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Ensuring Packaging Meets Accurate Color Expectations: Remotely

Controlled digital proofing systems that ensure proper setup and maintenance with each of the stakeholders have a corresponding system seems to be the answer. While there were a number of systems introduced that endeavored to achieve that goal, most never seemed to be able to maintain that needed level of control across the stakeholder teams—until now.

The Road to drupa: Cary Sherburne Highlights the Opportunity

Cary Sherburne shares her perspective of why attending the drupa trade fair in late May/early June is so important—and what to look out for.

Print & Embellishment: Print Logistic Is Unleashing the Power of Coloreel Embroidery Technology

Many companies prefer the quality of embroidery for apparel and other items over various print technologies. But as logos and other decorations get more complicated, it can be difficult to reproduce them with conventional embroidery equipment. Enter Coloreel, on-demand dyeing of thread that enables production of even the most complex designs using a single embroidery head! In this article, provided compliments of textiles expert and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan, read the Print Logistic story as it proudly unveils this cutting-edge technology that is reshaping textile decoration.

Road to drupa Production Continuous Feed Inkjet Trends 2024

As part of our “Road to drupa” coverage, Marco Boer of IT Strategies looks at current trends impacting the continuous-feed production inkjet market, and what to look for in Düsseldorf.

The Printer and The Suit: Chris Hogge of Harris & Bruno

Gear up for a fun episode of The Printer & The Suit, where Warren and Kevin sit down with Chris Hogge, the Director of Sales & Business Development from Harris & Bruno International. With a legacy spanning over 15 years, Chris delves into the evolution of printing technologies and Harris & Bruno's role in pioneering inline and offline coating solutions for an evolving market.

January Shipments: Back to Normal?

January 2024 shipments came in at $7.04 billion, up from December’s $6.94 billion—and right between January 2021 and 2022.

Can an Innovative Cleaning Method Reduce the Total Cost of Ownership in Digital Label Printing?

Ink consumption is one of the variable costs in digital printing. It varies from job to job and often sets the economic limits for the process. Guest contributor Dieter Finna of pack.consult looks at the newly developed, contact-free cleaning system used in the Gallus One. Is the reduction in ink consumption so significant that the total cost of ownership is also reduced?

Textiles Expert Debbie McKeegan Discusses Personalize/Make/Wear Event at FESPA

In several previous iterations of FESPA, Debbie McKeegan coordinated a Print/Make/Wear event to demonstrate the value of digital textile printing. This year, the event has been renamed Personalize/Make/Wear and will consist of two Smart Factory workflows: direct to garment and direct to fabric. She discusses how the event will work and the partners she is working with.

Industry Data
TODO
Printing Outlook 2024 - The WhatTheyThink Overview of the Current State of the Printing Industry

The Printing Outlook 2024 report provides detailed analysis of the latest WhatTheyThink Printing Industry Survey, the latest industry economic data and macroeconomic trends, as well as industry and cultural technological trends to look out for in 2024 and beyond.

Purchase Report

January Shipments: Back to Normal?
January Shipments: Back to Normal?

January 2024 shipments came in at $7.04 billion, up from December’s $6.94 billion—and right between January 2021 and 2022. Full Analysis

“Other” Publishing Establishments—2010–2021
“Other” Publishing Establishments—2010–2021

According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 839 establishments in NAICS 51119 (Other Publishers). This represents a net decrease of 18% since 2010, but a 26% increase in the past year. In macro news, Q4 GDP was revised down slightly. Full Analysis

December Shipments: Ending the Year on a Low Note
December Shipments: Ending the Year on a Low Note

December 2023 shipments came in at $6.98 billion, down from November’s $7.24 billion—and, alas, the lowest of the year. Full Analysis

More Data Analysis

WhatTheyThink Magazine

WhatTheyThink Magazine is the resource for the Commercial Printing, Visual and Graphic Arts Industries. Industry experts share their ideas and technical knowledge on ways to improve operations.

