What exactly does this mean, digital printing on demand? Well, it’s pretty much how it sounds. You print what you want when you want it, a service that was not possible, or should I say maybe possible but very cost prohibitive, before the age of digital printing.

Prior to digital printing most full color work was printed offset. Because the initial set up cost for a full color offset job is substantial and time consuming it is generally not cost effective to order small quantities. In the past, quite often, print buyers would buy more printing than they needed because the price per piece was lower when they ordered more. Inevitably they were left with waste, obsolete materials that would eventually be tossed in the old recycling (hopefully!) bin.

Not very economical or environmentally friendly at all!

Today, with digital printing, this has all changed. Clients can have that beautiful full color brochure, precisely the way they want it, when they need it and in the exact quantity necessary for a reasonable price. This is because when printing a job digitally the final computer file from the graphic designer or prepress department is sent directly to the digital press eliminating much of the expensive and time consuming prepress work, color separations, plates, etc., that is necessary for an offset job.

Now, our client can see a proof of their job printed directly from our HP Indigo digital press and be confident that their final product will look just the same. They can purchase 25 brochures for the meeting they have tomorrow and then edit the file and purchase 25 more next week and still have the quality of a full color offset printed job. Great, isn't it?

Has digital printing on demand changed the way that you buy printing?