Guide · Printing
Offset or digital printing: which is right for your job?
The short answer depends on how many copies you need. Here is how the two methods differ, and how we decide which one to use for a job.
One of the first things we work out for any print job is whether it should be printed offset or digital. The honest answer is that neither is better in general. Each is better for a particular kind of job, and the number of copies you need usually decides it.
We run both offset presses and digital printing, so we choose whichever suits the job. Your quotation says which one we will use and why. Here is what goes into that choice.
How offset printing works
In offset printing, each colour of the job is made into a printing plate. On the press, ink is spread over rollers onto the plate, passed to a rubber blanket, and pressed onto the paper. The operator adjusts the ink and lines up the colours before the run begins.
That setup takes time and materials, but once the press is running it produces sheet after sheet at speed, and every copy matches the first. That is why offset is used for journal issues, books, reports and forms printed in the hundreds or thousands.
How digital printing works
Digital printing puts the image on paper straight from the file, with no plates to make. The first copy comes out almost as soon as the file is ready, and each copy is printed individually.
There is very little setup, but each copy takes about the same effort to print. So digital is ideal for a few copies, such as author copies, archive copies, a proof to check before a long run, or a short run of brochures for an event.
Which is cheaper, offset or digital?
It depends on the quantity. Offset's setup cost is the same whether you print a hundred copies or five thousand, so the more you print, the smaller its share of each copy. Digital has almost no setup, but its cost per copy stays roughly flat.
For a short run, digital is usually cheaper. For a longer run, offset usually is. Where exactly the switch happens depends on the page count, colour and paper, so the quotation works it out for your job rather than a rule of thumb.
Offset and digital side by side
| Offset | Digital | |
|---|---|---|
| Before the first copy | Plates made, press set up | Almost none |
| Best for | Hundreds or thousands of copies | A few copies, proofs and short runs |
| Cost per copy as quantity grows | Falls | Stays about the same |
| Colour across a long run | Very consistent | Good |
| Choice of paper | Widest | More limited |
| Changes after setup | Need new plates | Easy: edit the file and print |
Which we use for common jobs
Quick check for your job
Choose an answer to each question.
Common questions
Offset or
digital?
Is offset printing better than digital printing?
Neither is better for every job. Offset is better value for larger quantities and keeps colour very consistent across a long run. Digital is better for a small number of copies, proofs and samples, because there are no plates to make.
Which is cheaper, digital or offset printing?
For a short run, digital is usually cheaper. For a longer run, offset usually is, because its setup cost is spread over more copies. The point where it switches depends on the page count, colour and paper.
What is offset printing best for?
Jobs printed in the hundreds or thousands, such as journal issues, books, manuals, annual reports, prospectuses, registers and forms, where every copy should match.
What are the disadvantages of offset printing?
It needs plates and press setup before the first good copy, so it is not economical for a handful of copies, and changes after the plates are made mean making new plates.
Can I get a sample copy before the full run?
Yes. A sample or proof copy can be printed digitally so you can check it before the full offset run.
Do you do both offset and digital printing?
Yes. We run both and choose whichever suits your quantity and requirements. The quotation says which method will be used.
Not sure which your job needs?
Tell us the quantity, size and paper.
We will recommend the method and quote it. If a sample copy would help, we can print one first.
