Web to print can resolve problems around paper quality, to some extent!

Traditional printing requirements are changing and so are traditional printing processes. Printers are becoming particular about changing customer demands, their choices and how they can provide them with best of the printed products to remain competitive in the market.

The new-age software technologies and robust hardware are available in the market to adapt to digitalization. Amidst all these known factors, there are several ways that can hamper the quality of printing. Paper quality is one of the most prominent reason for the outcome of printing. Printers take care about all the external and internal factors such as printing material, inks, production software and equipment and Print MIS. But there are some invisible factors such as humidity that can impact the outcome of printing. Humidity is one such factor that can impact printing process outcome. Humidity affects printing material or fabric such as paper and this can lead to distorted result in printing.

Installation of humidifiers can maintain the perfect humidity required to control excess moisture in the paper or any other printing material. There are various other reasons that can reasons for decrease in the paper quality such as different weather conditions, holding large inventory levels, distortion in production equipment, disturbance in pre-press and post-press production processes.

Why maintaining paper quality becomes more crucial for small-run jobs?

Small-run jobs and on-demand printing were more challenging before because of the cost prohibitive but at the same time it is becoming daunting now. The reason is because it has become to produce them because of technology but really tough to maintain the same quality for all printing materials and paper because of micron-runs and smaller batches.

Digital printing has taken over offset printing for small run jobs and is affected a lot by paper quality. Paper and other printing materials are highly hygroscopic in nature. Digital printing gets impacted with the amount of moisture content absorbed by paper and other printing materials. The moisture in paper can lead to toner adhesion leading to paper jams in presses, distorting overall print output. Standard paper quality dominates the printing process and its outcomes and this becomes more prevalent in the present times of short-runs and more personalized printing processes.

Here are some ways that can be used for controlling printing outcomes for printing jobs –

Installation of humidifiers – Every printing process, be it digital, inkjet or offset are affected by the quality of paper. Printers struggle to maintain moisture levels in the press halls. Humidifiers that are built to maintain humidity can help in maintaining the print productivity, reducing machine downtime and wastages.
Reducing amount of inventory costs – Capabilities for taking orders on demand can lead to less inventory levels. Reduction in the level of inventories will have great controls in maintaining the quality of paper while printing and its results. Web to print systems that work exactly like store display can help in reducing the inventory costs. Web to print systems have price list according to paper quality, material and packaging. The customer has the choice to select the paper quality and get real-time quotes from the system 24*7. The client can place order and printer can accept order, complete print jobs and deliver it without maintaining huge inventory levels. This prevents humidification of printing material and maintain printing quality.

Small steps can make big difference
Web to print is not an overall solution for maintaining your paper quality and printing outcomes. The full-fledged functionalities of web to print can tweak printing model little to win customer satisfaction. Apart from web to print, installing humidifiers, sourcing good quality materials and reducing average inventory holding are crucial in terms of maintaining optimal print output.