I’ve met many startup founders who thought label printing was just “press print.” But after their first order, they realized digital, flexo, and offset [^1] can look completely different under store lighting.

In our workshop, we often explain that choosing a printing method isn’t only about cost — it’s about how often you change designs, what material you print on, and how fast you need delivery.

A good printing choice can shorten lead time by 2–3 days and save 20% in waste. Let’s look at what fits your needs best.

What Is Digital Label Printing and When Should You Use It?

Digital printing is what we usually recommend when a brand is still testing the market. One Canadian skincare brand came to us for just 300 labels — they needed them in 24 hours for a trade show.

We printed directly from their Illustrator file, no plates, no waiting. The next day, they had boxes ready to ship. A month later, when the product sold well, we upgraded their next batch to flexo — same design, lower cost per piece.

That’s the beauty of digital printing for short run [^2]: it helps you test, adjust, then scale smartly.

Digital label printing is best for small orders, fast reprints, and designs with variable data.

Digital Printing Press