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Opting For Digital Printing That Is Eco Friendly

By Cornelia White


Not so long ago every print shop had offset presses, inks and reams of paper in storage waiting to be used. With the advent of digital presses, this has changed dramatically. Choosing digital printing that is eco friendly takes this to another level where the equipment, paper and inks used are all environmentally friendly.

The offset printing process uses the concept of oil and water repelling each other to produce a beautiful, high-quality print. The rollers distribute ink onto a plate which has been photo-engraved with text and images. The images on the plate are transferred to a rubber blanket, and then applied to paper. This process is a huge consumer of time, energy and resources. Chemicals are used for film and plate making and the whole process is accompanied by liquid and solid waste and fumes, some of which needs special treatment for disposal.

The new technology does not require plates, eliminating many problems. Chemical usage and hazardous waste are significantly reduced. More personalization is possible and turn around times are faster. The process is particularly suited for items like business cards, letterheads and promotional material requiring small runs. Some other advantages are that overprint is reduced and there are no storage costs.

Not all presses offer the same quality of color and clarity. It is important for customers to find out exactly what presses are being used and what they are capable of producing. Some of the newer presses are more suitable for certain applications than others. One machine may be better for a particular job than another, depending on cost, quality and size of a run.

Going green has become such a trend that many suppliers are making this claim. Some have very little substance to back up their claims while others are totally committed to this cause. Online websites of suppliers should offer details about the machines, processes and materials used. This is one way for customers to discern whether their claims are genuine or not.

Vegetable based inks are becoming more popular as they emit fewer volatile organic compounds than traditional petroleum-based inks. Initially it was expensive to use these inks but costs are beginning to go down as demand goes up. Soy based ink is one of the inks used and it produces good color.

The paper used by these printers varies considerably and choice of what paper to use is essentially up to the customer. A customer may select 100% recycled content or a lower percentage. Some of the paper is manufactured with wind generated electricity and is processed chlorine and acid free.

Opting to use digital printing that is eco friendly is just one of the ways in which one can show commitment to protecting the environment. This does not mean one has to settle for inferior quality in any way as great strides have been made with this technology. The best printers with the latest equipment offer quality just as good as offset printers if not better.




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