Digital printing first emerged in the 1970s as researchers and developers worked to create printing technologies that used digital files rather than traditional printing plates. Some of the earliest technologies included inkjet printing and laser printing. These allowed documents, images, and other content to be printed directly from digital files on computers and other electronic devices. Through the 1980s and 1990s, technologies continued to develop and improve, becoming more viable options for both personal and commercial use.
Improved Speed and Quality
Early Digital Printing were often quite slow compared to traditional printing presses. They also generally did not offer the same high image quality. However, as technologies advanced into the 21st century, both speed and quality improved tremendously. Newer printers incorporated more advanced components like higher resolution print heads, more versatile inks, and faster processing speeds. This allowed digital presses to keep pace with or even surpass the throughput of offset lithography for short-run jobs. Image quality also increased, with digital prints nearly indistinguishable from traditional printed pieces. The combination of high speeds and photo-realistic output made digital printing a viable option for a much wider range of applications.
Decline of Traditional Printing
As its capabilities improved, it began to cut dramatically into the share of traditional printing methods. Offset lithography had long been the dominant technology for producing magazines, books, catalogues, and other print media. However, the rising costs of printing plates combined with customers’ demands for quicker turnarounds and more customization presented challenges for traditional printing. Digital technology allowed short-run and on-demand printing at competitive prices. Publications found they no longer needed to print huge press runs of static content weeks in advance. Textbooks, directories, and other reference materials that previously required new editions each year could now be updated continuously online. Many print jobs simply migrated from offset to digital as the advantages became too compelling to ignore. Traditional printing still plays an important role but has seen market share decline, especially for short-run work.
Expanded Print Applications
The breakthrough developments in it opened many new application areas beyond traditional print jobs. Examples include printing photos, packaging, labels, signs, displays, textiles, ceramics, and more. Photo printers allowed customers to instantly print Digital Printing photos at home or in stores. Digital printing is now commonly used to produce everything from coffee cups and cereal boxes to highway signs and vehicle wraps. The wide variety of inks and print substrates enabled by digital technology created diverse new printed products. Short-run customization also became more feasible, whether for corporate marketing collaterals, museum exhibits, textiles like t-shirts, or one-off prints. Newer industrial inkjet and digital label presses even made it cost-effective to produce short runs of customized items traditionally produced using screen printing or wear unique labels. Overall it has branched into many non-traditional areas by leveraging its strengths in on-demand, short-run, and customized printing.
Workflow
Most modern it follows a standardized workflow. Electronic files like PDFs, JPEGs, or other standard file formats are created or collected using design software. These files are then prepared for output using RIP (raster image processing) software. The RIP performs any color management, imposition, trapping, and other processing required to output the files correctly on the target digital press. Properly formatted digital files are then sent directly to the printer, which uses its digital processing and marking technologies like inkjet heads or laser toners to produce the final output. Digital printing usually requires little to no setup time between jobs since no plates need creating or mounting. Finished prints are collected and can be further finished like trimming and binding. The streamlined digital workflow eliminates many steps in traditional print production for faster turnaround from files to final pieces.
Integration with Web-to-Print
One of the most significant evolutions in digital printing has been its growing integration with web-to-print systems. These allow customers to order and customize printed items entirely online. Web apps guide customers through template-based templates to design products from pre-loaded templates. Flexible data is collected for variables like photos, text, and product options. Files are then sent directly to connected digital printers with integrated workflow software coordinating production. Customers receive proofs for approval and then the final printed products, all without ever talking to a sales rep or designer. Leading web-to-print platforms now offer thousands of print templates spanning everything from business cards to books. They simplify ordering for both small businesses and large commercial printers. When combined with high-quality digital printing’s on-demand capabilities, web-to-print completely transforms the customer print experience.
Digital printing technology shows no signs of slowing down its ongoing development. Speeds continue increasing while costs decrease across all major printer platforms. HD flatbed UV printers now offer photo-quality printing on almost any substrate, while roll-fed printers push past 500 feet per minute. Software capabilities advance as well with AI-driven tools for file processing and automation. New inks expand the ranges of both performance and applications. Hardware and software integration grows deeper, pulling it more tightly into mainstream marketing, design, and publishing workflows. Technologies like digital embossing, spot varnishing, and LED-UV curing offer even more creative finished effects. All signs point to it playing an expanding and perhaps even dominant role across multiple industry sectors going forward. As capabilities improve, digital is positioned to become the primary choice for everything from short-run publications to customized packaging and graphics applications.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it.