Is offset quality the ultimate? May not!
Editor – S K Khurana For years, the industry has been talking about digital printing vis-a-vis the conventional printing processes. While digital printing has taken over a few jobs, normally handled by offset process, it has also created newer applications, especially in the field of variable data printing, for which it is the only viable option.
The industry has always been constantly talking about the quality of digital printing, with manufacturers trying their best to offer offset-like quality. But I wonder why? The quality can be even better with digital printing! With technological advancements in digital printing, the quality of output has matched the offset quality and it’s time when it can even surpass.
Undoubtedly, offset printing can match colours and shades to the designers’ expectations more efficiently because it works on Pantone colours, whereas digital printing works on basically four colours – CMYK. But, unless there is a need to specifically match colours like in terms of logos, brandings, etc, customers are happy with what looks good and pleasing to the eye after printing. They do not match the colours through instruments. Thus, quality is not just that is defined by the instruments – it is the untrained human eye which decides what looks good. For them, the printing process does not matter – what matters is the affordability, quality and timely delivery. More often, they cannot distinguish between a print produced by offset or digital.
And this chunk of customers is increasing…printing has become more approachable and affordable to common man, thanks to the era of digital. Personalised photo albums, personalised gifts, personalised calendars, personalised diaries – there’s so much a common man can create today. So, even though the volumes of printing are decreasing in some segments like newspapers, magazines, collaterals…new avenues are adding every day.
The digital revolution is catching up and taking printing to a new level… it’s time its quality creates its own benchmark! And is it not what Benny Landa said while launching nano printing during last drupa?
Don’t you also think that digital printing can surpass the offset print quality? We would love to have our readers’ feedback on the same.
Till then, happy reading!
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