Digital printing is the reproduction of digital images on a physical surface. It is generally used for low quantity print runs, and for the customization of print media. When used correctly digital printing can greatly impact an overall communication campaign.

It can be differentiated from litho, flexography, gravure or letterpress printing in many ways, some of which are;

• Every printed impression made onto the paper can be different, as opposed to making several hundred or thousand impressions of the same image from one set of printing plates, as in traditional methods.
• It requires less waste in terms of chemicals used and paper wasted in set up (bringing the image "up to colour" and checking registration or position).
• The Ink or Toner does not absorb into the substrate, as does conventional ink, but forms a thin layer on the surface and may in some systems be additionally adhered to the substrate by using a fuser fluid with heat process (toner) or UV curing process (ink).

Because of the lack of a need to make plates or run up to colour, it is useful for rapid prototyping, and cost effective for small print runs.

Digital Printing is used for personalized printing, or variable data printing (VDP or VI), for example personalized children's books, which are customized with the specific child's name and images. Print on Demand (POD) systems also use digital printing, for short run books of varying page quantities, and binding techniques.

Examples

Some examples of major commercial digital printing systems are the HP Indigo press by Hewlett-Packard, the VarioPrint 1 from Océ, the InfoPrint, 2 a joint venture between IBM and Ricoh, and the iGen 3 from Xerox.

See also

• Variable Data Printing
• Digital image processing
• Display device
• Digital photography
• Graphical output device
• Society for Imaging Science and Technology, IS&T
• Giclee Fine Art Printing
• Computer to film
• Computer to plate