There are many Types of Printing Methods you'll want to learn about

Printed marketing materials such as pull up banners and roll up banners will always have their role. Despite the popularity of digital devices and platforms to spread a message, nothing is more effective than a piece of paper, banner, brochure, or flyer that people can physically view – nothing seems more trustworthy than what you can touch and feel.

However, to be truly effective, your printed materials need to be designed well and printed with quality in mind. The quality of the print will reflect the ideals of your company, your brand, or your product or service, after all. If you’re wondering how to approach a flyer or banner printing service, this one’s for you – here are the three main types of printing methods for your printed marketing materials: which is best?

Desktop printing

It’s a very common way of printing, and it’s convenient if you need only a few copies. If you’re thinking about printing a few dozen flyers or papers that can be folded into a small brochure, desktop printing will service you well enough. Small quantities can be managed well with a laser or inkjet printer, though once the volume goes up the costs of the ink and paper can become too expensive for all practical purposes.

Digital printing

The digital printing service is a little too expensive for very small volumes, as there is a basic set-up cost. However, once you need more than a hundred copies of a certain print, the digital printing method is the way to go, as the printing itself is much less expensive, and the cost per unit dramatically decreases as volume goes up.

Offset printing

Most large volume printing is done by offset lithography, whereby ink is transferred from metal plates to a rubber roller and then to paper. Brochures and catalogues are often printed this way. It’s ideal for large volumes (500 or more).

Comparing the three

Offset lithography offers the best quality, but is not suitable for smaller volumes and does require a couple of days to accomplish. Desktop and digital printing are of good quality, but can be expensive depending on the volume.

There are, of course, other printing methods that you may want to consider, such as gravure printing (mostly used for large, industrial size volume, such as books or magazines), engraving (used for printing on fine stationery), flexography (for packaging) and screen printing (for T-shirts and other such items). The question of which you should use always comes back to the main issue: what you hope to accomplish, what your priorities are, and what method works best for your specific purpose. Talk to your printer before deciding, and never be afraid to ask many questions so you can make an informed decision for your business.

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