Digital printing has gained popularity due to its advantages like operational efficiency, speed-to-market and customization. It also helps reduce warehousing costs and waste and optimize supply chains.

Digital printing also offers a lower cost compared to traditional methods due to its elimination of plate and film set-up costs. However, it is important to understand what the disadvantages are before committing to this process.

1. Lack of Durability

Digital printing consists of transferring digital-based images directly onto various media materials, including paper, canvas, and cardstock. It has gained popularity because it is a cost-effective and faster (requires less setup) alternative to traditional printing processes, which can make for a great option for businesses looking to create short print runs. However, it can also have its downsides.

One of the major drawbacks of digital printing is that it does not have good durability. While this is not a huge issue when it comes to smaller prints, such as business cards, it can be problematic for larger projects, especially for products that need to withstand heavy use. For example, if you are printing vinyl graphics on a vehicle wrap, then digital printing is probably not the best option for you as it will likely fade over time.

Another aspect of digital printing that can be a disadvantage is that it can be difficult to match Pantone colors exactly when using this process. This is because there are differences in the inks, rasterization techniques, and toners used by different printers.

Despite its shortcomings, digital printing remains the most efficient and cost-effective method for producing small print runs of labels and other products. This is because it does not require the creation of plates or films, and because it can produce each label almost instantly. This makes it a great option for companies that need to test marketing campaigns or release limited edition products on a short-term basis.

2. Poor Color Accuracy

Digital printing is a great alternative to traditional offset printing as it offers many benefits, including minimal-to-no setup costs and short-run capabilities. It also eliminates the need for costly printing plates and allows for easier customization and variable data.

However, it has its drawbacks too. For one, it is unable to match Pantone colors as accurately as its traditional counterparts. This is because it uses CMYK printing process to generate the colors instead of PMS inks that are used for traditional printing methods. In addition, the toners and rasterization techniques used in digital printing can lead to a slightly different color finish between prints.

Another issue with digital printing is its poor durability. This type of printing is susceptible to fading over time, especially if printed with inks that are not UV-protected. While this may not be a problem for most documents or business cards, it can cause problems for products and packaging.

Overall, digital printing is a great option for businesses and individuals who need quick turnaround times and high-quality prints. It can be a good choice for labeling as well, since it is able to accommodate variable data that includes unique labels with sequential numbering and varying backgrounds, colors or text within a single run. Furthermore, digital printing is much cheaper than offset printing, making it a viable option for Print on Demand services.

3. Limited Customization

Digital printing is a print production method that allows you to directly send your media files such as PDF, Images, Vector shape straight to the printer. It requires no plates to be created and setup time is a fraction of the time it would take with traditional offset printing. This makes it ideal for short print runs as there are no setup costs, and turnaround is quick.

It’s also great for custom printing as you can get image-perfect and accurate proofing before carrying out your print run. This allows you to identify any errors in design or spelling, and rectify them before it carries on costing you a lot of money.

With that said, however, the number of material options is a little limited with this print method. In particular, it can be difficult to match Pantone colors accurately, as digital printers use CMYK toners rather than ink.

Another limitation is that it can be slower to change over the print job to a new file if you require a different label for a particular product or event. As such, this can be challenging for larger projects that have a tight turnaround.

4. High Cost

Digital printing is growing in popularity with each passing year, accounting for 16.2% of the global print market value in 2017. Compared to traditional printing processes, this alternative is more cost-effective and provides high-quality results. However, it is not without its drawbacks and limitations.

Because digital printing doesn’t use plates, the setup process is simpler and quicker, which lowers overall costs. This makes it ideal for short run prints and small quantities of products. It’s also an ideal choice for creating labels that are based on variable data, such as serial numbers or barcodes.

In addition, digital printing reduces environmental waste by avoiding the production of hazardous air pollutants (HAPS). Some professional printers even deploy polymer-based inks that don’t emit such chemicals, further lowering carbon footprints.

Another perk of digital printing is that it allows for image-perfect proofing before going to print. This means that if you find an error in your design or text, it can be quickly and easily corrected without having to reprint the entire order.

Digital printing is also ideal for just-in-time production. This on-demand approach helps companies avoid the costly overhead associated with inventory storage and allows for changes to be made quickly if priorities or designs change. This is particularly helpful when creating a limited-release campaign or marketing event. Keeping up with the FDA’s regulations can be a hassle, so having the option to produce new labels and quickly change the design can save you time and money!