Digital Printing
The Evolution of Digital Printing: A Perfect Partner
Andrew Whyte, managing director at LT Print Group D
igital printing has come a long way in recent years. Once viewed as a lower-quality alternative to traditional litho printing, today’s digital presses deliver outstanding print resolution, colour accuracy and consistency. Advances in inkjet and toner-based technologies have bridged the gap between the quality of digital and alternative printing methods, making digital printing an increasingly viable option for a broad range of applications.
One of the biggest improvements has been in colour management. Today’s digital presses now off er sophisticated profi ling and calibration tools, ensuring vibrant, high-fi delity colour reproduction that rivals litho. Enhancements in substrate compatibility have also expanded digital’s versatility, enabling high-quality printing on everything from uncoated papers to synthetics and textured stocks. Additionally, developments in workfl ow automation and inline fi nishing have made digital printing faster, more effi cient and more cost-eff ective than ever before.
THE GROWTH OF DIGITAL PRINTING The most signifi cant strength and reason for the growth of digital printing is its fl exibility, which
is why it is a great option for short runs with minimal lead times. It also makes it ideal for: • Personalisation and variable data printing: Brands increasingly seek personalisation to engage customers and digital printing enables fully customised print runs, whether it is personalised direct mail, bespoke packaging or event materials with unique QR codes.
• On-demand printing: Businesses no longer need to commit to large print runs. Digital printing allows companies to produce only what they need, reducing waste and storage costs.
• Speed to market: With no need for plate-making or lengthy setups, digital printing significantly reduces turnaround times, making it the perfect solution for time-sensitive campaigns. • Cost-effective prototyping: Digital printing enables brands to create high- quality prototypes and test designs before committing to full production, reducing costly errors and ensuring the final product meets expectations.
• Sustainability: Because digital printing can help to eliminate excess stock and waste from overruns, it supports a more sustainably focussed production model.
ROOM FOR PROGRESS
While digital printing is a powerful tool, it does have some limitations. Certain print jobs still benefit from the unique strengths of other printing methods. For example, on high-volume productions, litho remains the more economical choice, as its lower per-unit costs at scale make it the preferred option for large print runs.
When it comes to specialist finishes and spot colours, litho also has the advantage. While digital printing has undoubtedly improved in colour accuracy, litho remains unmatched in its ability to produce precise Pantone colours, metallic inks, neon inks and other embellishments that require meticulous application.
Additionally, while digital printing has expanded its material compatibility, there are still some substrate constraints. Certain specialist papers, textured stocks and heavyweight boards are better suited to other ways of printing to ensure the highest print quality and durability.
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Rather than viewing digital and, in particular, litho as competing technologies, the most effective approach is to leverage their strengths in combination. Many successful print businesses, including LT Print, use an integrated workflow, utilising digital for short-run, fast-turnaround jobs while relying on litho for high-volume and premium applications. For example, a brand might use digital printing to test a packaging design, create personalised mailers, or run a short promotional campaign. Once demand scales, litho can take over for mass production while maintaining brand consistency. Similarly, a hybrid approach can be used for book printing, with digital printing short runs of niche titles or proofs and litho producing large volumes once demand is established.
The key to successful print production is choosing the right technology for each project. By combining digital’s agility and litho’s effi ciency, as an industry, we can ensure we off er the best of both worlds, high-quality, cost-eff ective printing tailored to the needs of our customers.
16 April 2025
www.convertermag.com
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