With the use of software, these new digital printing machines can quickly produce proofs for customers to examine and edit, virtually or on the spot.  This flexibility has a clear advantage over traditional offset printing presses.

Many customers are relieved had this small, yet important advantage.  No longer having to wait for a proof to arrive from a traditional printer in order to proof and edit has made digital printing machines the preferred method for digital printing in the direct marketing, billing and mass mailing industries.  No longer does it take a week for a proof, now it can be done almost instantly.

With the long set up times needed to set up a proof, traditional printers often have work backed up for days or weeks.  Though frustrating for the customer, the need for accuracy for these traditional offset printers is key to their business.  With software and online access for the new digital printing machines, this labor intensive process is cut in half if not more.

On a digital printing press, you can have a print immediately to review and proof.  A customer can then give the green light to start the printing process.  The reduction of proofing time with digital printing machines translates to an accelerated production and in the end that means reducing expenses across the board.  It also means reaching customers faster, which in the end will translate into higher income.

For more information on how digital printing press can save your company or organization money, be sure to download and analyze our guide to digital printing substrates , The Printer’s Best Friend!

But regardless of where you stand on which of the many digital printing solutions out there sits at the top of the list, nearly all high end print shops agree that workflow services are one of the most important digital printing solutions to hit the market in recent memory. Consider: by digital workflow, your organization gains the following benefits immediately:

• An ability to handle multiple file shapes, sizes, and formats, allowing for maximized flexibility in both the number of applications and the number of substrates supported.

• With faster speed of access to information, marketing messages can be streamlined and customized on a per-client basis; jobs that incorporate variable data printing at any significant level require a digital workflow solution.

• With the implementation of variable data, print shops open an entirely new series of markets that require more sophisticated and time-sensitive printing production.

• Digital workflow allows storage and recall of previous documentation in an electronic format, eliminating the need for physical space to house archived client materials.

• The faster turnaround enjoyed by shops that implement some form of digital workflow opens up the possibility of web-based client fulfillment, allowing a shop in New York to receive an order from a client in California and satisfy that order remotely.

• Last but not least, digital workflow systems are designed to minimize downtime, adhere to predetermined maintenance cycles, and handle more intense workloads by automating production and pumping out materials during normally idle periods.

For additional information on how a digital workflow system can improve your productivity, and to see why this technology represents the most important digital printing solutions of the new millennium, be sure to check out our free digital printing guide today!

Chief among the examples of well-implemented technology that define the HP Indigo line of digital press products are the environmental tweaks that give the 7000 one of the smallest carbon footprints of any commercial digital printing press. The internal, integrated oil recycling system, the reduced electricity requirements and Energy Star compliance, and the fact that the 7000 is tuned to print on recycled paper and substrates show that HP was, and remains, dedicated to the principles of conversation that are key corporate goals of larger companies across the globe. In fact, the HP Indigo 7000 even incorporates oversized color cartridges that increase the time between replacement cycles, reducing overall waste generation.

On the digital workflow front, the HP Indigo line once again surpasses expectations. The proprietary SmartStream system not only users remote access, it allows troubleshooting and tech support. SmartStream also increases variable data printing capability and expandability beyond nearly all competing digital presses, and seamlessly integrates with other presses to create a single point of interface that can handle a tremendous workload.

The HP Indigo 7000 also provides excellent flexibility. It can handle media weights up to 80-350gsm coated and 60-350gsm uncoated with ease, and shuffling through thickness ranges of 70-400 microns, and offers three discrete and expandable trays that hold 1,800 sheets apiece.

All said and done, companies or print shops looking to purchase an older digital press can’t expect to do any better than the 7000. Judging from the rave reviews that this series still receives from users on the HP site, we’re likely to continue seeing this model in action for years to come.

For more information on the HP Indigo 7000, as well as details and specifications on a host of competing digital printing press products, feel free to download and browse our complimentary

digital printing guide.

Running at output speeds in excess of 110 pages per minute, the Xerox iGen 3 consistently left the competition in the dust. Even today, as newer iterations of the Xerox iGen line hammer out printed material with astounding celerity, Xerox products remain the fastest on the market. In fact, Xerox boasted a 30 percent increase in color page print volume from the Xerox iGen series between 2006 and 2007 – an unheard of speed boost in a closely competitive market.

At the first year of lauch, Xerox handled a mere 126 corporate customers worldwide, working tirelessly to enable them to print a million or more pages per month from digital printing press products like the Xerox iGen 3. Today, that number is closer to ten thousand, as digital printing technology has caught up to traditional lithography in terms of sheer quality, and seeks to topple offset printing by providing digital users with a wealth of options that only operate in a digital workflow environment. In fact, many Xerox iGen 3 clients actually operate multiple digital presses, connecting them through software and operating them in tandem to generate millions of printed pages per month.

