Printing Industry Commentary & Analysis

Epson’s Tim Check on the New SureColor F6470H Dye-Sub Printer

Published November 10, 2022

Epson’s Tim Check talks about the new Pinnacle Award-winning SureColor F6470H dye-sublimation printer, the company’s first six-color 44-inch dye-sub. It offers options for fluorescent inks, orange and violet to expand the color gamut, and light cyan and light magenta for photographers and fine artists.

FESPA Update with Neil Felton

Published November 1, 2022

CEO Neil Felton talks about FESPA and what the federation offers the graphic arts community, and highlights some upcoming events, including FESPA Global Print Expo, to be held to Münich in May 2023.

Vanguard’s Award-Winning Wide-Format Printers in Display at PRINTING United

Published October 27, 2022

Vanguard Digital Printing Systems’ Jim Peterson talks about the wide-format printing equipment the company was demonstrating at last week’s PRINTING United expo, including five Pinnacle Award-winning flatbed and rollfed units.

DALIM Software at PRINTING United

Published October 25, 2022

DALIM Software’s Aristide Zouheir-Kuhnle talks about DALIM’s software solutions on display at last week’s PRINTING United Expo.

A Life in Signage: FASTSIGNS Spring Hill Owner Comes Full Circle

Published October 20, 2022

Ross Cartwright collected signs as a kid, so it was only natural he would end up in the sign business. From local independent Cincinnati sign shop designer to FASTSIGNS corporate trainer, he has now come full circle with his acquisition of FASTSIGNS of Spring Hill, Fla.

PRINTING United 2022 Opens in Las Vegas!

Published October 20, 2022

PRINTING United Alliance CEO Ford Bowers talks about the first in-person PRINTING United Expo since 2019 and some of the major themes and trends on display at the show.

Cannabis and Signage Regulations: Another “Wild West”

Published October 17, 2022

With cannabis retail locations now popping up in several states, we’re starting to see more and more signage advertising these locations and their products. And just as it is in packaging, regulations pertaining to cannabis signage are still in a “Wild West” stage and, as you can imagine, vary from state to state.

Heritage Printing Sees Success in Signage

Published October 11, 2022

Joe Gass, President and CEO of Heritage Printing, shares his industry journey. The family business started 46 years ago when Joe was 13, and after a stint in the US Navy, he took over the business in 1988. It has grown consistently, and Gass recently launched Heritage Signs & Displays to handle wide-format printing and signage and has launched BlueFire Visual to transform interior spaces.

Interest in Wide-Format Automation Isn’t Always Where You Think It Is

Published October 6, 2022

Last month, WhatTheyThink’s Richard Romano and IDC’s Tim Greene presented a wide-format outlook webinar, and a big topic was automation—but not necessarily where you would think. Here are some highlights of that discussion.

PRINTING United Preview: North American Debuts for Many Wide-Format Products

Published October 4, 2022

PRINTING United is slated for on October 19 to 21 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. As you may recall from past events, the emphasis of PRINTING United is on the “united” part, as it has been designed to be the venue where all the disparate “silos” of the industry—commercial, wide format, packaging and labels, textiles, industrial—come together under one very large roof. The following round-up is a sampling of the wide-format introductions you’ll find on the show floor.

SCREEN’s Mark Schlimme on SCREEN’s New User Group

Published October 4, 2022

Mark Schlimme from SCREEN Americas talks about the launch of SCREEN’s new user group, and discusses the advantages for SCREEN customers as well as upcoming events.

Keypoint Intelligence’s Greg Cholmondeley on Renewed Industry Optimism

Published October 3, 2022

Keypoint Intelligence’s Greg Cholmondeley gives us an update on the latest industry trends—including a renewed sense of optimism as we head through 2022 and into 2023.

Jeff Zellmer On New Additions to Kodak’s Digital Printing Portfolio

Published September 29, 2022

Kodak’s Jeff Zellmer talks about some of Kodak’s recent product introductions, including two new Prosper high-speed inkjet presses—the Prosper Ultra 520 and the 1,345-ft./min. Prosper 7000—as well as the Ascend Digital Press, a toner-based machine that also adds embellishments.

