The method of outputting a digitally prepared print application depends on a number of considerations. The quality required, the delivery date, and the budget are all factors that may determine the best means of outputting the job. The quality of some applications printed with digital equipment is often better than the same application printed with traditional methods and for short runs, the turnaround time is better in nearly every case.

Many digital presses, digital desktop printers, and digital copiers use dry toner technology. Although dry toner technology provides excellent results, it is a completely different process than, for example, traditional offset printing and therefore requires completely different criteria for successful output.

Although the output rate is faster, the overall process of producing print applications with traditional printing methods is usually much slower than a digital workflow because of all the manual preparation involved with prepress, press make-ready, and finishing. A print project produced with conventional processes may require several weeks to complete depending on the quantity and degree of difficulty. It is usually best to use conventional methods for producing the largest print applications and commodity items such as newspapers and business forms.

When the budget is the main consideration and the quantity is small (under 500), then copying may be the best choice. Larger quantities can be output economically on desktop printers and digital presses, and the largest jobs are more cost effective on direct imaging equipment or traditional presses.

In most cases the print provider decides the method for outputting a print job unless the customer specifically requests that a particular process be used. With the guidance of the print provider, there may also be occasions when the customer is given a choice of available processes that can be used for outputting print projects because of delivery or quality considerations. In either case, it is best to have a basic knowledge of the various digital output methods.