Offset Print (Digital)

Used for: all paper and cardboard products - booklets, gatefold wallet, digipacks, direct mail, boxes

Run size: under 500 units

Digital offset print is a very different production method to traditional plate offset print, although it is becoming more difficult to distinguish between the final print result.

Digital offset presses transfer toner or inkjet ink to the paper or cardboard sheets. The maximum sheet size is significantly smaller than a plate offset press (typically 450x330mm with a 420x300mm maximum print area) and the cost per printed sheet is significantly higher, due to high ink costs and 'click charges'.

The benefits are significant however, as the digital offset press avoids the need for offset print plates. Jobs can proceed directly from file to print, making it feasible to produce much shorter runs at a reasonable production unit cost. This has resulting in specialist print on demand services becoming commonplaces.

Colour calibration techniques can also provide a high degree of colour accuracy and predictability compared to offset press (where CMYK densities are still manually adjusted by the printer - albeit with much better tools than the old days).

Digital offset print is used for Replicat cardboard and paper print jobs with a run size of less than 500 units.