Bindtech’s Amazing Binding and Finishing Work

Published September 27, 2022

Bindtech is a postpress service provider that offers a wide range of binding and finishing services for both hardcover and softcover books. Bindtech’s Chad Dillon shows “Simply Bourbon,” a coffee table book that features an elaborate three-piece cover incorporating debossing, foil stamping, and a real piece of laser-etched wood. Bindtech was showing even more exotic binding examples at last August’s Americas Print Show.

Best Practices for Alzheimer’s-Friendly Signage

Published September 22, 2022

September is World Alzheimer’s Month—and September 21 was World Alzheimer’s Day—where people and organizations around the globe raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of dementia. As part of this awareness, UK-based print and branding company Solopress circulated some best practices for designing and producing Alzheimer’s-friendly signage and display graphics.

David Mauro on the Need for Effective Cybersecurity

Published September 21, 2022

David Mauro from All Covered, a provider of cybersecurity services, shares some scary cybersecurity breaches and explains why it’s important for companies to have effective safeguards in place.

Galo Fraga On Fraga Graphic Solutions’ Unique Hiring and Employee Development Strategy

Published September 14, 2022

Galo Fraga, CEO of Fraga Graphic Solutions, talks about his company and the proactive approach he takes to hiring, cross-training, and promoting employees from within, as well as the value of the recent Americas Print Show.

What Do We Talk About When We Talk about Interactive Signage?

Published September 12, 2022

“Interactive signage” is changing from simply providing information to creating immersive experiences. At the same time, the actual mechanism by which a user interacts with a display is changing from simple physical interaction to electronic interaction.

All Arise! Americas Print Show Hints at the Future of Events

Published September 7, 2022

The inaugural Americas Print Show was held August 17–19, in Columbus, Ohio, and while it had some hiccups, the general consensus, from exhibitors and attendees, was that it was a worthwhile event. What does this tell us about the future of industry events?

Bill Farquharson Talks About the Americas Print Show

Published August 31, 2022

Bill Farquharson, Head of Community for The Sales Vault, talks about the positive conversations he had with attendees at the Americas Print Show, held two weeks ago in Columbus, Ohio.

Ricoh’s Brian Balow on the Inaugural Americas Print Show

Published August 29, 2022

Brian Balow, VP, Integrated Production Solutions, Ricoh, talks about the inaugural Americas Print Show, held August 17 to 19 in Columbus, Ohio, and Ricoh’s involvement in the event.

ISA’s Upcoming Sign Manufacturing Day Offers Sign Businesses Employee Recruitment Opportunities

Published August 25, 2022

On October 7, sign companies will have an excellent opportunity to potentially attract new and young talent to their businesses. Every year, on the International Sign Association’s (ISA) Sign Manufacturing Day, participating sign shops host open houses, facility tours, and hands-on demonstrations for students to show them the opportunities that exist in the sign business.

Americas Print Show Kicks Off in Columbus, Ohio!

Published August 18, 2022

WhatTheyThink's Richard Romano speaks with Americas Print Show President Jim Cunningham on the opening day of the show in Columbus Ohio Hear Jim talk about how the show came about, what's happening in Columbus, and plans for the future.

Looking Down: A Floor Graphics Application Gallery

Published August 17, 2022

In this photo gallery, we highlight some recent floor graphics projects that display graphics providers have produced. These application galleries are intended to serve as “food for thought” in developing creative applications for clients.

Direct-to-Plane Printing?

Published August 11, 2022

The Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has developed a prototype robotic inkjet printing system that can print directly onto three-dimensional surfaces—specifically, airplanes. Richard Romano spoke to SwRI Senior Research Engineer Branson Brockschmidt about the project.

Bucket List: Signarama Downtown Louisville (Ky.) Wins Best in Show at Signarama Sign Awards

Published August 8, 2022

Sign franchise Signarama’s Best in Show award this year went to Signarama Downtown Louisville (Ky.) for a project that involved designing, constructing, and wrapping a giant KFC bucket for Louisville-born rapper Jack Harlow.

