What is the difference between printing and 'drukken'?

The words "printen" and "drukken" are often used interchangeably in Dutch, but they have different meanings. The main differences lie in document personalization, color usage, and the production quantities.

The main differences

  1. Personalization:

    • Printing: Allows for easy personalization of documents, such as adding individual names or addresses. This is often done through digital printing processes.

    • Drukken: Personalization can be more challenging and typically requires additional setup for each personalized element. This is more common in offset printing.

  2. Color Usage:

    • Printing: Offers more flexibility in color usage, including the ability to print full-color images and graphics with high accuracy.

    • Drukken: While offset printing can also produce high-quality color prints, it may be more limited in terms of color options and accuracy compared to digital printing.

  3. Production Quantities:

    • Printing: Well-suited for small to medium print runs due to its digital nature, which allows for cost-effective production of smaller quantities.

    • Drukken: Generally more economical for larger print runs due to lower per-unit costs once setup costs are amortized.