The Rise of Digital Print

KPE Newsletter – July #1

What is digital printing?

Digital printing is a method of printing directly from a digital image onto different forms of media
without the need for creating plates. This makes the set-up process much quicker than that of
offset or traditional printing methods resulting in quicker turnarounds.

There are many benefits to digital printing from the ability to run small print runs to achieving
higher quality results. Quick turnarounds and a low cost per unit make it a very cost-effective and
attractive method of printing. As demand increases for digital printing, as does the advancement
of the technology behind it, digital printers are improving constantly and are able to produce
exceptionally high-quality results.

Offset printing is the method of creating plates which are then pressed onto a rubber blanket to
then your chosen surface. It can be a costly exercise, plates have to be created for each individual
run making it uneconomical for proofs to be provided prior to the run being commenced. Offset
printing still remains to be a highly effective method for larger-scale runs for publications and
other reoccurring jobs.

Without the need for plates, digital printing makes corrections and/or alterations simple and easy
to implement. Say, for instance, you spot a spelling mistake, this is easily rectified without the
need to start the set-up process from scratch which can be costly and time-consuming.

There’s a wide variety of media to choose from, including paper, card, heavyweight papers,
fabrics and synthetic materials. Some digital printers are able to print directly on t-shirts, hoodies
and hats. Versatility is the name of the game with digital printing, it’s becoming more and more
attractive due to its efficiency, low cost and high-quality output.

It’s not without its drawbacks, digital printing can suffer from loss of fine image detail when
compared to traditional printing methods. That being said, technology is constantly advancing
and the gap in quality is becoming almost negligible.
For businesses that require proofs, quick turnarounds, and the ability to change and adapt
quickly, digital printing is the obvious choice.

There’s no escaping the fact that digital marketing is a powerful tool that continues to grow and
develop each and every day. It’s becoming apparent that the more traditional forms of marketing
such as print are achieving impressive levels of engagement with audiences, possibly due to the
refreshing nature it delivers as people become numb to the heavily populated world of digital.

Print is a great way to deliver your brand’s message in a way that breaks out of the norms of
social media and other digital platforms. In a world where everyone posts on Facebook, print can
help make your business stand out amongst the noise.