Digital Signage in the Print World

Published August 8, 2022

Richard Romano talks to Fred Collins of Mood Media about the benefits of digital signage for print and sign business customers, as well as the revenue opportunities for print and sign providers.

Amado Lara on New Additions to Roland's Wide-Format Printer Portfolio

Published August 4, 2022

Richard Romano talks to Amado Lara, Director of Sales for Roland DGA Corporation, about some of the company's recent wide-format product releases, and how the company has been helping customers stay productive amidst the recent supply chain disruptions.

SGP Summit: Sustainability Is a Whole New Ball Game

Published July 28, 2022

Last week, the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP) hosted a day-long Sustainability Summit at Boston’s historic Fenway Park, with sessions ran the gamut from a list of easy steps for printers to reduce their environmental impact, to a detailed exploration of carbon footprint calculation, to case studies, to roundtable discussions, and ample time for networking. Richard Romano reports from this historic ballpark.

Tales from the Top Shops Database: How Have Print Applications Changed Over the Past Decade?

Published July 12, 2022

We recently wrapped up our Top 100 Commercial Printers for 2022 and, since we have been conducting this survey for more than 15 years, mining the database of past results can provide some valuable info about how the industry has changed—and how it might continue to change. In the inaugural installment of this series, we look at how print applications have changed over the past decade.

The Different Dimensions of 3D Printing and Signage

Published June 30, 2022

“3D printing” is one of those terms that can mean different things to different people. In the signage industry, 3D printing is often referred to as “2+D”—using UV flatbeds to layer ink into three-dimensional textures—and braille lettering for ADA signage. And new units are facilitating the process.

Sustainability and Wide-Format: It’s Not Just Materials

Published June 16, 2022

For many years, the sustainability discussion in wide-format printing has centered on ink technologies but, like elsewhere in the printing industry, other, more pressing issues have come to the fore, typically centered around overall product use and end of life concerns. Richard Romano takes a closer look.

David Lopez on Epson’s Extensive Portfolio

Published June 15, 2022

Epson’s David Lopez talks about some recent Epson product announcements that were on display at the ISA Sign Expo, including the company’s first UV flatbed, a resin-ink printer for soft signage and other textile applications, and a variety of other wide-format printers.

The Top 100 Small Commercial Printers

Published June 13, 2022

For the second straight year, Strategic Factory is the WhatTheyThink | Printing News Top Small Commercial Printer. Read on for the complete Top 100, as well as a profile of the winning companies.

Pane Points: A Window Graphics Photo Gallery

Published June 9, 2022

In this photo gallery, we highlight some recent window graphics projects that display graphics providers have produced. These application galleries are intended to serve as “food for thought” in developing creative applications for clients.

Good Help Is Getting Harder to Find—and Keep, Part 2: ISA Wages & Benefits Report for the Sign Industry

Published June 2, 2022

Last month, the International Sign Association (ISA) hosted a webinar that summarized the results of their 2021 Wage & Benefits Report for the Sign, Graphics and Visual Communications Industry. We take a look at some of the top-line results.

Buffalo Canvas Produces Outdoor Display to Raise Awareness of PTSD

Published May 26, 2022

An installation at Buffalo, N.Y.’s Central Library features a series of photographs taken by Armed Services veterans. With a special focus on spreading awareness of the struggles veterans face with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), The Odyssey Project includes photographs from 42 veterans, printed and installed by Buffalo Canvas, a display graphics and signage provider.

Annual Sign Franchise Review 2022

Published May 19, 2022

Like the print franchise networks, the sign franchises struggled, like many businesses, in 2020. They have bounced back almost to 2019 levels and are seeing good growth going into 2022. Managing editor Richard Romano provides our annual sign franchise review.

