Digital is cheap for small quantities, offset for large. But where is the crossover point? In this article we explain how to determine when offset becomes more advantageous.
The crossover point
Because offset has start-up costs (printing plates), you first pay those back via a lower unit price. At a small number of copies those start-up costs weigh heavily; at a large number they fade into insignificance. The point at which offset becomes cheaper than digital is what we call the crossover point.
What does it depend on?
- Number of pages and size: more paper shifts the point.
- Colour: full-colour affects the start-up costs of offset.
- Paper and finishing: special choices count too.
As a rule of thumb, the crossover point for books often lies somewhere between a few hundred and around a thousand copies, but that differs per project. Below that point digital is usually more advantageous; above it offset.
Have it calculated
You don’t have to calculate this yourself: we compare both techniques for your print run and choose the most advantageous. Request prices for several quantities to see the crossover point for your book.