Subscription are free to qualified industry professionals or via paid subscription.

Around the Web
WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany
Around the Web: Comic Creation. City Signage. New Knitting. Light Logic. Pork Parasite. Montana Monsters. Coors’ Calendar.

A new book explores how comics were made. A video tour of Manhattan signs. A new way of producing clothing requires only one size. “Agatha Christie: surfer dude.” Point Nemo: the place on Earth that is the farthest from dry land. Why it no long matters if you leave lights on when you leave a room. Yikes: a guy developed a parasitic infection in his brain after eating undercooked bacon. “Montana man pleads guilty to creating massive franken-sheep with cloned animal parts.” Coors Light’s 21-day “advent-inspired” calendar for March Madness. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly Kate-Middleton-Photoshop-scandal-free miscellany. Read More

Around the Web: Font Films. Inked Intelligence. Decimal Discovery. Clever Clutch. Dog Data. Fruity Footwear. Thwarted Thief. Awful Offices. Fish Finder.

“This Year’s Best Picture Oscar Nominees as Typefaces.” Trial biking world champion Dougie Lampkin pays a high-octane visit to the shop printing his autobiography. A modified typewriter that uses ChatGPT to answer queries that are manually typed in. A graphene-based handbag with a fingerprint opening system. Yes, there is now Strava for dogs. For National Cereal Day, Post teamed up with Nike and LeBron James to develop Fruity Pebbles-themed sneakers. A would-be car thief’s failed attempt to steal a self-driving taxi. Has it been 25 years since the “Office Space” was released? What plastic surgery procedure is the most popular in your state? Busch Light teams (or teems) with Plenty of Fish to help fish lovers find a date.  All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More

Around the Web: Zine Zone. Typewriter Tune. Neat Notes. Warm Walls. Apocalypse Averted? Apocalypse Aroma. Virtual Velvet. Hole Heading. Packing Prawns? Sub Storage.

A Brooklyn Museum exhibition looks at the history of “zines.” Ukrainian type foundry produces faces that reflect Ukraine’s Soviet history as well as the current war. Judas! The Boston Typewriter Orchestra has gone electric. Turn any paper into a sticky note. Graphene-enhanced infrared wallpaper for efficient home heating. Learn all about piphilology in time for pi day. Will AI wipe out humanity? A perfume based on all the smells indicated in the Book of Revelation. Laurie Anderson uses AI to “communicate” with late husband Lou Reed. New app always points to supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy, very helpful for navigation. Le Sac Swoosh is a not very useful  designer handbag shaped like Nike’s iconic branding. Subway has developed a tote bag for storing footlongs. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More

Around the Web Archive

Recent Discussion

Pete Basiliere on David Zwang On the Road to drupa

I've been to several drupas over the years and actually paid my own way the first time because my boss wouldn't. I stayed in someone's home, and this was years and years before Airbnb when the city organized homestays for all the large shows. My a… Full comment Reply

Gordon Griffiths on David Zwang On the Road to drupa

After 60 years in print, I have never been to Drupa. It was like you were not a real print person if you missed a Drupa trip. I missed them all and survived. It seemed there was always someone who wanted to go more than me so I always said, “Be my g… Full comment Reply

Joe Treacy on Frank Fontificates

Frank, it’s a significant change in many ways, a very well-drafted design, and it’s helpful to have a serif option in the Aptos family. Since an estimated 1.2 billion people use MS Office, my questions are: — Do today’s readers across various p… Full comment Reply

Dov Isaacs on Frank Fontificates

A few observations: (1) The first PostScript printer was NOT the Apple LaserWriter. Actually, the first PostScript product to ship was the QMS800 which used the same Canon CX 300dpi engine. (2) There are a number of significant issues with Micr… Full comment Reply

Special Report

drupa 2024 Coverage


WhatTheyThink is the official show daily media partner of drupa 2024. More info about drupa daily programs

WhatTheyThink is the official show daily media partner of drupa 2024. More info about drupa programs