What is digital printing?
Digital printing prints straight from the file with toner or inkjet, without plates, so every sheet can be different and short runs are quick and affordable.
What it means for your file
It suits small quantities, fast turnarounds, proofs and personalized print such as names, addresses or numbering (variable data). Most digital presses print CMYK only, so Pantone colors are simulated from the four inks, though some have extra stations for white, clear or other inks. Large-format inkjet, for banners, signs and wraps, is digital printing too.
For long runs and true spot inks, see offset printing. Files for a digital press still need bleed and CMYK color.
An example
A run of 250 business cards, each with a different employee’s name, is a typical digital job. There are no plates to make, so the first good card comes off within minutes, and a list of names can be merged into the design as it prints. Offset would need a new plate for every name, which is why personalized print is almost always digital.
A common mistake
Expecting an exact Pantone match from a digital press. Most print CMYK only, so a spot color is built from the four inks, and bright oranges, greens and blues can shift. If the color is critical, ask whether the press has extra inks for it, ask for a printed proof, or consider offset with the real ink.
All print terms in the glossary, or run your file through the free print-ready checker.
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The seven checks every file goes through before it leaves us. Useful whether or not you ever send us a job.
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