Digital printing
Encyclopedia
Digital printing refers to methods of printing
from a digital
based image directly to a variety of media. It usually refers to professional printing where small run jobs from desktop publishing
and other digital sources are printed using large format and/or high volume laser or inkjet printers. Digital printing has a higher cost per page than more traditional offset printing
methods but this price is usually offset by the cost saving in avoiding all the technical steps in between needed to make printing plates. It also allows for on demand printing, short turn around, and even a modification of the image (variable data) with each impression. The savings in labor and ever increasing capability of digital presses means digital printing is reaching a point where it will match or supersede offset printing technology's ability to produce larger print runs at a low price.
, flexography
, gravure, or letterpress is that no printing plates are used, resulting in a quicker and less expensive turn around time. The most popular methods include inkjet or laser printers that deposit pigment or toner onto a wide variety of substrates including paper, photo paper, canvas, glass, metal, marble and other substances.
Consumer and professional printers such as inkjet or laser printers use the most common examples of digital printing. Professional companies now use those practices to go green by using better quality ink and better laser etching to get a more crisp picture that is displayed through digital printing.
In many of the processes the ink
or toner
does not permeate the substrate, as does conventional ink, but forms a thin layer on the surface and may in some systems be additionally adhered to the substrate by using a fuser fluid with heat process (toner
) or UV curing
process (ink
).
of all types as finished pieces or as an element in a further art piece. This type of digital printing is commonly known as Giclee
, Digigraph, and other coined or trade names.
Today the artist can get the same result by using digital printing. He can produce even a single original print. Original print, is determined by a wax seal with the back of the print + handwritten artist statement.
with lasers and processed in photographic developers and fixers. These prints are true photographs and have continuous tone
in the image detail. The archival quality of the print is as high as the manufacturer's rating for any given photo paper used. In large format prints, the greatest advantage is that, since no lens is used, there is no vignetting or detail distortion in the corners of the image.
Digital printing technology has grown significantly over the past few years with substantial developments in quality and sheet sizes. The four main digital printing presses are the Canon imagePRESS, HP Indigo, Xerox iGen and Kodak Nexpress all have their points of differences and advantages.
Printing
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....
from a digital
Digital
A digital system is a data technology that uses discrete values. By contrast, non-digital systems use a continuous range of values to represent information...
based image directly to a variety of media. It usually refers to professional printing where small run jobs from desktop publishing
Desktop publishing
Desktop publishing is the creation of documents using page layout software on a personal computer.The term has been used for publishing at all levels, from small-circulation documents such as local newsletters to books, magazines and newspapers...
and other digital sources are printed using large format and/or high volume laser or inkjet printers. Digital printing has a higher cost per page than more traditional offset printing
Offset printing
Offset printing is a commonly used printing technique in which the inked image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface...
methods but this price is usually offset by the cost saving in avoiding all the technical steps in between needed to make printing plates. It also allows for on demand printing, short turn around, and even a modification of the image (variable data) with each impression. The savings in labor and ever increasing capability of digital presses means digital printing is reaching a point where it will match or supersede offset printing technology's ability to produce larger print runs at a low price.
Process
The main difference between digital printing and traditional methods such as lithographyLithography
Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...
, flexography
Flexography
Flexography is a form of printing process which utilizes a flexible relief plate. It is basically an updated version of letterpress that can be used for printing on almost any type of substrate including plastic, metallic films, cellophane, and paper...
, gravure, or letterpress is that no printing plates are used, resulting in a quicker and less expensive turn around time. The most popular methods include inkjet or laser printers that deposit pigment or toner onto a wide variety of substrates including paper, photo paper, canvas, glass, metal, marble and other substances.
Consumer and professional printers such as inkjet or laser printers use the most common examples of digital printing. Professional companies now use those practices to go green by using better quality ink and better laser etching to get a more crisp picture that is displayed through digital printing.
