Litho vs Digital

[DuaneJackson]

What's the difference in the end product og lithographic printing as opposed to digital? Is it worth paying the extra? How much extra is it usually?

[ewan]

I was wondering this too, a stab in the dark would be to say its probably progressive colour printing rather than on/off (digital) colour printing.

[ewan]

Answers.com comes up with:

"A printing process in which the image to be printed is rendered on a flat surface, as on sheet zinc or aluminum, and treated to retain ink while the nonimage areas are treated to repel ink"

[Real World Hypnotherapy]

The main difference between digital and litho is digital prints one copy of the file at a time, like your printer at home. Litho is where a plate is made and they are done in sheets and then trimmed.

Litho is higher quality although the set up cost is more because the plate has to be made, but once you have that then you can do large quantities on a more economical scale. For example we sell 1000 flyers for £95 but £5000 for £99, for £4 more you get 4000 more (this is not a plug, it is an example).

If you only need a few copies of something then digital is fine and more cost effective, high quantities then also go litho because it is higher quality.

We only do litho printing and not digital. Many companies offer both, we may do for posters in the future.

Hope this clears it up a bit.

Matt

[DuaneJackson]

It does, thanks.

I assume I've always had stuff printed digitally in the past (rcs.co.uk).

So the difference is noticable?

The reason I ask is that I have a compan info pack being printed soon and I want it to be very high quality so I was thinking of going for Litho. I've not had the print quotes yet so I'm not sure what the difference will be.

[Real World Hypnotherapy]

The difference can be noticable.

What is it that you are having done? If you need quotes I would be more than happy to talk to you about what you are wanting and give you a good price. We also have a great and reasonable design service.

Please send me an e-mail at info@mkprinting.co.uk and we can take it from there.

Matt

[DuaneJackson]

I'm getting a quote on design from Creacom who has done some great work for me.

I will be asking for print quotes nearer the time though - I'll post to the tenders section here.

[creacom]

As stated before - there is a difference. On a business card for example it shows up less. For something like a conference pack then you can see the difference.

For high quality that is guaranteed to bring in results I would suggest litho. For 500 business cards then I would say go with digital and get good stock like 400gsm.

We now offer both due to client demand.

Jacqui

[Matt1959]

....... a blast from the past here - Duane, what have you gone for during the past 2 years, how have you found it and what have you settled for(litho v digital):|

[sm1]

Waheyyyy - nice to look at the past :)

[Matt1959]

lol, having been pondering this question today and now having done a search on here, I thought it apt to ask the question of the OP as by now he must have settled with one or the other for one reason or another:)

[sm1]

Ye, in fairness I've always wondered, but never had anything printed so never asked ;). I agree it would be good to hear :)

[neildigital]

Too put my 2 penith in, the difference shows greater on some digital printers more than other. If you find a good printer, I have to say like myself that looks after their machine, the quality is top notch, and differences are slight. Where some printers have poor quality prints which does give the rest of us digital guys a bad rep.

I have to say I have now seen prints off the Nexpress digital press, which are stunning, closer to litho than I have seen before. Digital is closing in on litho everyday....

As other say daily on here, whether litho or digital, get samples first, as not all litho printers are good quality!

Neil

Neil

[Matt1959]

thanks Neil, someone told me today that digital printing smudges when wet (with wet I mean drops of rain etc) whereas litho doesn't - true or rubbish:|

[neildigital]

I have to confess that rubbish, paper is paper whether digital print or litho print, if anything I think rain runs off digital print easier than litho, because it does leave a little oil residue on the paper.

But if you wish to use printed items in the rain, you can print onto waterproof stock through my digital press, and the material and print on the item becomes completely waterproof. And I have a lot of clients using that print material in underwater usage.

Neil