Re: Digital Offset Presses
"DI" is a pretty broad term. You have the original Heidelberg DI which is an offset process using plate material imaged right on the press. You have high-speed xerographic devices, like the docucolors, which use electro-static and toner technology. You have inkjet solutions, like the Screen TruePress, using high-speed inkjet on rolls of paper. And you have "dry-ink" devices like the Indigo and/or the NexPress which combine electro-static and offset techniques with a state-change (solid to gas or solid to liquid) of the "ink".
As to "taking over the print market", it's all a numbers game. The breaking point on digital print is usually around 2500-5000 impressions - not pieces, impressions. After that conventional offset processes become more cost effective. There are also substrate restrictions involved. You're not gonna' be able to run 24 point board or 30# newsprint through any digital print devices that I know of. On the other hand you may find that there are plastics that move very nicely through these devices - yields a pretty cool business card.
Depending on the process used, consistency of the color ranges from good to unstable. Some of the processes are laying what is basically a colored plastic on the paper and so may show cracking when folded. Some of the processes yield a product that may change color over time, but the market sectors involved aren't any that require archival properties. These are quick products - quickly produced, quickly distributed and quickly consumed.
rich
Edited by: Rich Apollo on Jun 4, 2008 11:23 AM