In many of the processes the ink
Ink
Ink is a liquid or paste that contains pigments and/or dyes and is used to color a surface to produce an image, text, or design. Ink is used for drawing and/or writing with a pen, brush, or quill...
or toner
Toner
Toner is a powder used in laser printers and photocopiers to form the printed text and images on the paper. In its early form it was simply carbon powder. Then, to improve the quality of the printout, the carbon was melt-mixed with a polymer...
does not permeate the substrate, as does conventional ink, but forms a thin layer on the surface and may in some systems be additionally adhered to the substrate by using a fuser fluid with heat process (toner
Toner
Toner is a powder used in laser printers and photocopiers to form the printed text and images on the paper. In its early form it was simply carbon powder. Then, to improve the quality of the printout, the carbon was melt-mixed with a polymer...
) or UV curing
Curing (chemistry)
Curing is a term in polymer chemistry and process engineering that refers to the toughening or hardening of a polymer material by cross-linking of polymer chains, brought about by chemical additives, ultraviolet radiation, electron beam or heat...
process (ink
Ink
Ink is a liquid or paste that contains pigments and/or dyes and is used to color a surface to produce an image, text, or design. Ink is used for drawing and/or writing with a pen, brush, or quill...
).
Fine art inkjet printing
Large format inkjet printers have been developed over the last two decades that use dye based inks or archival, lightfast pigment based inks that can be applied to a variety of traditional media including smooth or highly textured watercolor paper, prepared canvass, and various textiles. This has allowed for the creation of accurate series reproductions of 2 dimensional artworks. It also allows for the output of digital artDigital art
Digital art is a general term for a range of artistic works and practices that use digital technology as an essential part of the creative and/or presentation process...
of all types as finished pieces or as an element in a further art piece. This type of digital printing is commonly known as Giclee
Giclée
Giclée , is a neologism coined in 1991 by printmaker Jack Duganne for fine art digital prints made on ink-jet printers. The name originally applied to fine art prints created on IRIS printers in a process invented in the late 1980s but has since come to mean any high quality ink-jet print and is...
, Digigraph, and other coined or trade names.
Today the artist can get the same result by using digital printing. He can produce even a single original print. Original print, is determined by a wax seal with the back of the print + handwritten artist statement.
Digital laser exposure onto traditional photographic paper
Digital images are exposed onto true, light sensitive photographic paperPhotographic paper
Photographic paper is paper coated with light-sensitive chemicals, used for making photographic prints.Photographic paper is exposed to light in a controlled manner, either by placing a negative in contact with the paper directly to produce a contact print, by using an enlarger in order to create a...
with lasers and processed in photographic developers and fixers. These prints are true photographs and have continuous tone
Continuous tone
A continuous tone image is one where each color at any point in the image is reproduced as a single tone, and not as discrete halftones, such as one single color for monochromatic prints, or a combination of halftones for color prints....
in the image detail. The archival quality of the print is as high as the manufacturer's rating for any given photo paper used. In large format prints, the greatest advantage is that, since no lens is used, there is no vignetting or detail distortion in the corners of the image.
Digital printing technology has grown significantly over the past few years with substantial developments in quality and sheet sizes. The four main digital printing presses are the Canon imagePRESS, HP Indigo, Xerox iGen and Kodak Nexpress all have their points of differences and advantages.
Applications
Digital printing has many advantages over traditional methods. Some applications of note include:- Desktop publishingDesktop publishingDesktop publishing is the creation of documents using page layout software on a personal computer.The term has been used for publishing at all levels, from small-circulation documents such as local newsletters to books, magazines and newspapers...
– inexpensive home and office printing is only possible because of digital processes that bypass the need for printing plates - Variable data printingVariable Data PrintingVariable-data printing is a form of digital printing, including on-demand printing, in which elements such as text, graphics and images may be changed from one printed piece to the next, without stopping or slowing down the printing process and using information from a database or external file...
– uses database-driven print files for the mass personalizationPersonalizationPersonalization involves using technology to accommodate the differences between individuals. Once confined mainly to the Web, it is increasingly becoming a factor in education, health care Personalization involves using technology to accommodate the differences between individuals. Once confined...
of printed materials - DIY publishing – a cost effective way of printing a small number of poetry, zine, graphic novel or art books.
