Digital Printing Packaging Versus Offset Printing

As a small business owner, you must understand digital printing packaging versus offset printing. In many cases, you're better off using digital printing for your packaging. Offset printing is great for large runs and high-quality work, but it isn’t really cost-effective if you only need a few boxes or labels; however, digital technology allows you to create the same thing at a fraction of the cost.

The printing industry has made incredible strides in developing digital printing and is now more environmentally friendly than ever. Digital printing also offers significant advantages over offset printing, including being more cost-effective, providing faster turnaround times, and enhancing flexibility and customization options.

Technological Improvements

Digital printing technology is constantly improving. Over the last few years, digital printing has become much more cost-effective while maintaining a high quality of print. Technology is advancing at an incredible rate, and innovations are always being made in this space. If you have a specific need for packaging that requires quick turnarounds and flexibility, digital printing may be the ideal solution for you.

Offset Printing 

Offset printing is the most common type of commercial printing, and it's why you see so many magazines, books, posters, and other printed materials on store shelves. Offset printing allows for high-quality prints at a relatively fast pace—it's also more expensive than digital alternatives because of the equipment required to make offset-printed products.

Offset-printed pieces typically have a higher perceived value than those produced using other methods of production. Therefore, they're often used for advertising campaigns—when budgets allow for it—or where image quality matters.

Digital Printing 

Digital printing is significantly less expensive than offset when you're dealing with small print runs. With digital printing, the cost per unit is lower and there's no need for plates or film to be set up. The only preparation required is a digital file containing the design, which can be sent directly from your computer to the printer. The trade-off is that offset printing can produce large quantities in less time than digital print processes.

Digitally printed packages are more accurate representations of the original file because they do not require color matching. This means your prints will be better in terms of color and vibrancy than those produced by offset printing.

Variable Data Printing

Another benefit of digital packaging—as opposed to offset printing—is that it allows for much greater customization. With digital, you can create custom packaging with any type of ink or finish. In other words, anything's possible with digital printing.

Variable data printing is a type of digital printing that allows for optimal customization—digital printing solutions allow you to print different copies and images on each piece. In addition to personalizing products, variable data printers make it easy for marketers to get something printed fast without compromising quality control standards.

Multiple Options

Digital printing has come a long way since its early days as a niche technology. It's now a viable option for many businesses looking to get their products on the market with minimum investment and maximum quality. Printing digitally allows for more experimentation and creativity than offset printing, as well as personalization, flexibility, and variety that offset printing simply can't provide.