Kevin Duffy on Vycom’s Recycling Program for Display Graphics

Published May 19, 2022

Kevin Duffy, VP of Sales and Marketing for Vycom, talks about the Vycom Recycling Program, designed to take back and recycle printed and unprinted PVC and acrylic sheets, and PE materials, as well as scraps and drops from finishing and fabricating. The recovered plastic is then recycled back into Vycom’s residential and commercial products. Vycom had set up collection bins throughout the show floor at the recent ISA Sign Expo for the recycling of materials used during show demonstrations.

FESPA Global Print Expo 2022 Comes to Berlin: A Conversation with Michael Ryan

Published May 12, 2022

The FESPA Global Print Expo 2022 will take place from May 31 to June 3, 2022, at the Messe Berlin in Germany. The event is Europe’s leading exhibition for screen, wide-format, and textile printing. WhatTheyThink spoke with Michael Ryan, Head of Global Development & FESPA GPE, FESPA, to preview the show and some prevailing trends and applications attendees can expect to see in Berlin.

ISA Sign Expo 2022: Welcome Back, My Friends…

Published May 10, 2022

After a three-year pandemic-induced hiatus, the ISA Sign Expo returned live in Atlanta last week—much to everyone’s delight. WhatTheyThink was at the event, which seemed less like a trade show and more like a family reunion.

FASTSIGNS/Wide Format & Signage Project of the Year: FASTSIGNS York (Pa.) Scores a Touchdown with Shippensburg University’s Football Facility

Published May 2, 2022

The winner of this year’s FASTSIGNS/Wide Format & Signage Project of the Year is FASTSIGNS York (Pa.), whose major rebranding of the Shippensburg University football team’s training facility caught the judges’ eyes.

ISA Rocks! Sign Expo Returns in Person with Next Week’s Atlanta Show

Published April 28, 2022

It’s been a long three years since the International Sign Expo was last held in person. 2021’s virtual event was a success, but there’s nothing like in-person networking, demos, educational sessions, and parties. Here’s a preview of next week’s show.

Up with Higher Education: Finding Signage Opportunities in Academic Applications

Published April 27, 2022

The higher-education market can be a lucrative one for sign and graphics providers, and there is no shortage of display graphics needs. Some are obvious, others less so, but finding them can provide many new opportunities. Here are some ideas.

Six Questions for eProductivity Software

Published April 25, 2022

eProductivity Software (ePS) may be a new name, but their software solutions for packaging and print have been driving the industry for more than 30 years. This article reintroduces ePS to the market.

A Post-Pandemic Focus on Sustainability: A Conversation with Marci Kinter

Published April 21, 2022

Post-pandemic, the industry has been seeing a renewed interest in sustainability issues. In part 1 of two-part interview, I talk with Marci Kinter, Vice President of Government & Regulatory Affairs at PRINTING United Alliance and Secretary & Vice Chair Technical for the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (SGP), about the current state of sustainability, the new criteria for SGP certification, and how SGP certification can attract not just print buyers, but print employees, as well.

Image360 Plymouth Brings Art and Experience to Health Care Facilities

Published March 24, 2022

Image360 Plymouth unique niche—art-based experiential graphics for health care facilities—has opened the door to some unique projects, and the center is always looking to push the boundaries.

The State of Print in Academic Libraries

Published March 22, 2022

A new Library Journal report on the state of academic libraries finds that COVID accelerated the downsizing of print collections as budgets were reallocated to expanding electronic resources.

Image360 Fairfax Takes Pride in Its Work

Published February 24, 2022

Image360 Fairfax (Va.) designed, printed, and installed Pride-themed graphics for Fairfax’s Mosaic District, a high-end mixed-use community—images that were deemed highly “Instagrammable,” an increasingly important consideration when designing display graphics.

Printing Outlook 2022: Back to the Future or Groundhog Day?

Published February 21, 2022

Digging into the results of our Fall 2021 Business Outlook Survey for the our annual Printing Outlook 2022report, they showed an industry that has largely recovered from 2020, but faces some new challenges and some older challenges now writ large. We’re not exactly back to normal, but we’re closer than we thought possible in a long time. This article previews the just-released Printing Outlook 2022 report.