The global digital printing market was valued at $68 billion back in 2007, and estimates place that number at nearly double that amount today. This is great news for Xerox, since the iGen line continues to leave a wake of rave reviews and accolades from users across multiple industries. But this is also good for the planet, since Xerox iGen digital presses produce far less waste than traditional offset printing solutions. If technology continues at this pace, it won’t be long before lithography goes the way of the printing press as the world embraces thoroughly digital printing solutions.

To find out more about the history, capabilities, and specifications of the Xerox iGen 3, as well as the rest of the iGen line, be sure to download and review our complimentary digital printing guide.

Harnessing this new technology and putting it to worth for your organization can save a tremendous amount of time and expense, as you can probably imagine. Multiple variable data printing solutions are available, offering a number of ways to increase throughput and efficiency in any billing, marketing, or advertising department. Three of the most popular and powerful variable data printing solutions include:

• Label Management:  From monthly bills to direct mailing to outgoing catalogs and brochures, variable data printing allows you to pull customer names directly from an attached database and print them directly on the pieces being mailed out. This solution entirely eliminates the need to produce secondary labels and affix them to your mailed items, greatly increasing efficiency and reducing overall costs and time spent.

• Customized Graphics:  As any good marketing rep will tell you, different people are interested by different things. A picture of a flashy red sports car might turn on a nineteen year old college student, but probably won’t do much for a 70 year old grandmother in Wisconsin. Variable data printing can be applied to graphics as well as text, allowing you to tailor your outgoing advertising to suit the needs of your target audience – or even customize your graphics on per individual basis – greatly increasing marketing impact and overall product orders.

• Internal Customer Lists:  Variable data printing isn’t just for external use – there are a number of ways that these solutions can be implemented internally to increase efficiency around the office, especially when it comes to contacting customers. Telemarketing stations often work off physical lists pulled from databases. Using variable data printing to alter customer records on the fly can help you sort leads, exclude previously contacted customers, or even assign representatives by name or customer location – all automatically and instantaneously.

For an expanded list of variable data printing solutions that could benefit your company or organization, or to find out more about how variable data printing works, download our free digital printing guide today!

The Indigo name comes from a print operation acquired by HP back in 2001, and to this day Indigo remains synonymous with quality and consistency in the print world. HP Indigo printing solutions carry one large advantage over many competing digital presses – the backing of print giant HP Corporation. If nothing else, investing in an HP product means that replacement parts, drivers, manuals, and updates will always be available, and technical support is only a phone call away.

Brand names aside, the most important factors in deciding on a digital printing solution should be broken down into three main areas: output, quality, and workflow.

• Output represents the raw printing capability of a digital printer, and HP Indigo printing presses provide plenty. Raw sustained output of color pages from an Indigo is 120 pages per minute or more, while black and white printing can exceed double that amount. That’s 3.5 million pages of printed material per month when working at full capacity – more than enough for nearly any small to medium sized operation.

• Quality represents the image fidelity, bleed control, and finishing options available from a digital printer, and HP Indigo printing presses once again provide plenty of horsepower. The variable 4-6-7 pantone color emulation features allow exacting color matching capability, and integrated hi-tech color management mechanisms ensure tight control over printed images. HP indigo printing presses also print to a great number of different types of media, from uncoated to polyester.

• Workflow represents the overall operational time of the machine versus downtime spent on calibration, repairs, or maintenance – and this is where HP Indigo printing presses really shine. HP provides a wide range of software support modules that increase uptime significantly, marketed through the SmartStream brand of products and affiliates. Additionally, the HP Indigo integrates seamlessly with many different types of MIS networks and tools, allowing easy offsite or remote management and maintenance scheduling.

For additional specifications on HP Indigo printing presses or more information another brand of digital printing press, be sure to download and analyze our comprehensive and complementary digital printing guide.

The Kodak Nexpress S3000 provides a host of user friendly features that make it an excellent choice for print solutions in smaller boutique print shops or medium sized marketing and advertising firms that require the horsepower of a digital printing press but prefer not to spend money on a full time press technician. The quality control and finishing options are easy to manage and implement, and the entire user interface is remarkably easy to use – those with experience using Windows or Mac OS will have little trouble mastering the controls.

Like many of the Kodak Nexpress models, much of the work is performed automatically, as the integrated feed analysis and closed loop color calibration features are managed by internal microprocessors. The intelligent color glossing and coating functions also provide automated support further reducing time spent punching buttons and increasing overall print output.

And speaking of output, the Kodak Nexpress S300 boasts an impressive and sustained 100 pages per minute – second only to the half million dollar behemoths marketed by Xerox. Even better, the image quality and contrast control on the Nexpress are arguably superior even to the Xerox flagship, meaning that the Nexpress offers a well-rounded solution for firms that require a balance of raw output and graphical fidelity.

