In the world of printing there are literally hundreds of methods to print stickers. Today digital printing is arguably the most popular method since it is fast, flexible and efficient. Almost all of the stickers we print are digitally printed. The ones that aren’t are specialty jobs that are super large quantities or require some type of specialty material.
Since this isn’t a senior thesis paper on the history and methods of printing let’s keep it on the topic of digital printing. However for those of you curious here are other methods of printing you can learn more about with a simple Wikipedia search:
- Inkjet
- LaserJet
- Lithography
- Flexography
- Digital
- Screen printing
- Thermography
- Embossing
- Letterpress
- Electrostatic
A Really Expensive Sticker Printing Machine
Industrial class digital printers come in all sizes, shapes and flavors. Here at BottleYourBrand we use an HP Indigo 3550 and this is what it looks like.
Yes it’s huge, yes it’s very, very expensive and no it is nothing like your little inkjet or lazer jet printer at home. The Indigo has the capabilities to print on hundreds of types of materials, anything from paper to plastic. It uses ElectroInk rather than traditional ink so the ink itself actually bonds to the printing material through an electrostatic charge!
Digital Printing For Stickers is Cost Effective and Fast
The really are a ton of advantages to printing with a digital press especially when your focus is short and medium run amounts of stickers (under 5,000 pieces ). Printing digital eliminates the need for any type of plate setup as with flexography printing and some of the other traditional types of printing. Eliminating the need for those plates allows for a lower cost to setup and run jobs as well as quicker turnaround times. We easily batch produce our stickers and labels each day meaning we take all the designs that are going to be printed on one type of material and run them all at once. Another major benefit of printing stickers on a digital press is the unlimited amount of colors we can reproduce. Like we just mentioned with flexography and other methods, plates have to be created for each color in the sticker. With digital printing, unlimited colors print right on demand. Digital printing is fast too, the Indigo can print over 100 full color pages per minute! Don’t believe it? Just watch this video of orders printed right off the press:
Cost, speed and order volume aside the other major plus to printing digital is that is a greener process than traditional print methods. Bypassing all the prepress stages that are required in traditional methods such as films, plates, photo chemicals ect, there is much less product required to get the final sticker or label product finished and ready to ship. In fact, because a digital press can print on materials such as plastic, vinyl, paper and more there is no need for additional finishing products such as varnishes or laminates. That makes the process even more efficient and green than traditional printing.
With all that in mind remember for short run production of stickers, invitations, coasters or any other types of products go with a company that offers digital printing capabilities. Also, if you have any questions about digital printing and have a job you are working on that you need help with let us know. We can assist you over the phone, via email or live chat.