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Why digital cost is counted in clicks
Digital presses are usually charged per sheet side: a sheet printed on one side is one click, on both sides two. Long sheets (for example 32 × 64 cm or banner formats) count as two or more clicks on many presses.
So the sheet that takes the most pieces is not always the cheapest. What matters is how many clicks finish the whole run: clicks × click price + paper.
No gripper, but a non-printable edge
Digital presses have no gripper margin like offset, but they cannot print to the very edge of the sheet. Each press leaves a non-printable strip on all four edges, usually a few millimetres.
Keep that strip equal on all four edges when you impose. Bleed and trim marks must fit inside the sheet as well, or you get white edges after cutting.
Common digital sheet sizes
SRA3 (320 × 450 mm), 330 × 480 mm and 13 × 19 inch are the usual sizes, with longer sheets such as 320 × 640 mm for long jobs. Which one is cheaper depends on your press's click tariff and your paper price.
The same business card can come out 21 up on one sheet and 24 up on another; on a run of 1,000 cards that changes the click count noticeably.
Count the waste
Digital jobs also need extra sheets for set-up, colour checks and cutting. Add that waste when you count sheets; working to the exact quantity and coming up short means a second set-up.
A simple rule: sheets needed = quantity ÷ pieces per sheet, rounded up, plus waste sheets.
Steps to pick the right sheet
For each job, work in this order:
- List the sheet sizes your press takes and how many clicks each counts as.
- For each size, subtract the non-printable edge and find how many pieces fit.
- Work out the sheets needed for the quantity, waste included.
- Add click and paper cost and pick the cheapest size.