Way back in 1998, the digital printing world refined its processes and made significant production operating cost reductions, as well as introduced various new equipment and technology in printing. This revolutionary trend is expected to accelerate as the industry moves in the coming years.

Digital printing progress is being made in both the fixed-imaging on-press plate making approach, as well as the direct-to-paper technology (plateless variable imaging) alike. The popular "I can do it better, faster and cheaper than you can," was the battle cry of Indigo, Xeikon, IBM, Xerox and Agfa, as the variable imaging digital color printing press pioneers intensified their maneuvering for market share. A good sign of variable digital color printing's expanding reach into the traditional print market is the press dealerships.

The association of new models and the noticeable modifications on existing modern machineries opens a better and less expensive production performance which will provide a better service to the general customers. All moving at the direction where cost of digital variable printing has declined considerably. And a decline in cost is enlarging the market.

Xeikon one of the leading provider of hi-tech digital printing services recently announced strategic partnership with Varis which is expected to result in sophisticated full-color digital printing software becoming available early this year. Indigo has announced two new press configurations, one at each end of the cost and performance spectrum.

Today with high-speed color copiers are beginning to look more like low-end variable imaging digital printing presses. Xerox has split its DocuColor 40 copier/printer line into two basic versions--the 40 CP and the 40PRO. The 40CP is a network connected copier/ printer equipped with a digital controlled from EFI. It's suitable for walk-up copying as well as low-volume network printing. The 40PRO is intended for sophisticated color document production, which emphasizes speed and color quality.

As printers look at re-equipping their plants for the 21st century, difficult choices between conventional and an emerging digital press must be made. A mistake can put a firm's survival at risk, but failure to re-equip to meet client expectations will almost certainly be fatal. Knowing when to harness available pressroom technology has become printing management's most difficult task.

Digital press development is proceeding at an accelerating pace for both fixed image and fully variable imaging presses. Fixed image developments are being led by direct-to-platemaking on-press technologies. Full-color, 100 percent variable capability presses are entering the production mainstream as their operating costs decline, while output quality improves and the presses become wider and faster.