The Print Authority - Knowledgebase

Copying Q&A

What is digital copying?
When should I use digital copying versus traditional offset printing?
How are full color digital copies produced?
What types of proofs are used on digital copying jobs?
What determines the quality level of a digitally copied piece?
What is a bleed?
Can a digital copier produce an exact ink color?
What types of problems occur in digital copying jobs?

What is digital copying?

Digital copying is a process whereby a digital image is transmitted from an electronic file to a copy machine, either in black and white or full color.

Copiers work by applying an electrostatic charge to a piece of paper. Dry toner, either black and white or color, adheres to the charge. Typically, fuser oil is applied to the toner to fuse it to the paper. This technology has advanced greatly over the years to be faster, easier to use and more accurate. back to top

When should I use digital copying versus traditional offset printing?

Digital printing is best for documents with many originals and few prints of each original, while offset printing is the best choice for documents with only a few originals and many prints of each original. Digital copying is also an excellent choice for quick turnaround documents since copying is a dry process and has very little setup. Lastly, while the quality of digital copying has improved vastly over the last several years, offset printing still offers the highest quality available. Both digital printing and offset printing are employed at The Print Authority. back to top

For more details on how to decide which process to use, call The Print Authority, at (615) 468-2679!

How are full color digital copies produced?

Full color copies are produced using a process that is analogous to full color offset printing, except that copiers use toner in place of ink. Full color copiers usually contain 4 colors of toner (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) which are combined to approximate various other colors. back to top

What types of proofs are used on digital copying jobs?

One of the advantages of digital copying is that the proof is produced in exactly the same way as the final product. For this reason, proofing is relatively quick and inexpensive. At The Print Authority, we proof all digital jobs over $100 except in cases where delivering a hard copy proof is impractical. In those cases, we may provide a PDF of the proof prior to running the job. back to top

What determines the quality level of a digitally copied piece?

The most important factor in the quality of a digitally copied piece is the quality of the original file and the resolution of the images which it contains. In addition to the quality of the original, the quality of the copier and how it is maintained will also have a significant impact. Copiers vary a great deal in terms of the consistency and accuracy of reproducing images. back to top

What is a bleed?

The term bleed refers to an image running off the edge of a page. The proper way to bleed an image is to run the image on a larger sheet of paper and then cut the paper after printing so the image runs off the edge of the sheet. The image on the electronic file must also run over the edge of the page to create a bleed. back to top

Can a digital copier produce an exact ink color?

Generally speaking, no.

Full-color copiers can produce a wide range of colors by applying combinations of cyan, magenta, yellow and black. However, like four color process printing, copiers cannot typically “match” an exact ink color.back to top

What types of problems occur in digital copying jobs?

Here is a brief list of potential problems which can occur in digitally copied pieces. Some of these issues can be avoided with conscientious machine operators, well maintained equipment and proper job scheduling.

Improper Registration of colors. Sometimes, you can see a color “hanging” out of register with the other colors. This might occur if you see red at the edge of images. This is usually a copier maintenance problem.

Banding in large solid areas. Copiers, like printing presses, have a technical limit of how large of a solid area that they can print consistently. This will vary by copier brand.

Inconsistent color. Color consistency varies greatly by copier brand. Regular calibration can reduce inconsistency.

Cracks on folds of digitally produced pieces. Unlike offset printing where ink absorbs into paper, copying involves the application of toner which sits on top of the paper. If a digitally copied image runs over a fold (particularly on cover stock), it may crack when the piece is folded. More modern color copiers apply less toner to the paper and, therefore, have less toner to crack. Another way to reduce cracking is to score sheets prior to folding. back to top