When you choose custom boxes for your products, you will probably know what you want them to look like including the size, design, and more.
But have you considered the type of printing that will be used?
If you’re new to all this, you may think that the printed package will look the same as the colors on the screen. But it can never be 100% the same, which can lead to mistakes that affect the appeal of your product packaging and even impact your brand image.
Two of the most popular printing options are digital and offset printing. We look at both to help you decide which is best for your custom packaging.
Offset printing transfers ink to a rubber roller from a metal plate, usually made from aluminum, and then applies the ink to the printing surface.
These Offset printing presses were first developed in 1875 to print on tin surfaces and were later used to print on paper. This printing technology has been popular ever since, and it’s now the printing method used for mass-produced items like magazines.
Image quality is excellent when using offset presses and is also a very cost-effective choice for large-volume printing.
Now you can read about the offset printing process that is the essence of such a production. These steps need care and experience to get more accuracy and better quality for your production. So, following these steps carefully can really help you with a great result in the production process.
Sheet-fed is another type of printing that you can try in the offset printing department. It is a great type of lithography printing that you can use with manually cut sheets. This printing type is considered different from web printing due to technical reasons.
The main reason is that web printing continually uses paper rolls fed into the printer.
So, if you seek a printing method to help you with more economical results, you can try web-fed offset printing. It is known for providing shorter covers as the end product may shrink due to the heating process.
You should know about the fiber direction in this kind of printing. You can make it parallel to the ridge of the product, making it easy to browse through a catalog you are creating or any other product.
So, if you want this printing, you should ensure that your fiber direction is right. One way to do that is to ask the printing company to send you a sample to ensure it meets your needs. Also, you should be sure that the quantity you want to print will be right for your budget.
The most standard format that goes well for web-fed is A4. But you can also change this format depending on your machine’s capabilities.
Digital printing presses are very different. This process involves taking the electronic files and converting them directly into print. The best way to think about digital printing is how your digital printer works at home or in the office, including both LaserJet and inkjet printers.
It is popular for smaller print runs like brochures and business cards. It offers a good quality finish but has a lower spectrum of colors compared to offset printing.
Digital printing is a great type of advertising or branding you can do. So, if you want to use this one, you can follow these steps to use this amazing technology. One thing is for sure you should be looking to get these services from a company that deals in this type of printing. The process they follow looks like this:
Well, you can try two types of digital printing for your products: inkjet and laser. Before you go on to do either of the two, you should know about the whole process and what to take care of during the process.
This printing process is simpler than other types and follows a 2D technique that helps you add tiny drops of ink to the paper.
This type of printing is simpler to conduct, so there are fewer chances of issues in it.
Laser printing is another type you can use for your branding or other printing needs. Such printers follow the following steps to give you a great design:
These printing options are both suitable for different types of printing tasks. So which is right for you? Here are several factors to consider.
In general, offset printing is better for larger print runs because of the quality and cost-effectiveness of large projects. This means printing over 500 pieces will work out as more economical, and you also enjoy better colors and quality.
If you only print a small number of items, digital printing is an option. With offset printing, more preparation involves creating the plates and other processes. So, for price alone, digital printing is a good choice for smaller projects.
But if you want higher quality results, offset printing is a better choice, no matter the size of your project.
If you need something printed very quickly, digital printing is faster. It could be a good option if turnaround times are short and you don’t have many items to print.
That’s not to say that offset printing is slow because an experienced printing company can still perform it quickly.
If the image quality is essential for you, which it probably is for your custom packaging, offset printing is the best option. Quite simply, nothing beats it.
Compared to digital print, the final result is clean, the typography is distinctive, and it produces rich images and vivid colors. The level of precision cannot be matched.
If you have a small print job and a low budget, digital printing may be better. But with a large print run and tight budget, you will save money using offset printing.
You may worry about the costs of creating the plates and die, which are additional costs you don’t have with digital printing. However, some companies (like us) do not charge for these and offer them as complimentary services.
If this is your first time sending out custom boxes, offset printing may be the best idea, even for smaller print runs.
Why? Because if everything goes well, you can use the same design again and scale it up as much as you need. Most of the work is done with the first run. So, if you’re planning more custom boxes in the future, offset printing is a great choice.
Offset printing produces stunning results on almost any material and is a very flexible printing method.
Digital printing can print on basic materials only. So, for simple ecommerce boxes, it may be an option, and digital can be used on corrugated packaging.
Often, you will want your custom boxes to stand out, and offset is much better for this. The design can be used on a vast range of materials, and it is beneficial for rigid packaging, like when you sell luxury products or gifts, to get the best possible quality.
For paperboard packaging, the offset is usually best. It has a more precise printing output and vivid colors, and it’s excellent for small texts to provide clearer information and communicate more effectively with customers.
Digital Printing |
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| Pros | For smaller budgets | Faster than offset printing | |
| Cons | Does Not Work for All Materials | May not work for bigger jobs | |
Offset Printing |
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| Pros | Better quality, accuracy, and colors | For Larger Print Runs | Works on several materials |
| Cons | Expensive for smaller quantities | Not a Green Solution | |
Offset printing has much better color depth and brightness. Offset printers can match inks perfectly, unlike digital printers. Color output is clean and crisp, just like the display packaging in stores. While digital also produces a high-quality finish, it’s often more suitable for simpler designs.
These are some primary offset and digital printing considerations for your print project. Regarding digital vs. offset printing, there are advantages to both printing methods. However, we would generally recommend offset printing for your custom packaging.
You want your custom boxes to be attractive, stand out, and effectively convey your brand message. Offset has so many advantages over digital printing that it’s almost always the best choice.