What is Digital Printing? How Does it Work?

If you have been looking for a better method of printing, then I think you should meet the old but new guy in town – Digital Printing.

Digital Printing involves printing digital-based images directly on several surfaces. It doesn’t require a printing plate and hence is a lot cheaper compared to offset printing.

Over the years, digital printing has evolved and its products have continuously improved. These improved results make it the number 1 option for brands, businesses, and individuals who want to get top-notch printing on time.

Continue reading as you’ll find answers to your “what is digital printing” question, as well as the best printers and methods to use for the best results.

Let’s get started!

What is Digital Printing?

Digital printing is the process of printing on several media like fabric, acrylic, paper, plastic, etc directly from a digital-based image.

It is a professional form of printing that involves desktop publishing and other digital sources that are printed through inkjet printers of large format.

There is no need for a printing plate, unlike offset printing, hence reducing the entire cost of the job.

Digital printing can be done on-demand and in a short time, and images can be easily altered for each impression as well.

Due to its cost-effective mode, digital printing is now being used over offset printing. This means it is now possible to print thousands of sheets at a lower price with digital printing.

What Printers Are Used in Digital Printing?

Over the years lots of printing presses have used toner-based technology for their several printing needs. Now, inkjet technology has simplified the digital printing process as well as the cost, speed, and quality facing several printing houses today.

The most popular printers used for digital printing are inkjet and laser printers that drop pigments on numerous surfaces like paper, canvas, metal, fabric, glass, and plastic.

Usually, the ink or toner only forms a slim layer on the surface being printed upon without penetrating the surface, unlike in traditional methods of printing.

In general, digital printing machines can print on everything, from heavyweight papers to plastics and synthetic substrates, and thick cardstock.

What are the Processes Involved in Digital Printing?

Obviously, the first step in digital printing involves getting your design ready and choosing the substrate you’d like to print on.

You may choose to outsource your design or have a designer design it for you, afterward, you send it for printing. We recommend Sleekblue Media House for the design and printing. You are sure to get your ideas in reality, at an affordable cost.

However, if you’d like to give design a try, especially if the project is not very important, before printing, here are some steps to follow;

#1. Have an Idea

The first step to designing what you really what is to first have an idea of what it is. You need to be very clear about what you want to achieve with your design, as well as who you want to target with it.

#2. Use the right content

Once you have an idea of what you want to do, use the right content to create your work. Your content can include pictures, logos, and texts. For more clarity, be sure to use the right colors, visuals, and texts that represent your brand and company. This is why hiring professionals like Sleekblue Media House is necessary.

#3. Keep it professional

Do I need to overemphasize the importance of professionalism in your design? I guess not.

As long as you don’t want to be taken as a joke by your customers, the best thing to do is to ensure your design looks professional enough.

Moreover, professional designs can help you build your reputation, and earn trust – whether it’s an ad, your logo, or even giveaways.

#4. Proofread

Go through your design over and over again. It should be absolute, exact, clear, and without mistakes. Finalize the product only when you’re sure it’s perfect.

After you have designed the work you want to print, the next step is to prepare it for printing.

How to Prepare Your Design Work For Printing

Since you have just designed your work yourself, you need to save your file in the appropriate print-ready format. It should be saved in either the CMYK Format or in 300dpi (dots per inch).

Failure to do this will cause your pixels to disintegrate due to the low-resolution image. And this may influence the final print negatively.

Afterward, you can take your design to the printing company to complete the rest of the job for you. Sleek blue Media House can handle this segment perfectly for you.

Alternatively, if you choose to follow the right way and let the professionals handle it, then follow the steps below.

When Handled By a Professional…

1. Most digital printing companies have in-house designers who are responsible for creating clients’ designs in the desired way. Once they are done, they will email you the mockup for further corrections. Once the corrections are implemented, they’d resend it to you. When you give the go-ahead, they will move to the next step.

2. The final design will now be saved in the appropriate print-ready format to make it easy for the printer to recognize the product without error.

3. Before printing, the printers are cleaned with a special liquid, so that they don’t get dry and damaged. This step is repeated after every 100 prints, and in some cases, it is cleaned before the 100 prints are completed.

4. In this step, a series of checks are carried out. The printer is monitored such that the waste ink produced doesn’t spill out. The printer also has a cleaner level, such that when it is low, you can replenish it. This cleaner is very important to the digital printing process.

5. Here, your designs are properly arranged on the surface they are to be printed on.

6. Depending on what is printed on, the appropriately sized pallet is attached to the machine, and the product is laid on it ready for printing.

7. The digital printer begins to print by moving its heads from side to side on the material, spreading the design on it.

8. The material or product is removed from the printing once it is done. Afterward, it is exposed to a huge dryer at the appropriate temperature to ensure the print sticks to the material printed on.

9. This last step involves checking the quality of the printed material to ensure it satisfies all the customer’s needs. Afterward, the customer receives his/her package.

Conclusion

Digital Printing is very popular and this is because it saves time, money, and effort. The best part is that you have lots of varieties to choose from. Now, what is life without variety again??

If you need a reliable digital printing press, then it’s your lucky day because you are on this post. Contact us at Sleek Blue Media Houz and watch us give you the difference you’ve been searching for.

References – CGSASP.com