Arms of Love: New Automation Options for Wide Format

Published February 14, 2022

It took some time, but automation is gradually creeping into wide-format printing, especially on the flatbed side. A templated approach to projects, software, and even robotics are bringing new efficiencies to wide-format workflows.

Apocalypse Soon? Sign Code Case Now Before the Supreme Court Could Forever Alter Sign Regulations—and the Sign Industry’s Business Model

Published February 3, 2022

In December, the International Sign Association (ISA) held a webinar that rounded up some of the recent sign code-related court cases. The one currently pending before the Supreme Court—City of Austin v. Reagan National Advertising of Texas—could have cataclysmic implications for the sign industry. The webinar offered some potential outcome scenarios and what the decision would mean for sign producers.

Good Help Is Getting Harder to Find—and Keep: Print Industries Affiliates’ Latest Wage & Benefits Survey

Published January 31, 2022

Last month, Print Industries Affiliates hosted a webinar that presented the results of their annual printing industry Wages & Benefits Survey. This article provides some of the top-level findings, some of the short- and long-term implications of today’s employment situation, and strategies for coping with these new challenges.

Survey Says! Wide-Format in 2022

Published January 20, 2022

Every year round about this time, as we are going through the data from our annual Business Outlook Survey for the forthcoming Printing Outlook report, Richard Romano breaks out some wide-format-specific data to see what trends we can quantitatively gauge—and, specifically, what new application areas look the most promising.

Let’s Try This Again: Wide Format 2022—Seven Things to Pay Attention to

Published January 6, 2022

Almost against all odds, here we are in 2022, and it’s hard not to get the sense that this is our third attempt at starting 2020, building on the successes of 2019 before things went south. As we head into the new year, here are some of the topics Wide Format section editor Richard Romano has been following as they relate to wide-format printing—and, specifically, the market for wide-format printing.

Wide Format and Signage: Demand- and Technology-Side Drivers for 2022

Published November 17, 2021

As we head into 2022, we look back at some demographic trends that could prove favorable for wide-format and signage providers, as well as offer some technology trends to keep an eye out for.

Moving Pictures: Automotive Wrap Applications Can Involve More than Cars

Published November 15, 2021

A photo gallery of recent vehicle wrap projects for private, commercial, and even aquatic vehicles.

Driven to Distraction: Display Graphics and Signage in the Automotive Industry

Published October 26, 2021

When we think of display graphics in the automotive industry, the first thing that springs to mind is vehicle graphics. But display graphics are taking on new roles as a subset of experiential or environmental graphics for auto dealer showrooms. As the auto sales experience is changing post-COVID (as are so many things), and more auto sales move online to sites like Carvana, display graphics are also in a state of flux.

Big “L” or Little “l”—Either Way, Companies Love Latex

Published October 18, 2021

Since 2008, latex printers have offered a highly flexible alternative to solvent printers, as they could print on a wide variety of materials, including textiles. In this feature, we look at some users of latex doing creative work for wallcoverings, display graohics, and...voting boxes?

FUJIFILM ’s Greg Balch on FUJIFILM Integrated Inkjet Solutions

Published September 30, 2021

In this video, sponsored by FUJIFILM, Greg Balch, GM & VP of FUJIFILM Integrated Inkjet Solutions, talks about the recently launched FUJIFILM Integrated Inkjet Solutions, designed to help customers develop bespoke printing solutions.

Sign Code Crackdown: Post-Pandemic Life Returns Enforcement of Signage Regulations

Published September 13, 2021

Two recent court cases—one in Tennessee and one in Texas—have created new wrinkles in exterior sign code regulations. Meanwhile, communities are trying to apply EMC regulations to internally illuminated signs, and authorities are returning to stricter enforcement of regulations on temporary signage that had been relaxed during the pandemic.

New Campaign Uses Signage to Promote Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety

Published August 17, 2021

Bikeatoga, a non-profit organization that promotes bicycling and bicycle safety in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., has launched a lawn signage campaign to help prevent vehicle-bicycle accidents.

