If you have ever asked a printer for a quote and been confused by the terms litho and digital, you are not alone. Here is the difference in plain language, and when each one makes sense.
Digital printing
Digital printing works much like a high quality office printer, just bigger and more precise. It is ideal for smaller quantities, fast turnaround, and jobs where every copy might be slightly different, such as personalised invitations or short runs of business cards.
Litho printing
Litho, short for lithographic printing, uses plates and ink rollers and is the standard for large volume jobs such as brochures, magazines, and packaging. It has a higher upfront setup cost but becomes significantly cheaper per unit at scale.
Which one should you choose
If you need under 500 copies, or need them fast, digital printing usually wins on cost and speed. If you need thousands of copies of the same brochure or catalogue, litho printing will almost always work out cheaper per piece, even with the higher setup cost.
What we offer at Identity Geeks
We handle both, depending on what the job actually needs. We will tell you honestly which option saves you money rather than upselling the more expensive process by default.