Digital Offset Printing FAQ
Q: Why have you invested in Digital Printing Technology?
A: We are early adopters of this technology in Thailand, where there are currently only a handful of machines in operation for commercial printing. We feel that there is a market for novel print applications through digital offset printing. We also feel that digital printing technology will supercede "analogue" printing technology at some point in the future. Although there are certain limitations right now, mostly concerning size and restriction to process colors, these will be overcome in future generations of the technology.
Q: What advantages can digital offset printing offer me?
A: SPEED - If you have documents that need to be offset printed same day or next day, which require the quality that only offset printing can bring, digital printing is for you.
UP-TO-DATE - If you print documents that require regular updating, then it pays to keep print runs to a minumum copy number, and raise the frequency of the runs themselves. No more covering up address changes with stickers!
SAVE $$ - If you are looking for novel personalization options, don't want to have excess inventory, have publications that change frequently. or just want to realize savings on short print runs, digital offset printing is for you.
Q: How do I prepare artwork for the digital offset press?
The accepted file type is press ready PDF x/1a files with a 3 mm bleed. There is no need to add any printers marks. We can give you detailed instructions depending on the application you are using.
Digital Offset Printing - The Future of Offset Printing
Digital offset printing is changing the face of commercial printing. Erawan interactive is committed to this technology. Just as many other technologies have made a transition for analogue to digital (video and photography being examples) rendering the former technology somewhat obsolete, we firmly believe that lithographic offset printing will over the long-term, go the same way. However for the foreseeable future, the technologies are complementary, and provide an avenue for greater flexibility in what can be achieved both technically and economically.
Digital offset printing negates the need for film or plates, allowing for greater speed and flexibility in the printing process. Print runs can be personalized for targeted marketing or sales applications. The technology introduces cost savings on print quantities previously economically unfeasible using traditional offset.
There are clear advantages to digital offset printing at many points along the workflow yet, for the foreseeable future, lithographic and digital offset will coexist as complimentary technologies - print clients will benefit from using both.
What is Digital Offset Printing?
Digital offset printing, in terms of the finished product, is essentially no different to good quality lithographic offset printing. The differences are manifested in the processes used to produce the finished product. Viewed together, the products of digital offset and four-colour offset printing should be the same to the naked eye. In some cases, good digital printing exceeds the quality of average offset printing and we believe is subject to less variables, such as temperature, humidity, operator error.
Lithographic Offset Still King?
Some print jobs, using special colors (inks), paper stock types, and finishes are only possible via the conventional lithographic offset process. Currently, digital offset printing is limited in terms of paper weight (maximum at 300 gsm; minimum 130 gsm) and size (flat size <= A3). For some applications, digital is the clear preferred method, whilst other print types are only possible via lithographic offset. We regard digital offset and lithographic offset technologies as complementary. The two methods can be used together to create ultra-short run books, folders with inserts, structural packaging and other applications.
Digital Offset vs Lithographic Offset
The major differences between digital offset and lithographic offset are realized in the process time, print runs, economics, and personalization options.
Process Time
Print runs can be finished in hours with digital offset printing. Erawan guarantees a 24-hour turnaround for your digital offset print run if no additional finishing options are required. Additional folding, lamination and other steps do take time and must be accounted for as with lithographic offset printing.
Print Runs
In theory from 1-infinity. Realistically print runs in the 100s are where digital offset printing shines in terms of economics in the current pricing climate in the Thailand market.
Economics
As there are no pre-press charges, the economic hurdle of plate making is negated. There is no need for the conventional lithographic offset minimum run, which we calculate to be at an average of 1000 copies, but will vary significantly depending on the item to be printed. This means that fewer copies need to be printed, less waste and inventory costs. Companies can consider updating publications on a more frequent basis, no more white paper or sticker solutions when small changes need to be made.
Personalisation
The major difference between the processes mean that print data is passed to the imaging sensor "on the fly" from the computer, meaning that this data can be changed in real time. Each and every single copy of the printed publications can be different, yet the difference in cost for this innovation are marginal. This is a quantum leap forward compared to conventional offset printing, and the possibilities for creative use are mind-boggling.
Digital Offset Printing is not.......
Digital offset printing is not color laser printing, color photocopying, any of the inkjet printing processes (of which there are many types), or any of the dye sublimation processes commonly used by photo labs (nowadays being frequently used to print digital photographs from memory cards/CDs and other storage media).
We feel that is worth pointing out the differences between digital offset printing and other forms of digital printing. There are many kinds of "digital" printing that are commonly accessible at both home, office, and in commercial print settings.
Like any new technology, there are limitations of both the technology as a whole and the machines currently being used. The biggest limitation is on size. Beyond A3 spread size and we need to use lithographic offset printing.
FINISHING - Our in house finishing department ensures that as well as being printed, your urgent work can be laminated, creased, folded, die cut and made up without compromising quality and turnaround times.
SUMMARY - Erawan interactive’s digital offset printing service gives you the opportunity to produce the highest quality sales, marketing, and promotional materials with costs, quantities and turnarounds to suit you.