From Pixels to Pages: Exploring Litho and Digital Printing for Books
At Bigger Dot, we bring print projects to life and one of our foundational products is the good old fashioned book. A book is one of the original forms of creative expression and each one tells a unique story. Just as every story is unique, so is the process that goes into producing each book.
Each book we produce is designed to meet the specific needs of the author. One of your initial decisions will be whether to print on a lithographic or a digital press. The general difference between these processes is how the content is transferred to the paper.
Lithographic and offset printing, or litho printing for short, is where an image of the content is placed on a plate which is then covered in ink and used for printing. Digital printing is the process of printing digital-based content directly onto a variety of media substrates. There is no need for a printing plate, unlike with litho printing.
We sat down with Joe Upton, Vice President of Business Development for Gasch Printing, an all digital book printer to learn about their operation. Joe has been in the print industry for almost 40 years and he gave us the scoop about digitally printed books. Here is what Joe had to say…
Is digital printing more cost effective than litho printing? If digital printing is generally more cost effective at certain quantities, can you break down those quantities?
Yes, digital printing is generally more cost effective, primarily for smaller print runs. Digital is pretty quick to set up and there is minimal labor required, as there are no plates to create. If you are printing no more than 1500 copies, digital is the cost effective choice. Litho is likely going to be more cost effective if you are producing upward of 1500 copies.
What are the paper substrate limitations?
Digital equipment has become quite versatile. One drawback is that it’s not very effective at printing on very lightweight paper.
Is digital printing archival? Do the inks fade?
Digital printing is not best for archival pieces. The ink is water soluble, so the pieces do fade over time.
Can digital printing match all PMS (Pantone Matching System) colors?
While digital printing uses CMYK, the color matching systems have gotten quite advanced. It cannot create an exact Pantone color but it will be very close and images will be very sharp.
Can digital presses print on uncoated stock? Is there a UV Digital Press?
Yes, digital printers can print on uncoated stock, but when the sheet is not treated the color quality and clarity will suffer. In particular, if you're using dye-based ink, an uncoated sheet will absorb a good amount of the ink.
UV digital printing is a digital printing method that uses ultraviolet light to cure or dry ink, coatings, etc. UV digital printing is a process that can be used so the material will dry up instantly when hit with the UV light.
What are the quality limitations of digital printing?
Digital printers can produce a high-quality print from a low-resolution image because they can upscale images more effectively. While litho is considered the gold standard in print, digital machines have vastly improved over the years. Quality limitations come into play because there is no protective coating. It would be more likely to crack when creased and the color could appear slightly pixelated or muted.
Generally speaking, if you want to print an art book or coffee table book you will want to go with litho to avoid fading and to accomplish the highest quality possible. If you are printing an education book, however, digital would be the way to go.
What is the production timeline comparison of the two processes once everything is approved to print?
Technically, digital is faster, because you don't need to make printing plates. You just upload the file to the press, print, and then go to the finishing process.. So digital is certainly a faster process. However, I think it can depend on the print company you're working with. If they are busy or have a huge workload, they may or may not be any different.
At Bigger Dot, we are excited to help you tell your unique story, and we take pride in partnering with you to create the perfect book for your needs. We look forward to guiding you through the process of choosing the perfect printing method for your project.
