Good day to you. You are seeing this for the first time, because I just started it. This is one way in which I stay in contact with my clients and prospects and sharing ideas. You are receiving a blind carbon copy and I have sent the original back to myself. If you EVER wish to be removed, please let me know. The only place in which this list exists is on my business machine.

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. Thomas Edison

Which is better, digital or offset printing?

You may well know the answers. If you do, just dump this now. If not, read on.

Well, the definitive answer is, “It depends”. Offset is the old standby and digital is the upstart. But do not be fooled by a company that cannot produce both. There are values for both types, and Taylored Printing can produce both. The real answer it that it depends on that is important to you. It may boil down to the choice of quantity vs. quality. But why?

The reasons lie in the basic product. Cost per unit of offset printed items have to account for press set-up costs which include inks, plates, and plate set up, among others. With digital, these costs generally do not exist. Therefore, with small quantity runs, digital may be a very good choice because the per unit cost will be lower.

But, what do you give up when you do digital? Almost always, you give up some quality in the definition in the image. So, ask yourself how important that image really is. If you need the highest quality, use offset only. How important is the quality of the image? You will also give up the ability to print metallic (foil) colors, fluorescent colors, you may lose the ability to print on certain heavier paper stocks and textures, certain special needed coatings cannot be used on digital presses, and you are likely to lose the ability to print on larger sheet sizes. Lastly, in the current market, larger and larger runs become much more effective on offset lithography.

How about speed? You need an order turned around VERY quickly. In this case, digital may well be the way to go because press set-ups do not have to be accomplished and your printer may well be able to take a digital file and send it straight to the press for an almost immediate run. Speed may well depend only on the jobs that may be in front of yours. The per-unit cost may be higher, but remember, you need it now!

What about variable data? This is currently a digital job almost exclusively. Variable data is the use of customized information from an existing database. It is great for customized marketing materials.

Do you need true color rendition? Do you need to make sure that your logo on your printed materials is extremely consistent? Then your answer is offset printing. Digital presses come close, but are not as reliable.

Lastly, the answer is – whatever is most important for you to accomplish. I will help you figure it out.

I hope that you have found this helpful.

Chandler Turner
Print Media Consultant
Taylored Printing
234 Redoubt Rd. 4412 Norman Rd.
Yorktown, VA 23692 Portsmouth, VA 23703

Cell (757) 334- 5390 chandler@tayloredprinting.com
Office (757) 874-5958 ext. 16 http://www.tayloredprinting.com
Fax (757) 874-5676

Face the Pain

Reminds me of the story of the woman who brought a floppy disk to the IT person at her company and asked to have a copy of the internet put on it.

tw