Postcard Printing Digital Vs Offset

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One of the biggest dilemmas that a business or a graphic designer often comes across is that of choosing the correct method of postcard printing i.e. digital or offset printing. Both have its fair share of advantages and drawbacks and each can be considered the better way of printing depending on the type of project. The following is a comprehensive guide to clear up all the confusion about digital vs. offset printing.

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Offset Postcard Printing
Offset printing came into existence much before digital printing started evolving and for many years it was the only method available of printing high-quality postcards. In this particular method, the files are slotted into an offset printer, which transfers them on to a metal plate, the plate then forwards it to a rubber pad that finally put the prints on the papers coming through the press. Offset printing is an effective way of printing postcards, because it is highly economical when large volumes are printed and the prints are of superior quality. However, the setup and the fixed cost are very expensive and thus it is deemed to be unproductive when small quantities are to be printed.

Digital Postcard Printing
Digital printing, on the other hand, is comparatively recent and has revolutionized printing in small scale because of insignificant setup cost. It also takes up less time for printing as the whole operation is carried out by a single machine and does not have the hassle of plates and rubber pads. Despite all that, digital printing has its shortcomings since the print quality is no match for offset printing; has a very limited number of options available for paper size and large volume tasks can result in high cost.

The better option
From the above discussion it is pretty clear that the "correct method" of printing mostly depends on the project features. For printing in large quantity, offset printing is more cost-effective and has the better printing quality of the two approaches. In contrast, for small scale printing of 50-200 postcards, digital printing is the better choice as it saves time and costs.

It is therefore very important on the designer’s part to understand the clients’ needs and thus choose the process of printing that would suit the clients' demand best.