In this short-run era, where a third of all jobs have run lengths of just 250 sheets, how are sheetfed offset presses faring? Industry observer Frank Romano offers his view.

By Frank Romano

• Direct imaging is still offset lithography, and the image carrier is static—unchanging; every page is the same.

• Digital printing uses an image carrier that is dynamic—every page can be different.

Both approaches use digital files, but that is where any similarity ends. Direct imaging presses can handle runs as short as 500 or even less. But digital color can handle runs of one. Digital color printers can also collate sheets to create finished books and publications.