The advent of digital printing has brought technical advancements, providing more options and modifications in conventional commercial printing. But it has also brought a dilemma to people who are in the printing and publishing industry. Understanding the pro's and con's of modern and traditional printing processes helps in deciding what to choose given specific conditions and anticipated results.

Offset printing is known for its high volume commercial printing capacity, where the content to be printed gets ink from ink rollers while the non-printing area remains ink-free. But because of digital printing, all mechanical procedures of conventional printing is eliminated for a faster output, particularly in short run printing. So, which is better?

Knowing what the advantages of these two alternatives for commercial printing can help in judging which is better.

When it comes to faster turnaround, accurate proofing, and customization, there is no doubt that digital printing beats offset printing. It offers more accurate counts with less mistakes and fewer variations. Digital printing also provides variable data printing features where changes can be made even on each piece while the printing process is on-going.

Cost-effectiveness of both options depends on the quantity that needs to be printed. Since unit cost is indirectly proportional to quantity, then short run printing can be more cost-effective with digital printing while larger loads are likely to cost less with offset printing. Many modern offset presses now use computer-to-plate systems so to not be outdated compared to digital printing. Thus, offset printing could still be a better bet for quality and cost-effectiveness for large volume printing jobs.

So before you choose digital printing or offset printing, consider factors such as colors, customization, features, printing media, proofing, and turnaround. For more information on printing and publishing, check out the Country Press.