Missing the Signs—Post-Pandemic Signage Largely MIA as Everyone Returns to Normal

Published August 3, 2021

Navigating the post-pandemic world in the early days of the reopening could be confusing, as there was little signage that indicated a particular location’s policies regarding mask-wearing, etc. Still, some demand for post-pandemic signage remains, although the major opportunities for sign and display graphics producers were mostly fleeting.

Beyond Braille: The ABCs of ADA Signage

Published August 2, 2021

Wayfinding and other kinds of interior graphics are good opportunities for signage and display graphics providers. However, it is essential to have an understanding of the requirements for signage to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—and how some of those requirements have changed post-COVID.

Strategic Factory's Keith Miller on Strategies for Success

Published July 15, 2021

Richard Romano talks to Keith Miller, President of Strategic Factory, this year's top small commercial printer, in this excerpt from our recent "Top 100 Small Commercial Printers" LunchLearn Webinar.

Stick it There: A Consumables Applications Photo Gallery

Published July 13, 2021

Variable-temperature graphics installation. Vaccine site graphics. Outside art exhibits. Home décor. Superbowl graphics from the Before Times. In this photo gallery, we highlight some recent projects that users have produced using a variety of consumables types, from labels, to vinyls, to fabrics.

Sharp/NEC and Avery Dennison Team Up for New Digital Window Graphics

Published June 29, 2021

ActiveScene is a projection system from Sharp/NEC combined with an “active” window film from Avery Dennison that can turn any window into dynamic digital signage.

Top 100 Small Commercial Printshops for 2021

Published June 22, 2021

Each year, WhatTheyThink | Printing News invites small commercial print business owners to participate in our Top 100 Shops Survey. In this article, we look at the results of this year’s survey, and profile this year’s winners—including #1 Top Shop, Strategic Factory.

Vycom Expands its PVC and Acrylic Recycling Program

Published June 15, 2021

Vycom (and its parent, The AZEK Company) launched its Recycling Take Back Program in 2019, accepting hard-to-recycle materials like PVC and other materials used for signage and display graphics and reusing them in decking products, diverting millions of pounds of plastic from landfills. The company has expanded the number of recycling plants, has been adding customers, and is renewing its outreach efforts.

And the Awards Go To…For this Year’s FASTSIGNS Project of the Year Award Winners, It’s All about Relationships

Published June 9, 2021

FASTSIGNS of Louisville (Ky.) took top honors at this year’s FASTSIGNS/Wide Format & Signage Project of the Year Awards. Second place was claimed by FASTSIGNS of Martinsburg (W.V.), and third by FASTSIGNS of Puerto Rico. Let’s take a close look at this year’s winners.

Blowin’ in the Wind: Banner Finishing Is About More than Aesthetics

Published May 25, 2021

Even moderate winds can be destructive to outdoor graphics if they have been insufficiently reinforced. And while taping, sewing, or welding banner edges may not be the sexiest finishing techniques in the world, they are important considerations when producing outdoor graphics that are designed look good as well as last.

This Dubs for You: A Flatbed Applications Photo Gallery

Published May 11, 2021

Cornhole boards, barn wood, hand sanitizer stations, 3D effects, and acrylic on glass. In this photo gallery, we highlight some recent projects that users have produced using flatbed UV printing equipment.

Sign Franchise Review 2021

Published April 28, 2021

In WhatTheyThink/Printing News’ Annual Sign Franchise Review, we take a look at how the major sign franchises fared in the past year, how they managed the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they plan to make up lost ground in 2021.

ISA Sign Expo Virtual Aimed to Foster Real-Time Online Networking

Published April 12, 2021

Last week, ISA staged its Sign Expo 2021 Virtual, which succeded in replicating, perhaps as best as possible, the feel of being at a live event and networking with colleagues. Here is a quick rundown of the first day.

