| When it comes time to print your brand identity | | | | estimate. Jobs done on a press will typically run about |
| materials, there's one overarching question for you to | | | | twice the cost of digital |
| consider - whether to print the resulting materials on a | | | | printing.Excellent color accuracy - The Pantone |
| digital printer or traditional press. There are many | | | | Matching System (PMS) offers great color |
| differences between the two processes, some of | | | | accuracy. Pantone colors are mixed to precise, |
| which are outlined below.Digital PrintingLess expensive | | | | pre-set specifications, which are |
| - Digital printing is a direct-to-paper printing process. As | | | | printed each year in their color matching guides. You |
| a result, | | | | can consult these books to see |
| it often runs about one-half of the cost of press | | | | exactly what the final color will look like in advance. It's |
| printing.Lose color accuracy - Digital printing is a | | | | a lot like going to the paint |
| four-color printing process. Four colors | | | | store and specifying colors for your home on the |
| - cyan, magenta, yellow, and black - are printed in tiny | | | | paint chips they offer - you know |
| dots that when visually | | | | what you'll get. So, if color accuracy is important to |
| mixed together, create various colors. This, in addition | | | | you, then press printing may be |
| to the different set-ups and | | | | the best choice.Brighter colors are available - Since |
| settings on the machines from press-to-press, | | | | the Pantone colors are mixed using inks, they |
| batch-to-batch and printer-to- | | | | can be created to be much brighter and more intense. |
| printer, can produce a wide range of different color | | | | So, if lively colors are |
| results. You can never be certain | | | | important to your brand image, then press printing |
| what you'll get.Lose color range - Four-color printing | | | | may be the way to go.Cost of proofing - For |
| has limitations on the brightness, | | | | four-color press jobs, proofing is often not too |
| saturation, and range of colors available - when mixing | | | | expensive |
| colors in this way. To | | | | when compared to the overall cost of the job. |
| produce bright reds, oranges, blues, and purples, | | | | However, it can be inaccurate, |
| especially, press printing is a | | | | depending on the type of proof run and the type of |
| better choice.Cost of proofing - Proofing is one way | | | | press on which your final job |
| to produce accurate color. Proofing can be | | | | will be printed.For two- or three- color jobs printed |
| costly, especially when compared to the overall cost | | | | using the Pantone system, complete color |
| of the job. But, since the proof | | | | proofing is often not available. However, samples of |
| is created on the same equipment that the final job is | | | | the colors are available in the |
| printed on, it is often quite | | | | Pantone books. And, inexpensive laser prints or inkjet |
| accurate.Can be faster - Since no pre-press work or | | | | prints can be created to view |
| press setup is needed, running your job | | | | the positioning of the elements of the page. With a |
| on a digital press can be faster, depending on how | | | | little imagination, you can |
| many jobs the printer has in the | | | | visualize how the final job will look.Press printing can |
| queue before yours. Some printers can even offer | | | | take longer than digital - There are several additional |
| same-day service. Three days is a | | | | steps |
| standard turnaround time for many of the web-based | | | | involved in press printing, which are taken care of |
| digital printing companies.Limited paper choice - Digital | | | | using direct-to-press, digital |
| presses can only accommodate a limited paper | | | | technology. Films and plates must be made, the press |
| thickness, and many digital printing companies only | | | | set up, run the job and then |
| offer smooth, white papers. | | | | tune us needed for drying. Then cutting, folding, and |
| Thus, if a thick business card is important to you, then | | | | other finishing must take |
| digital printing is not your | | | | place.Types of paper - Choose from an entire |
| right choice.Limited finishing choices - Foil stamping, | | | | rainbow of paper colors - fire-engine red |
| metallic inks, and embossing services are | | | | to deep blue, sunflower yellow to pitch black. There is |
| usually not offered by digital printing houses. Some | | | | also a wide range of |
| digital printers also do not offer | | | | thicknesses and textures from which to choose, |
| die-cutting or special folding services.Limited choice of | | | | including specialty papers, such as |
| material sizes, styles, and formats - Digital printers will | | | | vellum and metallic papers. If you are considering using |
| offer a | | | | nontraditional paper your |
| very specific "menu" or range of products. If you | | | | card or materials, press printing is the best way to |
| want to create innovative | | | | go.Fine line screens are available - The result of this is |
| marketing materials, such as the brochure-style | | | | that even under close |
| business cards that we create at elf | | | | inspection, the color will look smooth and seamless. It |
| design, then digital printing is not a choice for your | | | | will also appear brighter and |
| project. Large formats are also | | | | more intense.Wide range of finishing techniques - All |
| not available with many digital printers, as the largest | | | | finishing options are possible with press |
| paper size they can | | | | printing. Metallic inks can be run through the press as |
| accommodate is 11" x 17".Press PrintingMore costly - | | | | easily as can a nonmetallic |
| The difference in costs is mainly due to setup costs. | | | | ink. Embossing, die cutting, and foil stamping can be |
| For press | | | | done in traditional printing |
| printing, films must be produced, and plates may have | | | | houses. You can create materials that really stand out |
| to be produced as well, | | | | using these techniques.Innovative formats, shapes, and |
| which are additional items that add to the overall cost. | | | | sizes are possible - Traditional press printing can |
| Additional time is involved in | | | | accommodate a wide range of paper sizes and can |
| setting up and aligning the press, as well as washing | | | | result in innovative and creative |
| the press. Also, there are more | | | | finished projects. This is largely due to the |
| overruns from traditional printing, since you cannot | | | | "have-it-your-way" range of options, |
| program in a specific number of | | | | where you can specify special sizes and finishing |
| pages to be printed as you can with a digital printer. | | | | techniques.We hope that the above primer on the pros |
| Most printers consider | | | | and cons of both digital printing and |
| overruns to be billable, or they add an additional cost | | | | press printing helps you to decide which you will |
| for that into the initial | | | | choose to produce your materials. |