Professional Quality, On-Demand, Quick Turnaround, Short Run, Variety of media, and variable data.
Digital Printing refers to methods of printing from a digital-based image directly to a variety of media.
It usually refers to professional printing where small-run jobs from desktop publishing (DTP) and other digital sources are printed using large-format and/or high volume laser or ink-jet printers.
Digital printing has a higher cost per page than more traditional offset printing methods, but this price is usually offset by avoiding the cost of all the technical steps required to make printing plates and prepare the printing press for the production run.
It also allows for on-demand printing, short turnaround time and even a modification of the image (variable data) used for each impression.
The savings in labour and the ever-increasing capability of digital presses means that digital printing is reaching the point where it can match or supersede offset printing technology’s ability to produce larger print runs of several thousand.