Let's take a look at two ways of printing - their differences and when it makes sense to choose one or the other; each has special benefits according to the complexity of your project.
OFFSET PRINTING
Offset printing is the leading technology and the best choice for large-volume printing as it ensures a good price and quality print. This printing method uses stencils, usually made of aluminium, that are used to transmit the image to a rubber substrate, and then the substrate transmits the image to the sheet of paper. Hence its name - offset - the colour is transmitted indirectly to paper.
The advantage of offset printing is that we can use many different types of paper, and at the same time, when printing, it offers the usage of special colours such as metallic and Pantone colours.
At VEK Printing Company we print on various types of materials. Boxes and/or packaging are printed on cardboards that vary in quality and thickness, and we also print on polypropylene up to thickness of 0.8 mm.
DIGITAL PRINTING
Digital printing does not use stencils to transmit colour, but instead uses laser and toner instead of colour. Digital printing takes priority in case of smaller quantities (500, 100 or even just 1 piece!). Another advantage of digital printing is personalization - the ability to change data. If each printed matter requires unique (personalized) content, digital printing is the best choice. Printed matter printed on a digital machine is immediately useful for further processing as the colour is already dry.
At VEK Koper Printing Company, we have been using digital printing for many years as we are aware that it enables shorter production terms and cheaper printing for the customers.
As digital printing technology has improved, it has enabled high-quality printing on several different materials. Thus, digital printing is also used for printing of many different types of products, including packaging or boxes.