At Copy Doctor, we call ourselves, a
high speed, high quality, digital printer.
But what exactly does that mean?
We address this almost daily in our shop when working with our customers
on their projects, and have learned that many people don’t know the difference
in digital printing and offset printing.
Digital Printing
Our digital printers work in a very
similar way to the color printer you have at home, but on a much larger
scale. They are toner based, and use
four color ink cartridges (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) referred to as CMYK, also like 
your home color printer.
But our printers have the capability of spitting out hundreds of copies
in just a couple of minutes. They also
digitally mix and monitor the CMYK toners to create an unlimited number of
colors for the price of a color copy.
The biggest benefit of printing
digitally is the speed – we can turn your job around quickly. It is a very cost effective way of printing
small, low volume jobs. And the prints
are consistent in color and quality.
Today’s digital printers are so advanced, it is often hard to tell the
difference between a digitally printed piece and an offset printed one.
We also have the capability to store
your files for reprints any time you need them.
This is a great timesaver for you and also saves you money because you
just pay for what you need, when you need it.
The cons? Your paper choices may be
more limited than in offset printing. Our
machines print best on smooth textured papers, up to 12x18 in size, and certain
weight papers may not run through our machines well. It is also sometimes harder to get an exact
PMS color match. We always try our best
to match your desired colors – but when it is a do or die situation, offset
printing may be the way to go.
Use digital printing when you have a
limited budget, are in a hurry to get your printing, are creating multiple
versions of the same file in low volume, or printing something for a one time
use or with a short shelf life.
Offset Printing
Offset printing is done via printing
presses which transfer ink from the press to the paper by using plates. If you have ever used a rubber stamp you can
envision this process, but on a much larger scale. There is a lot of time and set up involved in
preparing the plates and the presses in the pre-press stage and most of your
cost of offset printing comes in this stage.
The inks used in offset printing
actually come in PMS colors, so you can get an exact color match. But each color is applied using a different
plate made specifically for that color application. This means your project passes thru the press
for every color used, or may be run thru a four-color press like the one shown here.
Because the press is actually
pressing the ink onto the page, not rolling it on like in digital, you can
choose virtually any color, weight or texture of paper. The offset presses run larger sheets or rolls
of paper, making your size options wider also.
Then what
are the cons? This method takes much
more time. The printer will have to make
the plates, set up the press, and produce a proof of your job before it ever
gets running. This can add days to the
process. Also, there is drying time before the finishing, such as folding, can be done.
Want to
know a secret? If you take your job to
an offset printer and the run is not large enough for them to give you a
competitive price once they factor in the paper choice, number of plates
needed, and cost of the ink – they often bring your job to us to print for
them!
Why not
just bring the job to us first! Let us evaluate
it for you and help you decide the best and most cost effective way to produce
the finished look you are trying to achieve.
We are happy to consult with you during the design process and help you
design your piece to save you money, regardless of whether it will be digitally
printed or offset printed. Something
that seems like an awesome and unique design idea can cost you twice as much to
print in the end. We can advise you on
simple changes that can give you the professional look you want while staying
within your budget.
Call or
stop in today! www.copydr.com
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