There are significant differences between flexographic printing and digital printing in many aspects. The following is a detailed comparison of the two.
1. Printing principles and processes
Flexographic printing
Principle: Use a flexible plate as a printing plate, and transfer ink to the substrate through an anilox roller.
Process: Plate making, inking, adjusting pressure, printing, among which the plate making process is relatively complicated, and a flexible printing plate needs to be made first.
Digital printing
Principle: Use digital imaging technology to directly print electronic files on the substrate through inkjet, laser, etc.
Process: Electronic file processing, sending to a digital printing machine, instant printing, no plate making, and instant printing is achieved.
2. Applicable fields and needs
Flexographic printing
Applicable fields: More suitable for large-scale and long-run printing, such as packaging printing, label printing and other fields.
Demand characteristics: Fast printing speed, high efficiency, suitable for large-scale production, and wide adaptability to substrates.
Digital printing
Applicable fields: Suitable for short-run printing, personalized printing and on-demand printing, especially suitable for small-volume and multi-variety printing needs.
Demand characteristics: Able to respond quickly to market changes, meet customers' customized needs, and support a variety of substrates and ink types.
3. Printing effect and expressiveness
Flexo printing
Printing effect: In specific fields such as packaging printing, its printing effect can still meet market demand, but it may be affected by factors such as plate making and ink transfer.
Expressiveness: Most of the dots are regular, solid, and have little deformation, which can present a relatively stable printing quality.
Digital printing
Printing effect: It has high resolution and color expressiveness, and can present more delicate images and rich color levels.
Expressiveness: The dot boundaries are clear and sharp, and support frequency modulation dot technology, which makes the printed products have higher image quality.
4. Cost and efficiency
Flexo printing
Cost: It has a higher efficiency advantage in mass production and can reduce unit costs, but the initial plate making and equipment investment costs are relatively high.
Efficiency: Fast printing speed, high efficiency, suitable for large-scale production.
Digital printing
Cost: It has a lower cost advantage in short-run printing because there is no need for plate making and less waste, but the unit cost may be higher than flexo printing in long-run printing.
Efficiency: Instant printing, no plate making time, and can respond quickly to market changes.
V. Other features and advantages
Flexographic printing
Environmental protection: Using alcohol-soluble ink and hot air drying device, the ink layer can dry quickly, which is beneficial to environmental protection.
Connectivity: It can be connected and matched with various post-processing machinery to form an assembly line and improve labor productivity.
Digital printing
Variability: Supports 100% variable information printing to meet personalized and customized needs.
Remoteness: Printed products can be output remotely anytime, anywhere, without time and space restrictions.
There are significant differences between flexographic printing and digital printing in printing principles, applicable fields, printing effects, costs and efficiency, and other features and advantages. When choosing a printing method, it is necessary to comprehensively consider factors such as specific printing needs, material characteristics, and cost budgets.
