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Part of the series on the History of printing
Woodblock printing		200
Movable type		1040
Intaglio		1430
Printing press		1454
Lithography		1796
Chromolithography		1837
Rotary press		1843
Offset printing		1875
Mimeograph		1876
Hot metal typesetting		1886
Flexography		1890
Screen-printing		1907
Photocopier		1949
Dye-sublimation		1957
Phototypesetting		1960s
Pad printing		1960s
Dot matrix printer		1964
Laser printer		1969
Thermal printer		1970s
Inkjet printer		1976
3D printing		1986
Stereolithography		1986
Digital press		1993
v • d • e

Digital printing is the reproduction of digital images on a physical surface. It is generally used for short print runs, and for the customization of print media.

The process differs from lithography, flexography, gravure, and letterpress printing in several ways:

• Every print can be different, because printing plates are not required, as in traditional methods.
• There is less wasted chemical and paper, because there is no need to bring the image "up to colour" and check for registration and position.
• The ink or toner does not permeate the substrate, as does conventional ink, but forms a thin layer on the surface and may in some systems be additionally adhered to the substrate by using a fuser fluid with heat process (toner) or UV curing process (ink).

Because there is less initial setup, it is useful for rapid prototyping, and cost effective for small print runs.

Digital Printing is used for personalized printing, or variable data printing (VDP or VI), for example personalized children's books, which are customized with the specific child's name and images. Print on Demand (POD) systems also use digital printing, for short run books of varying page quantities, and binding techniques. Digital prints can also be done on photographic paper, exposed with RGB laser lights from computer files, and processed in photographic developers and fixers. These prints are continuous tone images, and have the dyes imbedded in emulsion layers within plastic coatings. They can be very archival.

[edit] See also

• Variable Data Printing
• Digital image processing
• Display device
• Digital photography
• Graphical output device
• Society for Imaging Science and Technology, IS&T
• Giclee
• Computer to film
• Computer to plate
• Frescography
• Translight

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