A Guide to Litho vs Digital Print
Technological advancements in the printing industry mean there are now more commercial printing options than ever before. Whatever the job, turn-around or budget there is an option to suit but it has also led to a lot of confusion, trying to understand the difference between the two most common types of printing – Litho and Digital.
Litho Printing
The most common, high-volume, commercial printing technology is Offset Lithography. The image is burned onto a metal plate using a laser, which is then loaded onto the printing press. This image is then transferred (or offset) onto a rubber blanket and then onto the printing surface – be it paper, card or plastics. The process relies on the repulsion of oil and water; the image to be printed gets ink from rollers, while the non-printed area attracts a film of water, so it remains ink-free.
Pros…
High quality, consistent image
Suitable for a wide range of surfaces including paper, card and plastics
Unit cost decreases as the quantity increases
Able to cope with long runs without losing quality
Special inks available – Pantone, spots and metallic
Cons…
Expensive set up on short runs
Longer turn around on jobs
No variable data option
Smaller colour gamut therefore colours can be less bright
Unsuitable for some media
Digital Printing
Digital printing removes many of the mechanical steps used in conventional printing, including making the plates. But it’s certainly not the same as printing at home; the digital print presses used by professional printers are much more sophisticated than that!
Pros…
Quick setup time leading to fast turn around of orders
Bright, vibrant images on a range of materials
Cheaper option for low volume printing
Personalisation using a database where text and graphics can be changed on each item without stopping or slowing down the press
Cons…
Expensive on longer runs
Less colour control
Not suitable for all printed surfaces
Quality can be inconsistent
Can be difficult to match pantone colours
