Summary:
- There are a variety of factors to consider when choosing the right printing method for your business needs. Offset printing is best for large-volume, cost-efficient bulk orders, while digital on-demand printing is ideal for smaller, customizable and fast-turnaround projects.
- In terms of budget, offset printing has a lower per-unit cost for high quantities and requires higher upfront investment. Digital printing, though more expensive per unit, is more cost-effective for short runs.
- Digital printing allows for more customization and personalization and can fix errors quickly whereas offset printing is great for static designs that don’t require frequent updates or changes.
- Little Rock offers bulk discounts and no minimum order requirements so you have the flexibility to print what your business needs.
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Thanks to the ever-changing world of technology, industrial printing has grown and evolved over the years. Today, there are a variety of different printing options available, but two of the most common are offset and digital printing. The major difference between these two types are whether you’re needing to print in bulk or if you’re printing smaller quantities at a faster, on-demand pace.
Both printing options have their benefits and setbacks while factoring in cost, timing and quality. Let’s dive into the differences between the two printing types so that you can stretch your marketing budget and choose the best option for your business needs.
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Understanding Printing Methods: Bulk Offset vs. Digital On-Demand
When planning a print marketing campaign, choosing between bulk offset printing and digital on-demand printing is crucial. Each method offers unique advantages (and some disadvantages) depending on your budget, timeline and campaign goals.
What is Bulk Offset Printing?
Offset printing, also referred to as lithography, uses aluminum-made printing plates to transfer an image onto a rubber blanket. The blanket cylinder prints one of four CMYK colours (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key/Black) at a time onto the pages of your print product. This technique uses the non-mixing nature of oil and water, providing precise and high-quality reproductions.
Offset presses have a pretty elaborate setup process and require manual accuracy from the press operator; however, they’re consistent and efficient once set up. It’s also the best choice for businesses that need large or bulk quantities of product.
Pros & Cons of Bulk Offset Printing
Pros:
- Superior high-resolution image quality
- Allows you to create custom colour inks
- Better colour accuracy, design and balance
- Get the same print quality on any material—this is especially helpful for product labels that require being made of different stocks
- Costs less than digital printing for a large volume job (once the plates and materials are made/ready). With a higher volume, the unit cost per print decreases.
Cons:
- An individual plate must be made for each print job, meaning you end up paying more for producing the plates versus the actual product
- Takes more time than on-demand printing
- Less cost-effective for smaller quantities
- Harder to fix if there’s an error or the whole batch gets ruined
What is Digital On-Demand Printing?
Digital on-demand printing also requires a four-colour printing process but prints directly from an electronic file. These printers can utilize either toner or liquid inks to create designs for a variety of print products. By choosing a digital printer, you’ll avoid plates and rubber beds since the image prints directly onto the printed surface.
Large digital printers are bigger and faster than an offset printer, making them the perfect option for smaller quantities needed in a shorter timeframe.
Pros & Cons of Digital On-Demand Printing
Pros:
- Fast turnaround time
- No need for plates, eliminating wasted production time
- Less of a risk for odd variations from water and ink imbalances
- Cheaper for low-volume print jobs
- Easier to fix a mistake in the design. Simply halt the batch, fix the error and send a new digital file to the printer.
Cons:
- Fewer materials you can print on
- Can only handle certain types of stocks
- Less colour accuracy due to using standard ink
- While the blending abilities are being improved over time, it has yet to match offset printing
- Not ideal for high-volume printing, the cost per unit stays the same (no bulk discount)
- Lower-quality images, less sharp and crisp compared to offset printing
Key Differences at a Glance
| Bulk Offset Printing | On-Demand Digital Printing | |
| Volume | Ideal for high-volume print runs | Best for low-volume or single print jobs |
| Cost Per Unit | Lower cost per unit for large orders due to economies of scale | Higher per-unit cost, but more cost-effective for small runs |
| Customization & Variable Data | Limited customization; requires plate changes for variations | Excellent for personalization (unique names, addresses or images on each print) |
| Turnaround Time | Longer setup time, but fast for large runs once set up | Quick setup and faster turnaround, ideal for urgent orders |
| Inventory Management | Requires large upfront investment and bulk printing, leading to potential excess inventory | Printing on demand eliminates storage needs and reduces waste |
| Storage Costs | Large print runs need significant storage space, adding extra costs | No storage required since prints are produced as needed |
| Print Precision & Colour Reproduction | Superior colour accuracy and fine details, especially for large images and gradients | High-quality prints, but may not match offset precision for very intricate designs |
| Environmental Impact | Can produce more waste due to setup, ink and plate preparation | More eco-friendly due to reduced material waste and chemical use |
Ideal Scenarios for Each Printing Method
It’s easy to determine whether you should use an offset or digital printer once you determine your cost, timing and volume. Here are some scenarios where an offset printer would be ideal over digital and vice versa.
Large Runs (Bulk Offset) Are Ideal For:
- Long-term branding campaigns
- High-volume distributions (catalogs, brochures, flyers)
- Static designs that won’t require frequent updates
Small Runs (On-Demand) Are Ideal For:
- Seasonal promotions
- Event-specific materials
- Personalized marketing efforts (business cards with different names/contact details)
- Market testing and A/B campaigns
Enjoy Flexibility & Savings With Little Rock
Each printing technique has its own merits and drawbacks, but once you determine the timing, cost and scale of your project the decision between offset and digital printing becomes easier. High-volume jobs where cost per unit is a priority is better for offset printing, whereas smaller projects with a fast turnaround are best suited with a digital printer.
At Little Rock Printing, we offer no minimum order requirements and bulk discounts, giving you the flexibility to print exactly what you need for your business—whether it’s a single copy or thousands. We print and ship 99% of all orders from our print shop and you can get a free proof of your design before placing the full order by using the code “FREEPROOF” at checkout. Contact the Little Rock Printing experts if you have any questions about your order or any of our printing services.
