Whether you're looking to print your next project or you're a professional printer, one essential question arises: which printing method should you use—analog or digital?
At DALIM SOFTWARE, we provide advanced tools that help printers save valuable time in the prepress process. Our solutions are compatible with both offset and digital printing technologies, ensuring flexibility and efficiency.
But first, let’s clarify a common misconception: the rise of digital printing doesn't mean analogue printing (as offset lithography and flexography) is going away.
Since its emergence in the 1990s, digital printing has continuously evolved, with significant improvements in quality, speed, and customization capabilities.
According to Printweek, "the digital print volume is expected to grow 54% in the ten years to come." Smithers also predicts that by 2035, "future generations of digital print lines will be able to compete directly with analogue in all sectors bar low-value newspaper, magazine and graphics work, and the highest-volume, low-graphics packaging jobs."
Among these innovations, digital reel printing—particularly inkjet on reels—stands out. The range of compatible substrates has grown significantly, opening the door to a broader range of applications and driving continued growth in web-to-print services. (drupa article)
Digital printing also responds to growing environmental expectations from both consumers and manufacturers. It supports sustainability by reducing material waste and eliminating the need for printing forms. With shorter makeready times and lower energy use, digital technology aligns well with the demand for a more sustainable, agile, and cost-effective packaging supply chain. (drupa article)
Does This Mean Analog Printing Is Obsolete?
Absolutely not. Analog and digital printing each have their own advantages and ideal use cases.
- Digital printing excels in short runs, fast turnaround, variable data printing, and flexibility, all while delivering good print quality. It offers marketing oriented advantages .
- Offset lithography and flexography, on the other hand, remain cost-effective for high-volume jobs, and is unmatched in color accuracy, specialty finishes, consistency and is also making progresses in flexibility at low volumes and costs.(TruArtColorGraphics and drupa article)
- Rather than being competitors, these technologies are increasingly complementary.
Print Industry Trends: Leveraging Both Offset and Digital
A recent NAPCO Research study, conducted in the US, Germany, and Japan, reveals that while digital print volume is rising, offset still dominates. Commercial printers reported that 71% of their work is printed on offset presses, with 19% on digital presses.
Why use both? Because the offset-digital combo offers cost efficiency and operational flexibility. As the white paper explains:
"Beyond offering cost efficiency, the top response for commercial printers across all countries, the offset digital press combination enables meeting customer demands for customization, faster turnaround, and quality, while offering production flexibility."
It continues:
"By using both types of presses, printers can allocate jobs to the most cost-effective press. High-volume jobs can go to the offset press, while short runs and personalized jobs can be handled by the digital press."
A noteworthy trend is the rise of hybrid label presses, combining flexo and inkjet technologies to offer the best of both worlds. These presses are gaining traction—particularly in narrow web applications—thanks to their speed, volume capacity, and flexibility. As BOBST emphasizes, "the future will be a blend," underlining the shift toward hybrid systems that integrate the strengths of both analogue and digital. (drupa article)
Integration Challenges and the DALIM Advantage
However, combining both printing methods does present challenges—especially when it comes to workflow integration. The report from NAPCO points out that:
"A significant aspect intensifying the difficulty in integrating workflows is that 73% of respondents that print on both offset and digital presses support multiple workflows..."
Additionally, digital printing requires specific staff training, particularly in workflows, automation, color management, digital print technology, and variable data tools.
This is where DALIM SOFTWARE makes a difference. Our digital workflow solutions are designed to bridge the gap between offset and digital, reducing complexity and empowering printers with automation, efficiency, and cross-technology compatibility.
How DALIM SOFTWARE Bridges the Gap Between Offset and Digital Printing
At DALIM SOFTWARE, we believe that true integration between offset and digital printing starts with the right software. Our solution provides a comprehensive, unified workflow system that connects and streamlines production across all types of printing technologies—independent of the brand or number of machines involved. Designed for long-term adaptability, it ensures your print operations remain efficient and future-ready.
From job creation and submission to monitoring and quality control, it enables teams to standardize and automate workflows across both analog and digital systems—without being tied to specific hardware.
Each press can be assigned its own fully tailored workflow, ensuring consistency and flexibility in production—even when operated by teams without specialized training. Switching between workflows is effortless, helping your print business stay responsive and agile.
For digital printing, the real challenge many printers face is the transition itself—shifting volume from analog to digital while navigating new demands like faster turnarounds and variable data. DALIM SOFTWARE addresses this head-on with a digital-first imposition engine built specifically for short-run, variable jobs. With multi-lane capabilities to support presses equipped with splitters, our solution scales effortlessly with the speed and complexity of modern digital machines. It's the kind of workflow power printers need to take on more work, move faster, and grow with confidence.
With DALIM SOFTWARE, you get:
- A digital-first imposition engine optimized for short-run, variable data jobs,
- Multi-lane support for digital presses with splitters,
- Scalable workflows that keep pace with high-speed, high-volume production,
- Seamless automation to reduce manual intervention and errors,
- The flexibility to grow into digital printing—without compromising control.
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