- I had my first experience at a printing company
in the second week of my first job.
My art director asked me to go down to Lower Manhattan
and watch a project print, checking the ink levels,
paper, and type quality.
The first sheet I reviewed had tons
of tiny dark spots all over it.
I blew on a sheet thinking it might be dust
and they flew away.
The gruff printing foreman told me that that was a test.
We flick ashes on a sheet to see
if a designer will circle everything.
Then we laugh.
Fortunately, I passed.
Today, you can print a project multiple ways,
but generally digitally or with offset printing.
So what's the difference?
First, digital printing works with printing machines
much like the one in your office or house,
but it's much larger and with better toner.
The digital printer functions the same
as yours in the office.
Cyan, yellow, magenta, and black toner cartridges
print onto individual sheets of paper.
Each printout costs you the same
whether you print 10 or 1,000 copies.
Offset printing is the traditional method
everyone has seen in a movie or on television
when someone goes to a printing plant
and giant loud machines are churning out
thousands of prints.
For over a hundred years,
printing companies have used offset printing
for most projects.
It's physical, based on ink, water and paper,
not a digital process.
The press person puts ink into a well.
A metal plate transfers the design to a rubber blanket
that rolls the design onto the paper.
Typically offset printing
uses cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.
You can also add custom spot colors and varnishes.
Most of the time, the budget and quantities will dictate
which printing process is a better choice.
Digital printing is excellent with smaller quantities
or if the piece is personalized.
You may be limited to add a Pantone color,
not using CMYK process inks.
Offset is more cost-effective
if you are printing larger quantities.
Rather than paying for each sheet fed into the machine,
the cost is for the materials and press time.
This also allows you to add specific Pantone colors
and varnish techniques.
Here's an example.
If I only need 250 invitations to a wedding,
I will pay for 250 printouts with a digital printer
if I print one or a hundred.
If I use offset printing,
I will pay for a large bulk of paper and press time.
This could be more expensive,
but have a lower cost per invitation
if I need 10,000 copies.
Here, the offset printing process
will probably be more affordable.
Here's a solution. Estimate it both ways.
Be aware that you may have less choice with paper
or custom colors with digital printing.
However, you can personalize each piece with a unique name.
With offset printing, every invitation is the same.
Individual customization is not possible.
The upside is that professional printers care about quality
and want to be proud of their work.
Either choice is viable.
These different kinds of print processes are complex.
If you would like to learn more,
I suggest that you check out the Print Production series
by Claudia McCue.