Naturally, the star feature of the Nexpress line is the intuitive variable data printing interface that allows myriad changes to printed material per piece and on the fly, such as customized graphics or names on individual printed pieces aimed at specific customers or audiences.

If your firm is seeking a workhorse printing press that offers full featured graphical support, variable data capability, and excellent output, all wrapped up in an interface that can be used by mastered experts and amateurs alike, the Nexpress S3000 from Kodak is hard to beat.

For additional specs on the Kodak Nexpress S3000, as well as a host of other digital presses, be sure to refer to our comprehensive and complementary digital printing guide for more information.

Printing variable data pays dividends for small to medium sized enterprises that utilize promotional flyers, direct mail marketing, postcard publicity campaigns, or special event advertisements directly to predetermined individuals. By addressing each individual personally, and by using language, colors, and images designed specifically to appeal to that individual and his or her representative market segment, the overall effectiveness of direct advertising efforts skyrockets, creating more business and more impact with little or no increase in overall printing costs.

Too Good to be True?

Far from it! Variable data printing harnesses the power of computerized digital printing technology – a technology that can make individual changes on each piece of printed material during the course of a print run. These kinds of changes are impossible for standard offset printing, since lithographic printing requires pre-constructed metal plates that remain unchanged during the printing run.

Digital printing, however, allows the printing of variable data since the print template is stored in a software structure. By making minor alterations to this software-based printing structure during the course of the print run – usually by pulling information from an associated database – digital printing gives the user full control over the final print output on a piece-by-piece basis.

Studies consistently show that by printing variable data, advertisers see dramatic increases in order sizes, repeat purchases, and net revenues, and that response times from customers who make purchases decrease across the board.

For more information on printing variable data, and how digital printing services can give your promotions or targeted marketing efforts increased potency, be sure to download and view the Digital Printing Press comprehensive digital printing guide, absolutely free of charge!

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Download our free Digital Printing Guide.

Below, you’ll find a list of major factors that must be honestly considered and prioritized before you can make a properly educated choice on your printing service. Before running through this checklist, make sure you’ve already made final choices on how you want your project presented, what types of color or media you prefer, and the total volume of printed material your project requires.

Major Factors

• Print Quantity.  How long is your print run going to be? Traditional offset printing requires more set up time, but still provides the best overall value for long print runs, while digital printing companies will nearly always provide you with lower costs on print runs of small to medium length.

• Print Media.  If your project requires especially exotic materials like wood or metal, offset printing provides far more flexibility and is more than likely your only option. However, digital printing companies can deliver excellent quality printing on nearly any type of paper or similar traditional printing surface.

• Color Options.  Offset lithography inarguably offers lower prices on standard black and white printing, but if your project requires rich and dramatic colors, most digital printing companies can provide you with a menu of options tailored to your specific project needs.

• Delivery Time.  If speed is a primary requirement, digital printing nearly always offers quicker delivery. While some offset printing agencies have begun offering accelerated services to keep up with digital printing companies, turnaround times on digital printing often can trim your schedule down significantly.

• Variable Data Printing.  Digital printing companies can provide tailor-made solutions on a per-piece basis using a technique called variable data printing. Since offset uses printing plates rather than software structures to produce finished materials, this customization is only available from digital printing companies.

For additional assistance in determining whether traditional or digital printing companies provide the best solutions for your printing project, be sure to download the Digital Printing Press free digital printing guide for more information.

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What separated the Nuvera from the competition was not just the robust and reliable technology that Xerox provides to print consumers on all their products, nor was it the trend-setting page per minute volume that surpassed nearly all competitors. The chief advantages of the Nuvera Xerox digital printer that made it tower over the competition were the easy to master computer interfaces that provided users with a wealth of touch button options on everything from color saturation to variable data, as well as the proprietary Xerox FreeFlow system that provided users with a host of digital workflow options that transformed downtime into uptime, and increased printing efficiency and output dramatically across the board.

Today, the Nuvera Digital Duplex Xerox digital printer remains one of the most widely used workhorses in the digital printing industry, and continues to receive accolades on a yearly basis. Likewise, the technology and usability features have increased significantly since its introduction and the Nuvera now boasts the capability of 288 impressions per minute, making it one of the fastest digital printing solutions on the market. With the introduction of two new pieces of Xerox iGen technology – the Emulsion Aggregation (EA) fine particle toner and Pass Through Programming technology – chances are that the Nuvera will continue to lead the pack for the foreseeable future.

To find out more about the Nuvera Digital Duplex, as well as a host of other Xerox digital printers and technological advances, have a look at the Digital Printing Press comprehensive digital printing guide, available now for free download!

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Download our free Digital Printing Guide.