Make it Move: New Challenges for Dynamic Digital Signage

Published April 5, 2021

The challenges of the last year may have slowed some progress in the expansion of dynamic digital signage (DDS), but it has, at the same time, opened up some new opportunities for DDS technologies—especially as they become less expensive and higher quality.

ISA Quarterly Economic Report Looks at the Top 10 Economic Trends for 2021 and Their Impact on the Sign Industry

Published March 16, 2021

A recent ISA webinar looked at how the sign and display markets fared in Q4 2020, and offered up some forecasts for 2021, which IHS Markit analysts see as a “transitional year” from COVID to post-COVID while 2022 will see the rebirth of the economy, employment, and the industry.

Vax Populi: Now that COVID Vaccinations Are Underway, What Does That Mean for Display Graphics?

Published March 11, 2021

Signage has almost always been one of the most essential means of communicating important messages, which was why wide-format and sign shops early on in the pandemic were considered “essential services.” Health and safety messaging was the killer app for display graphics in 2020, and that is going to remain the case for the foreseeable future. Here’s what to look for.

Executive Q&A: John Mills, CEO of Xaar

Published February 23, 2021

John Mills, CEO of Xaar, talks about the company’s rebranding strategy, the new ImagineX printhead platform, and the “new Xaar.”

Printing Outlook 2021: Profitability, Planned Investments, Hiring

Published February 17, 2021

WhatTheyThink’s Fall 2020 Business Outlook Survey asked print business executives and owners about their 2020 business conditions, business challenges, biggest perceived opportunities, and investment plans, as well as opinions of virtual events and their 2020 hiring plans. The results of this survey are included in WhatTheyThink’s Printing Outlook 2021 special report. Here are some of the top-level findings from that report.

Main Routs: Options for Adding Traditional Signmaking Capabilities

Published February 16, 2021

An introduction to one of the essential tools for traditional signmaking: the CNC router.

Pre- and Post-COVID Trends Drive Changes in Wide-Format Print Software

Published February 11, 2021

The COVID pandemic has accelerated some older—and created other new—trends an demands for automation and other wide-format printing software.

HP Introduces New Latex and PageWide XL Portfolios

Published February 4, 2021

HP updates its Latex roll-to-roll portfolio with four new units that bring white ink printing, new inks and printheads, and a renewed commitment to sustainability. Additionally, HP has launched a new Latex Print and Cut line and refreshed its PageWide XL units for the technical printing markets.

A Night at the Opera with Vancouver’s Still Creek Press

Published January 19, 2021

Founded more than 30 years ago as a business forms printer, Vancouver’s Still Creek Press has adapted and evolved over the years, adding wide-format printing capabilities and other products and services. A recent project saw the company come to the rescue when the University of British Columbia Opera decided to stage a virtual production.

Wide-Format ’21: Reasons to Be Over-Optimistic

Published January 4, 2021

As we enter 2021, we have reasons to be optimistic, maybe even over-optimistic. So let’s put the old year behind us (to the extent that we can), jump feet-first into the new one, and resolve never to use terms like “the new normal” or “pivot” ever again. Instead, let’s look at some of the substantial new opportunities for wide-format graphics and signage. What can we be over-optimistic about?

K, Then: What’s In Store for Retail

Published December 17, 2020

“Retail” embodies vastly different kinds of businesses, all of which have fared differently during the pandemic. As a result, rather than V-shaped, perhaps we should think of it as a K-shaped recovery. But what does that mean for retail graphics?

How It Started and How It’s Going: The Wide-Format Year in Review

Published December 15, 2020

A recap of the top wide-format and signage trends and new products that hit the market in 2020.

ISA Quarterly Economic Report Finds Improvement in Q3, but Recovery Is Still a Long Ways Off

Published December 14, 2020

According to the Q3 2020 ISA Quarterly Economic Report, it’s going to be a long, hard slog to full recovery, and not just domestically. 2021 will be an improvement, but don’t expect the “new normal” (whatever that is) until 2022.

Epson Launches Its First UV Flatbed Printer Series

Published December 1, 2020

Epson fills out its wide-format portfolio with the SureColor V7000 Series, the company’s first UV flatbed. The debut unit is the 4 x 8-foot, 10-color SureColor V7000.

