Digital Printing – How does it benefit you?

Digital printing offers many advantages not available with traditional printing technologies.

Speed with Flexibility

With today’s ever shorter deadlines, speed is essential. Digital printing offers unprecedented turnaround time yet allows for those unexpected last minute revisions. Not only can those impossible deadlines be met, the document can contain the latest information. Since there are no plates to burn, modifications can be made up until the job is actually run. Turn around can even be reduced to same day when absolutely necessary.

Quality

The quality from digital printing rivals typical lithography printed at 150 lpi. Runs can be produced at this quantity as small as 50.

Cost

Digital printing is very cost effective. Since Merlin International produces only digital printing, we have refined our expertise to the point that we can be competitive with offset at volumes up to 5000 impressions.

Variable Data

If client data ranging from simple address lists to more complex data is available, this information can be used to selectively target customers to improve response rates. Merlin can assist and educate clients to the possibilities available.

Digital printing allows every impression printed to be unique. That means every piece can be dedicated to a specific recipient, providing the ability to tap into the one-to-one marketing arena. Each piece can include an image unique to the recipient in addition to unique text.

Duplexing

The process of printing on both sides of the paper is called duplexing or perfecting. Merlin’s presses print on both sides of the sheet at the same time, which provides very accurate image registration from the front to the back of the sheet.

Substrate Options

The selection of available papers continues to grow. Paper weights range from 40 grams per square meter (gsm) to a robust 350 gsm card stock(27 lb text to 122 lb cover). Finishes range from standard matte to high gloss. Our presses also have the option of giving the printed areas a gloss look. Transparency, water proofed papers, latex based papers, transfer material, and plastic paper substitutes are also available. If colored or preprinted stock is needed but not available, we have frequently been able to simulate both color and texture during printing.

Screening

Merlin International currently offers three choices of screening. The standard rosette pattern at 170 lpi is the default screen and is the screen used by offset technology. The stochastic screen allows process colored type to be rendered at the full addressabilty of our RIPs, which provides the cleanest and sharpest colored text. The hybrid line screen at 170 lpi reduces the occurrence of moiré patterns in images which are sensitive to screening interference.