Digital offset printing is a new technology that is mainly used for commercial purposes, but with reference to the quality.

The basis of the whole process is based on the discovery of liquid ink from HP Electro-Ink and organic photosensitive semiconductor printing foil.

HP Indigo is unique that unlike most other electro photographic machines is not using powdered colorants (toners) but patented liquid colorant from HP Electro-Ink.

As the liquid ink pigments are significantly lower than those of powdered toner it produces better print quality and better adhesion to various printing bases.

The development of this liquid ink has started an Israeli company Indigo NV in early ’80 – of the last century, and the first printing machine, based on the indirect electro photographic process with liquid dye was introduced on the market in 1993 called the E-Print 1000 + (4/0).

In 2002 the company is taken from long term partner Hewlett-Packard, and in 2005 on the market is placed the third generation of the digital printing machines called the HP Indigo press 5000 (7/0) with properties approaching the level and quality of traditional offset printing.

Although the classic offset printing process remains the most common printing techniques, development of Indigo systems opens new opportunities and new markets in the field of graphic activity.

HP Indigo Machines – Categories

Today there are three basic categories of HP Indigo machines for printing:

• HP Indigo machines from rolls and paper intended for traditional commercial print – marketing materials, materials intended for direct marketers, photo applications, variable printing, etc.

• HP Indigo machines for printing on sheets for Security Printing, making cards, promotional materials from plastic, etc.

• HP Indigo machines for printing from reel designed for printing labels, flexible packaging and shrink films.

Constructional they are resolved by the models of the leading manufacturers of offset printing machines. The printing resolution reaches 2438 x2438 pixels per inch and 230 lines per inch.

The basic advantage of Indigo machines lies in the superb quality prints, prints have the look and “feel” of litho printing and the robustness of machines, because they are designed in the same manner as the offset printing machines.