A Matter of Degrees: Temperature Detection Systems and Signage

Published November 10, 2020

As we enter “the new normal,” temperature detection systems and signage may become important elements of compliance and liability for businesses. This article looks at Altoros, a veteran professional IT services and software provider that has entered the temperature signage market.

Moving Messages: Vehicle Graphics Are an Effective Advertising Platform

Published November 9, 2020

A lot of shops have been doing vehicle graphics for many years, but even more have mot net explored the opportunities to be had. And as with virtually everything else, the COVID pandemic has the potential to alter the market for vehicle graphics.

Fan Club: Ricoh Helps Brings Virtual Spectators to UT Game Day

Published November 3, 2020

In the face of prohibitions on live fan attendance at sporting events, both college and pro sports teams are filling empty stadiums with printed spectators. Read how Ricoh helped two sports programs take advantage of wide-format printing to connect with fans while also helping raise money for health initiatives.

The Show Must Go On(line): The PRINTING United Digital Experience Kicks Off with Wide Format

Published October 27, 2020

Yesterday, the PRINTING United Digital Experience kicked off with a day’s worth of sessions and product demos surrounding the world of Graphics and Wide Format: Hardware & Consumables. Richard Romano “attended” Day 1 and reports on the four sessions.

Epson Launches New SureColor R-Series Printers for Signage; Resin-Based Inks Take on Latex

Published October 26, 2020

Epson is expanding its footprint in the signage market with the new SureColor R-Series—two 64-inch roll-to-roll printers that utilize a resin-based ink technology that is intended as an alternative to latex.

Carpe Signum: Signs Come Home

Published October 13, 2020

The COVID pandemic has wrought many changes in the printing industry in general and the sign industry in particular, but one interesting development has been an increase in residential signage. The market for this kind of signage may not disappear once the pandemic does (if the pandemic ever does)—and it can prove to be a lucrative opportunity worth seizing.

A Changing Environment: Environmental Graphics Evolve with the Pandemic

Published October 5, 2020

Once describing the intersection of signage and décor, the application area of environmental graphics now, in the age COVID, has come to embody new kinds of signage and display graphics—and are even moving into the home.

ISA Quarterly Economic Report Forecasts Long Road to Recovery

Published September 28, 2020

According to the Q2 2020 ISA Quarterly Economic Report, the COVID crisis accelerated some trends both for print and digital signage that had started to emerge pre-crisis. The sign industry isn’t expected to recover to 2018 or 2019 levels until 2022.

What Do We Talk About When We Talk About Industrial Printing?

Published September 16, 2020

The definition of “industrial printing” has been changing, especially with the advent of inkjet printing, which is opening up all new “industrial” applications. This article looks at the state of industrial printing today, and the various applications that comprise it.

Velox Brings Mass-Production to Digital Direct-to-Shape Printing

Published September 8, 2020

Velox specializes in industrial-scale direct-to-shape digital printing—or, as the company calls it, “decorating”—predominantly on tubes, aerosols, and other cylindrical items. We take a look at the capabilities of Velox’s technology.

Canon Solutions America Launches Fifth-Generation Arizona Series UV Flatbed Printer

Published September 2, 2020

Yesterday, Canon Solutions America announced the new Arizona 2300 Series wide-format flatbed printer. The new series is built on a novel approach to media handling that eliminates zones, masking, and taping, helping speed job changeover and reduce operator intervention.

All Projects Great and Small: Phil Fox Takes Signs By Tomorrow Fort Worth to New Heights of Signage

Published September 1, 2020

Offering a diverse array of applications, from banners and feather flags, to vehicle wraps, to ADA signage, to channel letters 30 stories above the ground, Signs By Tomorrow Fort Worth has grown dramatically since Phil Fox bought the franchise in early 2018. An emphasis on marketing and versatility have been the keys to growth—even in the midst of a global pandemic.

Articles by Richard Romano