As with all industries, the technological revolution has also spring-boarded the printing world into the 21st century. Online printing sites are popping up all over the web and their popularity is increasing as professionals take advantage of the technological advancements to save time and money.
So what do online printing sites offer that is different to traditional printing houses?
How Do Online Printing and Traditional Printing Compare?
Online printing offers a range of advantages for designers, individuals and companies looking to avail of the service. The most obvious advantage is the speed at which you can receive a finished product.
When using an online printing website, you are presented with a range of pre-determined printing options which you can immediately purchase. Once you upload the files that you want printed, you just need to wait to receive the finished product. It’s that simple and fast.
File formats accepted through online printing sites do not differ greatly from traditional printing stores with JEPGS, PDFS, Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Publisher, Powerpoint, QuarkExpress, Word, Freehand and Corel being the most commonly received files.
Although pricing varies across different platforms, online is usually incredibly reasonable compared to traditional printing costs. Of course, this is to be expected with the lower overhead costs associated with running an online business. Luckily for the consumer, much of these savings tend to trickle down.
Online printing saves a huge amount of time, as 24/7 access, zero queues and well-designed ordering processes make it useful and efficient for everyone to use. Of course, this style of quick “in and out” service relies on minimum customer to business contact, therefore making it difficult and slower if you have a specific need or question. Customer service does exist in online printing, but you won’t get the quick response that you may be used to expecting by walking into a traditional store. Depending on the method of customer service supplied, you may need to submit a ticketed email, call up a customer support phone number, or preferably, enter into a live chat with a customer support team member, to receive an answer.
Traditional Printing Still Remains Strong
However, many people prefer the face-to-face, personalized care that you get in a traditional store and the quick way in which problems are dealt with. A traditional store will also allow you to place complex and unique orders, adding personal touches, which may not be available online without a premium fee.
Although online printing offers the same range of products as traditional printing houses, such as business cards, postcards, flyers, brochures, menus, catalogs, posters and more, you can’t feel the finished product in your hand until you’ve paid and had it delivered. In traditional printing, you can choose between different papers for quality and finishing, with the texture helping you to envision the finished product.
Which Method Of Printing To Choose?
In summary online printing is best for:
· Saving money without compromising on quality.
· Quick turnaround from start to finish.
· Efficiency of use, no waiting around.
While traditional printing gets its strength from:
· Superior customer service.
· Ability to take on unique customized projects.
· Quick problem solving.
If you decide to use online printing for your project, have a look at Vistaprint.com, a site with coupons available at cyttez! Overall online printing definitely has its huge advantages, especially for small to medium size businesses looking to save money on basic, but professional-looking printed products. If you already have a design, and you don’t have any special requests, then online printing may be your best option. However, if you are working on a more specialist project that requires guidance from a printing professional, then you may be better off sticking to traditional printing stores to ensure everything runs smoothly.