Thanks to Mike Olish of Graphics Plus for posing this interesting question.
Q. How permanent is digital
printing, compared to conventional?
A.
First, we must point out that the term “digital printing” is used
loosely to apply to just about any type of printing in which the image
originates as a digital file and is printed directly, without any intermediary
such as plate or die.
The two
best-known digital print processes are inkjet and laser. Speaking in broad,
general terms, most commercial digital color presses in use today are
laser/toner based including those currently employed by Copresco. Typical
products are books, catalogs, brochures and mailings.
Most “large-format” digital printing, such as
signs, posters and wraps, are inkjet, as are most photo printers.
Direct-to-plate workflow used by commercial offset printers usually employs
inkjet for proofing. Copresco does not use inkjet printers.
Most
in-depth studies of longterm permanence have focused on the inkjet process and
on photo prints.
More research definitely needs to be
done on permanence of output from commercial digital presses.
Comparisons are difficult because of the lack of
standards. There are no ISO standards for permanence of digital print and none
in process.
Digital
inks/toners have improved vastly over the short time that digital printing has
been in existence. Digital printing from years past is much less permanent than
digital printing produced today.
This level of
improvement can be expected to continue. So, like the stock market, past
performance is no predictor of future outcome.
Your
permanence mileage may vary because the image you print is part of the
equation. Use the following thoughts as starting points.
Q. How permanent is
Copresco’s digital printing compared to offset?
A. Pigment-based ink is generally more
permanent than dye-based ink. Inkjet inks are traditionally dye based.
Both offset inks and laser toners are pigment based so
laser digital printing, such as Copresco employs, is roughly comparable to
traditional offset printing in permanence.
Q. How do you compare with other
digital printing providers?
A.The Canon
C7000VP Image Press used by Copresco employs newer toner technology, which
speaks well for permanence. Many other digital press models in use today use
older toner formulations.
There are
three factors to permanence: ink, substrate and environment.
The factor most unique to each digital press is ink, but
substrate, usually paper, is even more important.
For
example, most printing produced in the mid-20th century will not withstand the
test of time. This is the fault of the high acid content of papers, not the
offset or letterpress printing processes then in use.
Environment refers to outside factors acting on the
printed piece. The most destructive factor is light.
The
good news is: If your project is a book or manual, it will be closed when not
in use and, therefore protected from light.
An
environmental problem somewhat unique to laser/toner imaging is heat. Ever
leave a three-ring binder in a hot car, only to find the first page stuck to
the inside of the vinyl binder?
The answer to this, of
course, is to avoid extreme heat, which is in some way destructive to all image
forms.
In
conclusion, it is reasonable to say that if offset lithography yields
acceptable permanence for a given project, then digital laser printing will do
as well.
So when your book, manual or publication must
deliver tomorrow, but last for the ages, call the company that has the
technical knowledge and skills to meet all of your
needs.
Call Copresco.
Links to
serious research about image permanence. Primary focus of all is on
inkjet,
but include laser-toner process, environmental and general information.
http://www.imagepermanenceinstitute.org
http://www.wilhelm-research.com
http://www.lumierephoto.com
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