Offset or digital, which one is it?

[bejamshi]

I have a client who has gone on his own and done two book covers in china.
He has called me now and wanted to drop by to show them to me. He said
that they have put together the whole book for him and are waiting for him
to give them the go ahead sign.

I wanted to know, if what he has is from digital printing or offset. Is there a way to tell
from looking at the cover? I guess the best method is to call up the printer, which I have
told him to do. For him it does not matter as long as I approve of them.

For my sake, when I look at printed material, Is there a way to tell digital from offset? I told him initially that by him doing the printing overseas the problem of color correction can happen.

[Toon]

It's getting harder to tell, but I would say Offset is slightly better quality depending on the finish of the sheet. You could also tell by quantity if it's a high quantity it'll almost certainly be offset.

[Tara1]

Digital print can be patchy on solids, this can be a good indication.

[ianm]

had to look that one up there ;) not come acros offset printing before :)

[Toon]

?????

[ianm]

????