A hundred schools of thought contend: the battle of PK between digital printing and offset printing (below)

The reason for forcing them to find digital presses is the time limit. Many vendors that own this technology often do not respond to this demand. Very short short-run printing - like less than 50 copies of four-color printing, 12-page report or presentation - this is often another level.
No quantitative printing has so far been an unfulfilled promise and may become the edge of digital printing. When digital printing appeared four years ago, there was no software to really handle non-quantitative printing. But now companies such as Agfa, Indigo, Scitex, Barco, Xeikon, Varis, Atlas Software and ColorAge's DocuPress (required by the recent Splash technology) join companies in the non-quantitative digital market--personalized printing technologies will have a huge impact on digital printing. driving force. However, truly realizing non-quantitative printing really requires a lot of data processing capabilities. At the same time, it requires the user to obtain an orderly data foundation. "Now most of the non-quantitative output work depends on the user's data base. If only one comma is not in place, then you have to give up all the processes," said Bob Sacco.

To date, RRDonnelley's use of inaccurate imaging capabilities has strictly adhered to changes in monochrome text throughout color pages. "We use a variable data range to create print jobs for a certain market," said Mary-Lee Schneider. However, they did not do a full page change job.

DigitalDirect has successfully used IBM's InfoClor in full-color, non-quantitative printing, but it is used less often. In short, it is often used for very short editions of giving information, market information, and prepress proofing.

Attract new customers

Digital printing is still quite attractive. Once the printer has introduced one, many people will ask about it every day. Lexington's Sacco said: "Sometimes customers don't know what a short version really is. They asked us to use Indigo to print 2,000 prints, but it's more economical to print with offset presses, but we'll Both prices are offered to customers, indicating their differences.” Digital Marketing, a subsidiary of the Miner Group of the Miner Group, introduced Indigo's E-Print digital press in 1995. “It reinforces and expands the dividing line of traditional printing work,” said manager Joel Hoefle. “We got customers who asked us to print a new digital print.” Digital Marketing got the job and handed it to the Miner Group. A company that specializes in directory printing, or any company that customers require.

Manufacturers that use digital press printing face two types of customers: one that requires traditional printing, and the other that requires digital printing—short printing, high-speed rotary printing, or variable imaging. What overlapped with it - how many customers are also printed in other ways - implies that digital printing has had an impact on traditional printing.

“We kept this overlap as high as possible, about 80-90%, and we wanted to sell our services to MinerGroup’s existing customers as much as possible. If we don’t If you do, other companies will do the same," said Joel Hoefle of Digital Marketing.

Sequel's Mike Chiricuzio said: “Our digital press has become part of offset printing, and it provides sellers with a cone that could not have been involved before.” Suquel's digital printing capabilities led Honeywell, Motorola to focus on Heritage Graphics and make them become Their customers.

"'Does all the printing work positioning detract from the other side?

This problem is very narrow,” said Graphic Express’s Skip Dyer. “Customers come not only for short-run color printing, but because we provide high quality and good service. ”
Bottom line

The boundaries between offset printing and digital printing are very vague. The key to whether you choose digital printing or traditional offset printing is not just the amount you want to print - you also need to think about time. The complexity of the work, and whether it involves variable imaging. It is also related to the workflow used and the relevant requirements for different printing presses and printing staff. "I didn't see the shift from traditional printing to a new technology. The changes that have taken place are just a few steps. In the design process, customers are looking at their associated goals and designating relevant target strategies." said DigitoDirect's Craig Gagliano. .

Short-run color digital printing on demand also takes a long time to brewing. This technology has already begun to be accepted by printing and prepress manufacturers, but printers seem to be more successful.