Offset vs. Digital Printing

DIGITAL OFFSET
Quantity Ideal for low volume Ideal for large volume
Size Can accommodate smaller print sizes Can print on larger sheets of paper
Variable printing Best for customized copy of each individual piece Limited to what is on the press, plate or film
Pricing Cheaper for smaller runs because of less setup required, but can be expensive for high volume runs because of fixed cost per print More expensive because of setup needed and manpower involved in printing but prices usually go down as the volume of printing goes up
Quality Modern digital presses is capable of high quality prints like offset, but some printers still encounter problems in color consistency. Consistent high image quality. Offset printing produces sharp and clean images and type more easily than, for example letterpress printing; this is because the rubber blanket conforms to the texture of the printing surface.
Pantone Digital printing is limited in color matching options but some digital printers can be calibrated to match pantone colors Offset can print any Pantone or PMS colors
Finishing Digital printing is limited in finishing options Offset printers have multiple press heads that allows for an infinite array of finishing
Materials Limited to paper and materials that can run through digital printers Can print on wide variety of surfaces: wood, metal, cloth, plastic, etc.
Turnaround Faster turnaround time Takes longer because of setup processes and ink drying time
Popular products Printing labels, envelopes, certificates, letterheads, tickets Brochures, posters, postcards, business cards, folders, flyers
Ink Uses fuser fluids with heat process (toner) or UV curing process (ink) Uses ink that are highly viscous or thick
Proofing Provides a more accurate proof: actual sample of printed piece, printed using the exact process as the intended run Proofs can slightly differ from actual prints due to factors that can affect the printing process.
Eco-friendly More environmentally friendly because it requires no chemicals such as fountain solutions and alcohol substitutes unlike offset printing Offset printing requires wasteful test prints, uses too many chemicals such as fountain solutions and alcohol substitutes, uses films or film processing that needs to be disposed after printing.