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From Offset Printing to Digital Brilliance

In the realm of commercial printing, offset printing has long been the go-to process. Offset print is often sought for its ability to churn out large volumes at breakneck speeds. This traditional method, wherein designs are transferred from plates to rollers and finally onto the media, has dominated the industry for years. We’re pretty sure that when you think of large format print, you’ve probably got the image of an offset printer in your head! That’s despite the fact that it’s increasingly becoming the less-preferred process for production.

The tide is turning, and at Mediapoint, we’re riding the wave of change. It’s a decision driven by unparalleled advancements in technology and the evolving needs of clients. For most use cases, digital printing has reached parity with offset processes.

So let’s dive into the how and why…

Understanding Offset Printing

Offset printing’s legacy in the mass production of prints is undeniable. It’s been the go-to for businesses needing large print runs due to its efficiency and consistency.

The Benefits:

  • High-Quality Images and Textures: Offset printing produces rich, accurate colors and high-quality images with finer detail and without streaks or spots. The method’s ability to use a wide range of printing substrates also means textures and finishes can be more diverse.
  • Cost-Effectiveness for High Volumes: For large print runs, offset printing becomes incredibly cost-effective. The initial setup costs are offset by the lower per-unit cost at higher volumes, making it ideal for printing large quantities.
  • Colour Consistency: The process allows for excellent colour matching and consistency across a print run, which is vital for branding and high-quality art reproductions.

The Drawbacks

Naturally, there are drawbacks to traditional printing processes – particularly as equipment manufacturers continue to innovate in the spaces.

  • High Initial Setup Costs: The need to create plates for each print job incurs significant initial costs, making offset printing less economical for small to medium-sized print runs. This setup process also requires time and planning, which can be a disadvantage for projects with tight deadlines.
  • Inflexibility in Print Runs: Once an offset print run has begun, making changes can be costly and complicated. This inflexibility means errors or last-minute updates can result in increased costs and wasted materials.
  • Size Limitations: The physical dimensions of the offset press limit the size of the print job. This can restrict the potential for larger formats that are increasingly popular in advertising and display materials.
  • Environmental Concerns: The process involves more waste than digital printing, from the plates that often cannot be reused to the excess ink and water usage. Additionally, the pigment-based inks used in offset printing typically have volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be harmful to the environment.
  • Durability Issues with Pigment-Based Inks: While offering vibrant colors, the pigment-based inks used in offset printing are less durable when exposed to UV light and the elements, leading to quicker fading and degradation of outdoor materials.

These factors led us at Mediapoint to explore and ultimately embrace the possibilities offered by digital printing technologies. We’ve been investing heavily in keeping at the edge of these technologies – and we’re not quiet about it either. You may have even seen us featured in ProPack, manufacturer case studies and other printing media.

So let’s dive into why we’re all in on digital…

Why Mediapoint Chooses Digital Over Offset Printing

Superior Print Quality

One of the most compelling reasons for our shift towards digital printing is the remarkable quality it can achieve. Our Durst Tau UV roll printer stands as a testament to this, capable of printing intricately detailed 1pt text and 5mm QR codes that are crystal clear under a loupe. As you can see below you can get very creative with roll labels and stickers – unlocking applications galore.

Example of Micro Text Print that Offset Printing Can't Match

This level of precision was once thought to be the exclusive domain of offset printing, but digital technology has not only caught up; it’s starting to surpass.

Flexibility and Customisation

Digital printing eliminates the need for plates, a staple in the offset printing process. This removal not only reduces setup times but also opens up a world of customisation and flexibility for our clients.

At Mediapoint, we’ve leveraged this to eliminate kind fees on a wide array of products, making it more economical for our clients to print exactly what they need, regardless of the batch size.

Size and Material Versatility

Another advantage digital printing holds over offset is its adaptability in terms of print sizes and materials. Offset printing’s size limitations often restrict creative ambitions, especially for large format needs.

Digital printing, on the other hand, accommodates a broader range of sizes and substrates, ensuring that our clients’ visions aren’t constrained by technical limitations. We can print simple and complex designs, with high-fidelity on more materials than traditional offset printing would allow. And you’ll never be upset by more choice as a printing reseller, right? An increase in options and better outcomes for your own customers is always a positive.

Durability and Longevity

When it comes to outdoor applications, the UV durability of prints is paramount. Offset printing’s reliance on pigment-based inks falls short in this regard, especially compared to the UV inks used in digital printing.

These digital inks are not only more vibrant but also offer enhanced resistance to the elements, ensuring that prints remain fade-resistant and durable over time.

LOOKING FOR OFFSET PRINTING? WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED.

At Mediapoint, our commitment to providing top-tier printing solutions has led us to fully embrace digital printing. This technology aligns with our goals of offering high-quality, versatile, and cost-effective print options to our clients. By prioritising digital over offset, we’re not just keeping pace with technological advancements; we’re offering our clients the best the printing world has to offer.

Whether you’re looking to bring a creative vision to life, enhance your brand’s marketing materials, or simply explore the vast possibilities of digital printing, Mediapoint is here to make it happen. Contact us today to discover how our digital printing solutions can benefit your next project. Let’s create something remarkable together.

