Whats the Difference between Direct-to-Plate and Digital Printing ?
In direct-to-plate printing, the printing plate is made directly from the computer file, thus eliminating the need for film. Producing film is expensive and time consuming, which is why direct-to-plate printing has become so popular for low-quantity jobs. Like direct-to-plate printing, digital printing eliminates the need for film by using computer files. However, digital printing goes one step further by creating prints directly from the computer file and therefore taking the plates out of the equation as well. This makes the digital printing process more similar to color photocopying than to traditional printing. Digital printing is ideal for lower-quantity and customized needs, but can only print CMYK images and files. Like photocopying, however, the price-per-piece tends to be the same.
