Digital printing started in the late 20th century. Before digital printing services were introduced; traditional printing would need heavy machinery, long set up time and cost. While, digital printing made the days of process possible in just hours. Digital printing offers speed, efficiency and cost effectiveness for short run, but it is not the best choice for every job as some prints need exact colors and perfect finishes. In this blog we will go in detail to analyze the pros and cons for Digital printing, as it will help businesses make knowledge backed decisions to choose the right kind of printing for their needs.
Major Advantages (Pros) of Digital Printing
There are several advantages of digital printing. Here are few of them;
- Speed and efficient process: Since digital printing does not need plate and setup cost, once a file is ready the prints can be taken out. However, the resolution of the file must be up to standard for print to be clear. So digital print is ideal for businesses that don’t need large bulk quantities. So Turnaround time for digital printing is more efficient than traditional printing.
- Less Cost: Digital printing’s most prominent feature is that you can print even small amounts or any quantity you need with no fixed or additional cost like it is in traditional printing.
- Environmental friendly: Traditional printing uses oil based inks while digital printing needs water based inks which makes it relatively better for environments. Moreover, you don’t have to print in bulk just in case you need it for the future, so there is no wastage.
- Easy Customization: In digital printing, customization can be done even for every single piece without slowing the process. For example you need to change name and address on each print.
- Quick samples: Unlike Traditional printing where making samples with different colors and textures needs a whole new screen, In digital printing, it is easy to make samples with every kind of texture and paper to analyze which one will look good.
- Quality consistency: In digital printing with every new technology coming forward like Advance ink jet presses make better and consistent quality than offset presses.
Disadvantages (Cons) of Digital Printing
- Costly Bulk: Digital printing Bulk printing becomes costly as compared to traditional printing. In offset printing there is setup cost initially but for large quantities each new print becomes cheaper. So until now Digital printing is not ideal bulk quantities.
- Color limitation: In digital printing there are very few digital presses which use PMS inks. PMS is a pantone matching system which is used by the corporate sector to ensure they have the same color for all prints for their logos etc.
- Material constraint: You cannot find all finishes, inks and papers stock options in digital printing. While offset printing offers premium printing options nearly in all paper stocks and finishes.
- Durability: Digital printing might not work in outdoor settings and fade out after a while soon as compared to traditional printing.
Pros & Cons of Digital Printing on Textiles / Fabric
| Pros of digital printing on Fabric | Cons of digital printing on Fabric |
| As digital printing has faster turnaround so any fabric or textile market rising demand can be quickly responded to. | Fabric types have different surfaces and it has different characteristics as well like structure of fiber, ability to absorb, rough or plain surface. Due to such characteristics, the print color and clearness cannot be consistent on each fabric. |
| In the Textile industry with digital printing there is no need for extra space for patterns for fabrics as all data related to every production can be saved in just digital file format. | Traditional inks cannot be directly used in digital inkjet printers and needs modifications before being used. For example traditional printer inks might be thick and if sprayed through a digital printer it will not work as it will clog the nosel of digital printer sprayers. |
| Digital printing machines use ink and printing paste in a much more efficient way and there is less waste of printing paste as compared to analog printing technique. | As digital printing in the textile process includes droplet or spraying, it has drying time as well and slows down the whole output process for bulk orders. |
| In digital there is a versatile color and pattern available virtually. Moreover, there is very less chance of error as well. | Digital printing Initial setup cost is high. It needs significant investment for software and machinery. Along with that expertise about software and design is needed for it |
Comparing Digital vs Analog / Traditional Printing
| Digital Printing | Analog Printing |
| Digital printing just like its name represents that design files in a computer are needed and then a system or computer is attached to the printer and design is directly shifted to material by inkjet machines. | Analog printing needs proper plates, rollers, blocks or screens to shift design to material. |
| Digital printing has a multi-color system setup. Only design files in the computer needed to be saved which don’t require screen or physical space. | It requires a separate screen for each color and design. After printing, the screen is preserved for further use in future. |
| Digital printing focuses on Speed, personalization and best for short run on demand order | Analog printing initial cost is high but for large orders for each marginal product per unit cost is much less than digital printing. Moreover analog printing offers exact pantone matching and luxury finish touch. |
Analog vs Digital Printing: Pros and Cons for Businesses
| Pros and Cons for Businesses. | Analog Printing | Digital Printing |
| Pros | Low cost for Bulk order.Premium finish option.Exact pantone matching. | Fast turnaround.Easy personalization.Less waste. |
| Cons | High cost for a short run.More waste.More space consuming machinery | High cost for the long run.Limited material options.Not compatible with every kind of material as color doesn’t turn around as expected. |
How Shaheen Advertising Uses These Pros & Mitigates Cons
Shaheen Advertising gives businesses consultation on the best option for their printing needs. We offer digital printing for small and urgent order, while for large and order with need to match exact pantone and luxury finishing we recommend offset printing.
We help to make clients realize what their business requirement is right now according to their brand image, budget and quantity. That is why from small prints like business cards to large prints like banners, our every print reflects perfection and our knowledge.
Final though
Yes Digital printing has made businesses life easy, as Digital marketing is fast, tailored to need and flexibility. However, for large scale projects analog printing is still a need for large scale and quality projects.
If you need guidance in your printing needs, Shaheen Advertising can make most of your printing investment.