- Fine art – archival digital printing methods include real photo paper exposure prints and gicléeGicléeGiclée , is a neologism coined in 1991 by printmaker Jack Duganne for fine art digital prints made on ink-jet printers. The name originally applied to fine art prints created on IRIS printers in a process invented in the late 1980s but has since come to mean any high quality ink-jet print and is...
prints on watercolor paper using pigment based inks. - Print on DemandPrint on demandPrint on demand , sometimes called, in error, publish on demand, is a printing technology and business process in which new copies of a book are not printed until an order has been received...
– digital printing is used for personalized printing for example, children's books customized with a child's name, photo books (such as wedding photo books), or any other short run books of varying page quantities and binding techniques. - Advertising – often used for outdoor banner advertising and event signage, in trade shows, in the retail sector at point of sale or point of purchase, and in personalized direct mail campaigns.
- Photos – digital printing has revolutionized photo printing in terms of the ability to retouchPhoto manipulationPhoto manipulation is the application of image editing techniques to photographs in order to create an illusion or deception , through analog or digital means.- Types of digital photo manipulation :...
and color correctColor correctionColor correction by using color gels, or filters, is a process used in stage lighting, photography, television, cinematography and other disciplines, the intention of which is to alter the overall color of the light; typically the light color is measured on a scale known as color temperature, as...
a photograph before printing.
Latest Developments in digital printing
The digital printing press can offer significant benefits thanks to ground breaking technology. Smaller toner particles, greater reduction in fuser oil allows digital printing to have a very near offset look and feel. Greater stocks ranges and closer PMS colour matching are achievable.See also
- Color managementColor managementIn digital imaging systems, color management is the controlled conversion between the color representations of various devices, such as image scanners, digital cameras, monitors, TV screens, film printers, computer printers, offset presses, and corresponding media.The primary goal of color...
- Computer to filmComputer to filmComputer to Film is a print workflow involving the printing from a computer, straight to film. This film is then burned onto a lithographic plate, using a plate burner. The plate is then put on an offset printing press to make a product...
- Computer to plateComputer to plateComputer to plate is an imaging technology used in modern printing processes. In this technology, an image created in a Desktop Publishing application is output directly to a printing plate....
- Digital image processingDigital image processingDigital image processing is the use of computer algorithms to perform image processing on digital images. As a subcategory or field of digital signal processing, digital image processing has many advantages over analog image processing...
- Display deviceDisplay deviceA display device is an output device for presentation of information in visual or tactile form...
- Digital photographyDigital photographyDigital photography is a form of photography that uses an array of light sensitive sensors to capture the image focused by the lens, as opposed to an exposure on light sensitive film...
- FrescographyFrescographyFrescography is a method for producing murals digitally on paper, canvas, glass or tiles, invented 1998 by German muralist Rainer Maria Latzke...
- GicleeGicléeGiclée , is a neologism coined in 1991 by printmaker Jack Duganne for fine art digital prints made on ink-jet printers. The name originally applied to fine art prints created on IRIS printers in a process invented in the late 1980s but has since come to mean any high quality ink-jet print and is...
- Graphical output device
- PODiPODiPODi the Digital Printing Initiative. An organisation that helps set strategic direction in the digital print industry. Members include IBM, Kodak, PageFlex, Xerox, Canon and Hewlett-Packard....
- Society for Imaging Science and Technology, IS&T
- TonejetTonejetTonejet is a drop-on-demand inkjet printing technology that enables the direct digital deposition of printing ink onto substrates. The Tonejet digital printing process is targeted at commercial and industrial applications....
- TranslightTranslightA Translight or Translite is a large illuminated film backing typically used as a backdrop in the film and TV industry. The name of Translite originally came from the black-and-white display film made by the Eastman Kodak Company. Pacific Studios in Los Angeles was the sole producer of Translites...
- Variable data printingVariable Data PrintingVariable-data printing is a form of digital printing, including on-demand printing, in which elements such as text, graphics and images may be changed from one printed piece to the next, without stopping or slowing down the printing process and using information from a database or external file...