# Digital vs Litho Printing

Source: https://dijitulmedia.co.uk/compare/digital-vs-litho-printing/
Updated: 2026-10-12

> Digital printing suits short runs, quick jobs and personalised items because there are no plates to make. Litho printing has higher set-up costs but a lower cost per copy on long runs, and prints true Pantone spot colours. dijitul designs print-ready artwork for both, with flyers from £95 + VAT, and can arrange and quote the printing.

## Key facts

- Digital: no plates, low set-up cost, fast, each copy can be different
- Litho: plates and make-ready add set-up cost, unit cost falls sharply as quantity rises
- Litho can print Pantone spot inks; most digital presses print CMYK only
- The break-even quantity depends on size, pages, colours and stock; ask for both prices
- Both need print-ready PDFs with 3 mm bleed and CMYK or spot colours
- dijitul quotes printing separately from design

## How they compare

| | Digital printing | Litho (offset) printing |

| How it works | Toner or inkjet applied directly from the file | Ink transferred from metal plates via a rubber blanket |
| Set-up cost | Very low | Higher: plates and make-ready |
| Cost per copy | Roughly flat whatever the quantity | Falls as quantity rises |
| Best run length | Short runs, from a single copy | Longer runs |
| Speed | Fast to turn around | Longer set-up and drying |
| Colour | CMYK; some presses add extra colours | CMYK plus true Pantone spot inks |
| Personalisation | Each copy can differ (names, codes) | Every copy identical |
| Stocks | Good range, some limits on weight and texture | Widest range of papers and boards |

## When digital printing makes sense

Digital presses print straight from the file, so there are no plates to make and very little waste getting started. That makes digital the natural choice for short runs: 100 business cards, 250 flyers for a single event, a handful of presentation folders, or a test batch of labels before committing to a bigger order. It is also useful for proofs, because you can see the real thing on the real paper before a long run.

It also allows variable data, where every copy is different. Personalised direct mail, numbered tickets, name badges and unique QR codes all suit digital. Modern production presses give very good colour, though large flat areas of a single colour can sometimes show slight banding, and most work in CMYK only, so a brand Pantone is reproduced as its nearest CMYK equivalent.

## When litho printing makes sense

Litho has a fixed cost to set up each job: plates for every colour, then running paper through until colour and registration are right. Once running, each extra copy costs very little. So on longer runs of leaflets, brochures, catalogues and magazines, litho usually becomes cheaper per copy than digital.

Litho is also the route for exact brand colour. A Pantone spot ink is pre-mixed to a reference and prints the same colour every time, which is why packaging, corporate stationery and some retail print use it. Litho handles a wider range of papers, including heavy boards and textured uncoated stocks, and finishes such as spot UV and foiling are commonly added afterwards.

## Where's the break-even point?

There is no fixed number. It depends on the format, number of pages, colours, paper and finishing, and on the printer's equipment. For a simple A5 leaflet the switch from digital to litho often happens somewhere in the hundreds to low thousands of copies, but a heavy multi-page brochure can cross over at a different point. The practical approach is to ask your printer for both prices at two or three quantities. If you need us to, we will gather quotes through print management and show you the options side by side.

Think about timing too. Printing a larger litho run once can be cheaper per copy, but only if the content will not change before the stock runs out. Price lists, staff names and event dates go out of date quickly; for those, smaller digital runs reduce waste. Storage matters as well: five thousand brochures take up real space, and boxes stored in a damp unit do not stay flat.

## Preparing artwork for either

Artwork is largely the same for both: a print-ready PDF with 3 mm bleed, crop marks, images at about 300 dpi at final size, fonts embedded and colours in CMYK or named Pantone spots. Litho jobs with spot colours must keep those colours as spots in the file, not converted to CMYK. Our CMYK vs RGB comparison covers colour set-up in more detail.

dijitul designs flyers and leaflets from £95 + VAT, business cards from £75 + VAT and brochures from £295 + VAT. Printing is not included in design prices unless quoted, but we can arrange it and quote it with the design.

## FAQs

### Is digital printing cheaper than litho?

For short runs, usually yes, because digital has almost no set-up cost. For longer runs, litho is usually cheaper per copy because its plate and make-ready costs are spread over more copies. The crossover depends on the job, so dijitul suggests getting both prices at a few quantities.

### Can digital printing match Pantone colours?

Most digital presses print in CMYK and reproduce a Pantone as its nearest CMYK mix, which can be close but not exact, especially for bright oranges, greens and blues. Litho can print the actual Pantone spot ink. dijitul flags brand colours that will shift on digital.

### How many copies before litho is worth it?

There is no single figure. For a simple A5 leaflet the switch often happens somewhere in the hundreds to low thousands, but page count, paper and finishing all move it. dijitul can gather printer quotes for both methods at the quantities you are considering.

### Do I need different artwork for digital and litho?

Mostly no. Both need a print-ready PDF with 3 mm bleed, embedded fonts and images at about 300 dpi. For litho jobs with Pantone inks, spot colours must stay as named spots rather than being converted to CMYK. dijitul prepares files to your printer's specification.

### Can dijitul arrange the printing?

Yes. dijitul designs the artwork and can arrange printing with a suitable printer, quoting the print cost separately from the design. Design prices start from £95 + VAT for a flyer, £75 + VAT for business cards and £295 + VAT for a brochure.

## Prices and contact

Prices (all from, + VAT): Logo design £150; Brand identity pack £395; Business cards or letterhead £75; Flyer or leaflet £95; Brochure £295; Social media graphics pack £99; Photography, half day £295; Photography, full day £495; Product photography £25 per image; Video £695; 2D/3D CAD and design time £45 an hour. All prices are "from" and exclude VAT. Every job gets a fixed price before work starts. Printing, and travel for shoots beyond the Mansfield and Nottinghamshire area, are quoted separately. Contact: https://dijitulmedia.co.uk/contact/ · 01623 650333 · info@dijitul.uk