Jet Printing for Envelopes: Key Benefits & When to Use It
Your choice of envelope printing and converting process can significantly influence aesthetic quality, turnaround time, and overall cost. Jet printing is a popular option that offers a range of distinct advantages. Here’s what jet printing is, its key benefits and limitations, and when jet-printed envelopes might be the best choice for your project.
What is Jet Printing?
Jet printing refers to high-speed offset printing on a jet press. With jet printing, envelopes are converted prior to printing.
NOTE: Envelope converting is the process of cutting, folding, and gluing a sheet of paper into an envelope. In some processes – like jet printing – envelopes are converted before printing. In others, printing takes place before or during converting.
There are two types of jet printing:
- Conventional: Requires plates and can print both sides of the envelope in a single pass
- Digital (iJet): Digital printing that does not require plates
Jet Printing Advantages
Jet printing offers multiple advantages.
Speed
Presses can produce around 50,000 envelopes per hour, making jet printing ideal for quick turns.
Cost Effective
Jet printing is cost effective for short and medium runs. Even though conventional jet printing requires plates, machine set up and plate costs are relatively low, and digital printing doesn’t require plates at all.
Quality Color Production
Jet printing can imprint between one- and four-color process with light to medium coverage. It can also handle screens and duotones for high-quality color production. However, full bleeds and heavy coverage are not available with jet printing.
Versatility
Jet printing is ideal for both stock and custom envelopes and accommodates various envelope sizes, materials, closures, and finishes. Thus, jet printing offers excellent compatibility and versatility for a variety of projects.
Personalization
Digital jet printing on an iJet allows for variable data printing, making it easy to personalize envelopes for marketing, billing, and other purposes.
Jet Printing Limitations
Jet printing does have a few limitations to consider.
Limited Quantities
Jet printing is perfect for printing anywhere from 1,000 to multiple hundreds of thousands of envelopes – making it a good option to get offset quality at a reasonable price – though it’s not as cost effective for larger runs.
No Heavy Solids or Full Bleeds
Jet printing offers offset quality, but unlike traditional offset printing, jet offset cannot print heavy solids or full bleeds.
When to Consider Jet Printing
Jet printing is a great choice for:
- Quick turns and rush jobs: Digital and conventional jet press printing allow for rapid turnaround
- Cost effective short runs: Using a stock envelope with the jet printing process is cost effective for short runs
- Personalized mailings: The iJet allows for variable data printing
If you’re still uncertain which type of envelope printing and converting process is best for your next project, consult the experts at Priority Envelope. Our industry veterans are here to partner with you and ensure your envelopes help you command attention, reinforce your brand image, protect your mailers, and drive ROI.
