Question

What is the Digital Printing - What is digital printing??

Accepted Answer

Any method of printing that processes images in a digital format  rather than an analogue format   The term    digital    refers to data or information that is generated  stored  or processed in a discrete  discontinuous  numerical form  digital files are made up of a series of digits  either 1 or 0  and are transmitted as being in one of two states  e g  1 or 0  on or off  positive or negative  true or false  black or white   These digits are known as    binary digits    or    bits            As digital printing can only process images in the form of a digital file  these processes usually begin with a conversion stage  whereby the image is converted into a digital file that can be processed by the printer or press being used  This usually involves a Raster Image Processor  either in a piece of software or as a component of a printer or press  converting the image being printed into a raster image or    bitmap     A bitmap is a rectangular grid of pixels  which are    points of colour     each pixel is made up of a number of bits  with each bit representing one of two distinct colours  The number of bits per pixel determines the number of distinct colours  and therefore the depth of colour  that a single pixel can represent  The bitmap is then sent for output  where the printer or press will create the image as a dot matrix pattern based on the bitmap  While the resolution of the bitmap is expressed in pixels per inch  ppi   the resolution of a printer is expressed as dots per inch  dpi   and each pixel in the bitmap is represented by a multitude of dots on the printed substrate         Where analogue printing creates multiple copies from one fixed original image  digital printing involves the creation of a new image for every print that is produced  this means that digital printers are capable of variable information printing  where each print can vary slightly from one to the next  For example  a set of invitations could be printed with the same design but personalised with the name of each intended recipient         It should be noted that  while most digital printing involves digital files from start to finish  the process can begin with an analogue image  such as a photograph that has been developed from photographic film or a design or piece of artwork that has been created by hand  In these cases  the analogue image will be scanned and converted into a digital image  which can then be processed by a digital printer or press         Digital printing refers to a range of modern printing methods  such as direct thermal printing  dot matrix printing  electrostatic printing  inkjet printing  ion deposition printing  laser printing  and thermal transfer printing

Pantone - What does pantone mean?

Definition of PANTONE: