Digital Printing Trends That Are Here to Stay

Posted by Sam Smith on January 17th, 2019

Digital printing has been around for quite some time now. However, with improved designing, editing and printing methods, its impact has been felt more over the recent years. Going through different stages of editing and retouching, the purpose of the finished product is to garner the attention of the viewer. Experienced designers and printing specialists of Toronto, have come together to predict digital printing trends that will prevail in 2019.

1. Use of Different Inks or Toner

The print industry is gradually shifting towards a more personalized approach. Shorter print runs to deliver high-end products and unique designs are in-demand. Graphic designers are under constant pressure to deliver eye-catching designs that are impactful and relevant to the current market.

• Metallic Ink

The use of metallic inks or toner will overtake matt finishing as they can produce shimmering results when used as the fifth colour. Gold or silver foiling creates a rather subtle effect to give a more premium feel to the print. Metallic ink is perfect for creating a vibrant effect, and they can be used on coated paper with a variety of colours.

• Neon or Fluorescent Inks

Bright and bold colours are here to stay. If you are not satisfied with the end product and it seems to be not as bright as on the screen, then adding fluorescent as the fifth colour will solve the issue. Another alternative to the problem is mixing neon into standard CMYK toners (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black)

• White Inks

In 2019, the demand for dark, sultry prints will increase. Typography is going to remain a key component of design and white inks or toners can provide a wide range of opportunities on dark and transparent media. It also works as a great under layer to help the colours underneath to stand out against a coloured background.

• 3D Effects

Consumers have always loved the results of haptic printing even though it was an expensive and slow process. This year, new and low-cost solutions are going to enter the market and make texture printing more available to customers.

2. Gamut Extension/ Spot Colour Inks

Printing companies have always found it challenging to produce the products that graphic designers deliver using a wide range of colours. This is going to change in 2019. The use of red, green, or blue dry inks can convert a four-colour press into a seven-colour one and will help in achieving about 98% of the Pantone range.

3. Automation for Greater Optimization

As the demand for more refined prints increase and the use of web-to-print applications grow, trade printers have to stay aware of the latest software updates to meet client demands and keep the workflow smooth. Automation will play a key role in 2019, as printing companies strive to grow the return on investment with more productivity. It will also provide more time to focus on quality control as it will save a lot of time on tasks that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.

4. Web-To-Print Solutions Will Continue to Be in High Demand

One of the more prominent printing trends in 2018 was web-to-print, which still will continue to be so in 2019 as well. NAPCO provides the statistics on printing industry Canada, which says that at least 50 percent printers are not satisfied with their current web-to-print providers, and this year the lookout for more upgraded systems will increase, as they become more affordable and adaptable.

Digital printing has scaled heights with the advent of advanced graphic designing software applications and correcting tools. Progressive printing facilities in Toronto always need to upgrade to the latest technologies. Meeting the needs of accuracy, consistence and speed, they can provide high-quality printed materials to their clients.