles.

Laser digital printers use electrical charges to attract toner onto your (typically large format) media.

Digital vs Offset Printing: Pros & Cons

Both of these styles of print have many advantages and disadvantages you should consider.

The type of printing equipment you need depends on the job you're trying to accomplish.

​Advantages of Offset Printing

• Large print jobs (above 500) are more cost efficient
• Wide variety of media types with metallic and Pantone finishes
• Highest print resolution, detail, and color fidelity

Disadvantages of Offset Printing

• Proofing and edits are costly and time-consuming
• Longer set-up times than digital. However, they're getting much faster.
• Unable to import variable data (every print is the same)

Advantages of Digital Printing

• Low setup costs and quick turnaround times
• Ability to print variable data (names, addresses, etc.)
• Digital print quality is able to rival offset
• Software reduces job cost to run
• Wide range of sheet sizes and media
• Prints are 100% waterproof and ready for finishing

Disadvantages of Digital Printing

• Unable to handle commercial sheet sizes like newspapers
• Pantone color fidelity is higher on offset printing presses
• Can't apply custom finishes with metallic or fluorescent inks

Digital and offset printing have a wide variety of advantages and disadvantages.

Each one has benefits that will improve your business depending on the job you're trying to accomplish.

If you're working on a commercial project with hundreds of prints, offset is the way to go.

On the other hand, digital is great for projects with custom addresses or bar codes.

Plus, you'll be able to turnaround jobs on a digital printer much faster and cheaper.

Schedule a Live Demonstration

Understanding the differences between digital vs offset printing will improve your overall productivity.

Offset printing presses are the right choice for large runs with consistent non-variable data.

Digital printing presses are able to save time, deliver high quality, and make your business more efficient.

At Graphic Technology Group, we'd be happy to give you a live demonstration and answer all of your questions.

Please contact us at 678-429-3282 or visit our showroom in Kennesaw, GA to get started.