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tether · 23-05-2009, 03:14

I was talking to a printer guy the other day. I was going to get my business cards printed on a litho press, but he said he prints 95% of cards digital now, that he can print on up to 350gm on digital, and that the result is good - a lot different to the digital technology a while back.

The last thing I got printed digital was some time back, and it wasn't on a press able to handle 350gm.

Are good digital presses as good, or almost as good, as litho now?

cocknose · 23-05-2009, 03:36

it is just a different quality (feel)... Digital is Digital and vice versa... It is like Digital or film photography... The standard of imagery are very similar but the final quality differs... Just depends on what your design is and to whom it is for.

f-thom · 24-05-2009, 13:08

I've had some digital stuff done and it's all turned out well. Agree with above though, depends how it's designed too - I did some business cards with colours that weren't very contrasting, had them printed, and they didn't turn out great...but more of a lesson to myself than anything else really!

tether · 24-05-2009, 13:15

Thanks cocknose and f-thom.

I'm gonna nip out to a printer that does both litho and digital and compare some samples tomorrow.

Cheers.

Aibrean · 28-05-2009, 09:11

If anything is going to change on the card in the near future then go digital.

benz · 30-05-2009, 08:10

Digital maybe or can be as good. For the price for business card printing nowadays, can't go wrong with litho. IMO, offset/litho prints give you that real printed look. Just feels different from digital. Check put zooprinting.com

designguy · 19-06-2009, 06:59

I have had cards printed in Digital and litho. I must say I preferred the litho printing and could def see a difference the cards I got.

SvenMiller · 26-06-2009, 03:34

If your company is big enough an automated VDP (variable data printing) is the only way to go and this requires digital printing. If you are a smaller business and you're in the design business, it's probably worth it to spend some extra bucks on litho.
And then there is of course the combination of the two by having the color details be done in litho and each persons information in digital.

7twelve · 04-07-2009, 12:23

unless you really need to match a PMS or are running an obscene amount of cards, digital will more than likely do you well. As said, the technology has made leaps and bounds in the last 2-3 years even.

SenseCreative · 31-07-2009, 09:24

Litho printers generally use thicker card stock and text appear smoother. Its a bit hit and miss with digital printers.

Supply your artwork as PDF with text kept as text or vector.

David

Klang · 31-07-2009, 16:40

Most modern digital printers (HP Indigo's for instance) can run on card upto 400gsm, use a liquid toner system and have excellent dot gain and on a mat laminated card, you really can't tell the dif. If you work on short runs of many names that chnage often, this is the way to go.

If you are wanting just a few names done that will last just a few years and are after something 'special' Litho is the only way to go.

23-05-2009, 03:14	#1 (permalink)
tether Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 202	Business cards - digital or litho? I was talking to a printer guy the other day. I was going to get my business cards printed on a litho press, but he said he prints 95% of cards digital now, that he can print on up to 350gm on digital, and that the result is good - a lot different to the digital technology a while back. The last thing I got printed digital was some time back, and it wasn't on a press able to handle 350gm. Are good digital presses as good, or almost as good, as litho now?

23-05-2009, 03:36	#2 (permalink)
cocknose What's a Mod? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 4,643	it is just a different quality (feel)... Digital is Digital and vice versa... It is like Digital or film photography... The standard of imagery are very similar but the final quality differs... Just depends on what your design is and to whom it is for. __________________ Facebook me!

28-05-2009, 09:11	#5 (permalink)
Aibrean Brutally Honest Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 1,054	If anything is going to change on the card in the near future then go digital. __________________

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24-05-2009, 13:08	#3 (permalink)
f-thom Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Scotland, Highland Posts: 164	I've had some digital stuff done and it's all turned out well. Agree with above though, depends how it's designed too - I did some business cards with colours that weren't very contrasting, had them printed, and they didn't turn out great...but more of a lesson to myself than anything else really!

24-05-2009, 13:15	#4 (permalink)
tether Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 202	Thanks cocknose and f-thom. I'm gonna nip out to a printer that does both litho and digital and compare some samples tomorrow. Cheers.

30-05-2009, 08:10	#6 (permalink)
benz Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 37	Digital maybe or can be as good. For the price for business card printing nowadays, can't go wrong with litho. IMO, offset/litho prints give you that real printed look. Just feels different from digital. Check put zooprinting.com

19-06-2009, 06:59	#7 (permalink)
designguy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1	I have had cards printed in Digital and litho. I must say I preferred the litho printing and could def see a difference the cards I got.

26-06-2009, 03:34	#8 (permalink)
SvenMiller Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 8	If your company is big enough an automated VDP (variable data printing) is the only way to go and this requires digital printing. If you are a smaller business and you're in the design business, it's probably worth it to spend some extra bucks on litho. And then there is of course the combination of the two by having the color details be done in litho and each persons information in digital.

04-07-2009, 12:23	#9 (permalink)
7twelve has bucket Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 571	unless you really need to match a PMS or are running an obscene amount of cards, digital will more than likely do you well. As said, the technology has made leaps and bounds in the last 2-3 years even.

31-07-2009, 09:24	#10 (permalink)
SenseCreative Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Darlington, UK Posts: 1	Litho printers generally use thicker card stock and text appear smoother. Its a bit hit and miss with digital printers. Supply your artwork as PDF with text kept as text or vector. David

31-07-2009, 16:40	#11 (permalink)
Klang Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Deepest darkest Kent Posts: 2,577	Most modern digital printers (HP Indigo's for instance) can run on card upto 400gsm, use a liquid toner system and have excellent dot gain and on a mat laminated card, you really can't tell the dif. If you work on short runs of many names that chnage often, this is the way to go. If you are wanting just a few names done that will last just a few years and are after something 'special' Litho is the only way to go.

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