Digital printing has changed the way we publish books, brochures, and promotional materials. Much like the printing press spread literacy throughout the world, digital printing has made the process even easier by letting us print directly from digital files without the need for traditional printing plates.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about how digital printing is done, look no further. From understanding how it works to preparing your files and choosing the right materials and services, this guide will walk you through it all, step by step.
What is digital printing?
Digital printing involves sending a digital file, like a PDF, directly to a printing press. The printing press then uses toner or liquid ink to reproduce the image on paper or other material with no plates involved. With this kind of “print on demand” capability, digital printing is an excellent choice for small-to-medium print runs where the traditional setup would be simply too cost prohibitive.
The two main types of digital printing techniques
There are two main types of digital printing. The first is dry toner, also called electrophotography. In this method, charged toner particles are applied to the material through an electrostatic process. Then, heat fuses them to the paper.
Here at OnPress Book Printing, we use Xeikon SX30000 dry toner presses that are G7 certified. This means that you can trust in the color fidelity and high print quality for each and every run. The high quality of the dry toner printing process makes it ideal for printing your thesis or dissertation as well.
The second type, inkjet, sprays tiny droplets of ink directly onto the printable surface. Although it's very cost effective, in some cases inkjet presses can struggle to keep colors and text crisp and consistent on pages with a great deal of coverage. That’s why we never use inkjet printers at OnPress.
Why choose digital printing over traditional printing?
There are a number of reasons why authors choose digital printing over traditional printing. Most notably, there’s no need to create physical plates and spend the time and money to set them up. That means if you’re printing under 500 copies of your book, it’s much more cost effective to choose digital printing.
Another major bonus is that digital printing is fast. As soon as the files are approved, digital printing can start in minutes. For example, here at OnPress, we can deliver paperback novels in as quickly as two days and hardcovers in three days for small quantities.
Are there any drawbacks to digital printing?
We’ve given you a lot of reasons to consider digital printing, but there are a few drawbacks to keep in mind. For example, unlike offset printing, digital per-unit costs are the same regardless of how many books you order. For very large print runs, like 500 or more books, it may be more economical to choose offset printing.
With digital printing techniques, you’re also limited in terms of the material you can use and the ink. Specialty substrates and inks like metallic papers or custom varnishes are only available via offset processes. Keep in mind that although modern digital printing presses have great color stability, there may be minor shifts over very long runs if you choose inkjet printing.
How to prepare your files for digital printing
If you’re looking to have your files digitally printed, here’s the process we recommend:
- Prepare Your Files - Prepare your PDF with the right bleeds, embedded fonts, and color conversions according to press-ready specifications. We’ve created a step-by-step guide to help you get started.
- Proofing and approval - We offer single-copy press proofs so you can verify that the color, layout and binding are just the way you want before your book printing goes into full production.
- Files are sent to the digital press - The Xeikon SX30000 are roll-fed, which enables them to run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at speeds that rival larger offset jobs, all while ensuring sharp text and clear, crisp images.
- Finishing and binding - Once the pages are printed, cut, collated, and bound, your book is ready! We provide both perfect-bound softcover and case-bound hardback books with different options, each tailored to your specific needs.
When to choose digital over offset
If you have fewer than 500 books, digital printing is almost always the more cost-effective option. If you’re on a tight deadline, OnPress can ship most small orders within 2–5 business days thanks to our fast, high-quality digital setup.
We offer a number of helpful free resources that go into more detail on how to prepare your files, format the interior of your book, and how to print your book in just a few simple steps. By taking the time to understand how digital printing techniques are handled, you’ll learn exactly how we help bring your book to life in vibrant clarity.
What’s more, at OnPress we specialize in short-run digital printing with no minimum order quantity. We provide full-service support from cover design to shipping through our state-of-the-art facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Get a quote and see our competitive prices and timeframes for yourself compared with traditional printing methods — we’re sure you’ll be surprised!
Whether you want to print just a few copies or a full print run, digital printing gives you the kind of flexibility and quality that makes it a solid choice for today’s modern publishing needs.
To learn more about digital printing and all of our book printing services, check out our website or submit a fast, easy quote.