The invention of digital printing has largely revolutionised the world of print; you no longer need to invest in printing plates or make expensive, bulk orders if you need some printed products for your business. Today, digital printing not only makes it easier to create unique printed materials, it’s also incredibly low-cost.

In this article, we’re going to discuss & answer all the fundamental questions business owners might have about digital printing: what it is, how you can use it, and how digital printing can benefit your business.

Digital printing is a form of on-demand printing, and is one of the most popular print methods for modern businesses. While the traditional offset printing method requires printing plates (as well as a large order), digital printing only needs a digital image in order to create a variety of printed products. From one digital image, digital printers can create imprint replicas on a number of fabrics; from paper to bedsheets to clothing.

When it comes to digital printing, there are two types of printers used: a laser printer, or an inkjet printer:

Laser printing

Laser printers use laser-powered inks, heat and ions to create printed products on a wide array of papers and fabrics. Laser printing is typically faster than inkjet printing, while the quality remains on-par. Many prefer using laser printing when it comes to creating text documents.

Inkjet printing

Inkjet printers work by transferring droplets of ink onto fabrics, after copying the digital image from the given file. Inkjet printing is ideal for printing images with a lot of detail and colour, or for creating textured finishes such as embossing or matte finishes.

Why opt for digital printing instead of offset printing? Here are just a few reasons why businesses now prefer to take the digital printing route when it comes to their printing needs:

Small volume production

When using the traditional offset printing model, businesses are typically required to place large orders. This is because the offset printing process is complicated and requires creating custom plates for each order. For print shop owners, it simply isn’t worth the money to create custom plates for small or one-off products. With digital printing, there’s no need to create an unwanted bulk order - you can create unique, one-off items at no extra cost. And as the printing process is fairly simple, there’s no minimum limit on what you create. This makes digital printing a more affordable solution for many businesses.

Fast turnaround

In the corporate world, it’s important to know how to get things done quickly. When it comes to printed products, the traditional offset printing method is known for being a lengthy process; it can take time for the ink to dry, for edits to be made, and for the custom plates to be designed. And if any errors are made during the production process, you’re back at square one and have to start all over again. Digital printing, on the other hand, is quick and efficient, as it’s a much simpler printing process. If you need some printed items and you’re on a tight deadline, digital printing is the way to go.

Lower costs

One reason digital printing is so popular with businesses is its low upfront cost. As there’s no need to create custom plates, the printing process is much simpler - and therefore much cheaper for you. When it comes to comparing the quality of offset printing and digital printing, some experts might claim that offset produces a higher quality of image, which is reflected in the high price. We tend to disagree: these differences are only visible to those trained and familiar with printing methods; to the average person, these small differences in detail are both inconsequential and unnoticable.

While the digital revolution has certainly changed how we promote and manage our businesses, business owners shouldn’t underestimate the power of a printed product. Here are a few examples of how digital printing can help your business grow and evolve:

Give your business credibility

While a credible online presence is helpful for any business, having easily-accessible printed products is a great way to show potential customers and clients that you’re a sophisticated, trustworthy business. Whether you have personalised business stationery or a high-quality glossy leaflet describing your services, printed marketing materials are always useful - especially when targeting demographics unlikely to use Google or social media.

Diversify your marketing strategy

A high-quality online strategy is essential for most businesses. However, don’t underestimate the power of print when it comes to seeking out new customers and targeting your core demographic. With online advertising, there’s no guarantee that your local target demographic is going to see your ads - it can cost a lot, with little return on your investment.

With print advertising, however, you can target new demographics and new local areas by distributing printed materials; whether it be through posting flyers through letterboxes, handing out business cards or putting up posters in key areas. Don’t underestimate the old school strategies; studies have even shown that up to 79% of people will read or ‘glance at’ flyers put through their door. Plus, with digital printing making it easy to make small volume orders, the up-front investment for this type of outreach strategy is pretty low.

Create one-off products to impress clients

Whether you want to create some personalised point-of-sale marketing or some cool merch for your business, using digital printing services allows you to create small volume, one-off and one-of-a-kind products.

This allows you to create marketing materials with high added value; whether you’re printing one item or twenty, you can add embossing, debossing, glossy or matte finishes, or other textured print finishes at low costs (although some of these features will require an inkjet printer.) When you really want to secure a client, close a deal or simply impress a potential customer, you can use digital printing services to go that extra mile.