Flexo or Digital?
Pros and Cons of Flexo and Digital
Pros and Cons of Flexo and Digital
Should you use Flexographic or Digital printing for your labels? In the labeling industry, this is a question many production leaders ask themselves, and that’s ok. Ample is here to help you figure out the best printing solutions for your labeling needs. The best factors to consider when printing labels are; quality, substrate, volume, budget, and production schedule. Let’s break each press down and compare the pros and cons to figure out which is best for your business.
Flexography (Flexo) printing utilizes a series of flexible plates, inks, rollers, and rotary die-cutting tools to print mass quantities of labels on a variety of substrates. It’s a process that emphasizes efficiency and long runs during printing. Between the Flexo and Digital presses, Flexo is the most popular for larger businesses.
Pros
- Great for long runs
- High-quality printing
- Large print quantities; can be cost-effective
- Fast printing speeds
- 10 ink color capabilities
- Can print on a variety of substrates
- Uses plates and ink with rollers to transfer the image onto the printing substrate
- In-line finishing is included in a flexo press
Cons
- Making changes and updates to the printing plates can be time-consuming and expensive.
- Set up takes longer - Transfer plates need to be etched for each new design and color used, potentially limiting your design in order to keep costs down.
Pros and Cons of Flexo and Digital
Pros and Cons of Flexo and Digital
Digital printing presses, on the other hand, are the latest in printing technology. Digital printing offers you the quality of traditional flexo printing with the convenience of short-run printing. The costs of a digital run are often cheaper than flexo, as there are NO plates involved. The HP Indigo WS6900 is our top-of-the-line digital label printing press. With a premium grade press, we are able to accomplish even better color, clarity, and quality than a flexographic printing press. With Digital printing, we have the ability to print variable data on the same print run, which includes unique names, addresses, barcodes, or product flavorings.
Pros
- Great for short runs
- High resolution
- Incredibly fast! Working within a tight deadline, digital could be your best option.
- Quick turnaround times
- Works with CMYK Color
- Greater Flexibility. Allows for variable data and changing artwork often
- Less waste during setup
- Prints with a variety of substrates
- Good for start-ups and small companies
Cons
- Limited Material Options
- If printed areas are cut or folded, it can leave cracks in the ink.
- Long jobs cost more - Longer your print jobs, the more expensive your labels will be
Digital printing is a great option for your business’s introductory phase, which allows fast turnarounds, and is especially well-suited to producing shorter runs.
Have questions?
Give us a call for more label tips and tricks!
Call Ample at: (417)725-2657
We are eager to talk with you about Amplifying Your Brand!
