Digital Printing vs. Traditional Printing: What’s the Difference?
For those venturing into the world of printing, the differences between traditional and digital printing might not be too clear. This guide explains everything you need to know about both methods and hopefully, it will help you choose the best option for your business.
The Design Creation Process
To print a design, traditional or offset printing companies must create a plate for each color in the design. This can be costly and time-consuming. Digital printing, on the other hand, has evolved to handle all aspects of design creation online, eliminating the need for plates and higher costs.
Production Speed
Due to the time required to produce plates and other preparations, offset printing can take a while. Depending on the company’s order backlog, your order can take days or weeks to print and deliver. While traditional printing is high quality, it might not be the best option for a business that urgently needs printed materials.
For this reason, digital printing is very popular for its quick turnaround times. Because there are no plates and everything happens online, most digital printing companies can print your order immediately.
How Flexible Are Offset and Digital Printing?
Both methods allow for adjustments, but due to the physical nature of traditional printing, it can be time-consuming and costly to personalize each item (e.g., materials that need the names of different recipients). Digital printing allows for last-minute design changes and personalization without fuss or extra expenses.
How Replica Can Help You
We are a dedicated digital printing company based in San Diego. Our team is highly experienced and passionate about each project, guaranteeing a fast and excellent experience every time. If you live in San Diego, we can also deliver your order to your door for free!