Digital vs Litho Printing: When Each Saves You Money
Digital Vs Litho Printing questions answered by the team that prints it every day. Platinum Digital Printing runs its own presses, embroidery machines and large-format printers in Randburg, Johannesburg — this guide shares what we tell our own clients, with no sales fog.
The Setup Economics
Litho requires plates — a fixed setup cost that makes short runs expensive and long runs cheap. Digital has zero setup — first copy costs the same as the thousandth.
The crossover sits around 200–500 units for most jobs.
Speed and Flexibility
Digital prints today and personalises every sheet (names, numbers, versions). Litho needs plate-making time but then runs at industrial speed.
Deadline tomorrow: digital. 50,000 flyers next week: litho.
Quality Differences
Modern digital matches litho for most marketing work. Litho still edges ahead on huge solid areas, special inks and exact Pantone matching.
For exact numbers, send your brief to Platinum Digital Printing — quotes come back within the hour on business days, with a free artwork check and digital proof before anything prints.
What We Recommend
Under 200: digital, always. 200–1,000: quote both. 1,000+: litho usually wins. We run the numbers on every quote automatically.
Because production happens in-house at our Randburg centre, Gauteng clients can collect same-day on many products, and national orders courier within 1–3 working days.
Need Digital Vs Litho Printing Handled?
Exact quote within the hour — free artwork check, digital proof, same-day options in Gauteng.
Digital Vs Litho Printing — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between digital and litho printing?
Litho uses plates (setup cost, cheap at volume); digital prints direct (no setup, wins short runs).
Which is better quality?
Both excellent today — litho edges ahead on special inks and huge solids; digital wins personalisation.
When does litho become cheaper?
Typically beyond 200–500 units depending on the job — we quote both where it is close.
Related Services
Further reading: offset printing.