A Gamechanger: Our New Flatbed Printer

We are excited to announce that we are procuring a Durst P5D4 flatbed printer. This will significantly increase our flatbed printing volume without sacrificing quality. This new machine is a major investment for Mediapoint. We believe it will be a game-changer for print resellers and brokers.

The Durst P5 D4 printer is a state-of-the-art flatbed printing machine that is designed to handle large volume orders with speed and precision. It includes key automation features that integrate seamlessly with our existing systems and processes. This allows us to take on more print jobs at good quality, with faster turnaround times, and higher volumes.

Jamie takes you on a tour of our new Durst printer and explains how it will significantly benefit print resellers in Australia.

There are several reasons why we are investing in this new equipment:

It’s a Highly Automated Flatbed Printer

The Durst P5D4 printer is equipped with automation features that integrate with our existing systems and processes. It will make our already solid printing processes even more efficient. This will enable us to take on more jobs, complete them faster, and with better quality. As you should know by now that means more savings for us that we can pass onto our clients.

Our Clients Can Offer More For Less

Thanks to the benefits mentioned above (and in Jamie’s video) our print resellers will be able to offer more. Faster service, higher volume, and new product options are all on the table. This will help Mediapoint customers stand out from the retail printing competition. I

The efficiency of this machine will further add to savings we offer print brokers, enabling them to onsell with greater margin: The Durst P5D4 printer will also help us to save costs, which we can pass on to our print brokers. This will enable them to onsell our products with greater margin, which will help them grow their business.

We Can Fulfil Massive Flatbed Printing Jobs

This new machine can fulfil orders and meet turnaround times that were previously uncatered. This will enable us to take on more jobs and meet the demands of clients. We’re all about helping our trade clients grow alongside us – and this is certainly going to support that aim.

Mediapoints flatbed printing capacity will triple thanks to this new printer – meaning even greater savings, less waste and more margin for all. We believe that this new equipment will be a game-changer for our print resellers and brokers.

Access all the benefits above by signing up for a PrintIQ account today and utilising our automated print portal for your trade printing needs.

How Much Does it Cost To Buy A Large Format Printer?

There are several factors that determine the true cost when you buy a large format printer. Jamie Xuereb discusses them in the video below and outlines the costs further in this article.

Everyone Gets Distracted by Physical Equipment Cost

We often see people get sucked in by the cost of a large format printer itself. They only look at this number as a metric to determine quality of the asset, the capital required and expense to the business. But we believe that there are several important factors besides the cost of the printer. The main elements to consider are:

  • Print Mode
  • Ink Costs
  • Service Fees
  • Floor Space.

The Effects of Different Print Modes

You always want to work any cost calculations on the ‘go to’ mode that you want to print at. This is how print line capacity is throttled; directly impacting ROI. We are notorious for knuckling honing in on optimal print modes when acquiring a new equipment. The key is to identify a mode that eliminates banding in print and provides a balance of speed. This way we can ensure we sustain our service level to our reseller customer and prints are of a good quality.

We do not get swayed by the fastest modes on a printer – even though it is easy to! Each printer will have a different sweet spot that provides the optimal results. We account for reduced speed through batching and other pre / post print processes. That’s how Mediapoint can support the needs of our high-volume resellers without sacrificing quality.

Consider Ink Cost When You Buy a Large Format Printer

The ink cost (per square meter) is very important, particularly for higher volume use. It’s imperative that you calculate the price of your printer based on average usage throughout its useful life.

For example: Say a new large format printer will have a 4 year useful life. You could anticipate doing 100,000 square meters of print during that time. You’ll want to work out the total cost with ink required for that volume, as well as any servicing fees in the 4 year period.

On that note…

When You Buy a Wide Format Printer You’ll Require Servicing

This is the part that most print equipment salespeople do not like to talk about. However we can’t stress enough how much this can influence the true cost. At Mediapoint we have found maintenance costs with certain brands to be unfeasible.

When you buy a large format printer, investigate the square meters of printing it can produce before certain servicing is required. Make sure to keep this top-of-mind and factor into your costings.

How Much Does It Cost To Buy A Large Format Printer
Our Durst 512R LED in action. We used the points in these posts when making decision to buy this printer as it fit our business

Large Printers Require Significant Amount of Floor Space

When it comes to commercial printing, new equipment ties up more floor space. There is a material cost to this (buying / leasing space) and an opportunity cost (using the space for something else). Don’t forget that on top space for each piece of equipment we need room for handling stock, to a working and dispatch area.

To give you an example: at Mediapoint we have over 2000sqm of internal warehouse space. Now whilst not all of that is used at the moment (we are future proofing for further expansion), a significant portion is takin up by our printing equipment. Real estate is a major, yet often overlooked, reason why business scaling is challenging for print shops.

If you’re looking to buy a large format printer to cater for demand growth, first consider a trade printing partner like Mediapoint. We have 16+ years experience dealing only with resellers, allowing them to expand their businesses efficiently. Contact us today to discuss your requirements.

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