In the latest Taktiful/WhatTheyThink 2026 Embellishment Study, two-thirds of users of digital embellishment equipment said they have seen more demand for digital embellishments in the past year, up from the 29% who said this in last year’s survey. Eighteen percent said demand has remained about the same (down from 56% last year), and only 5% have seen less demand for embellishments, down from 9% last year. Read More
Frank presents the 1895 Oliver Typewriter, the first typewriter that let you see what you were typing as you typed. The original 1873 typewriter typed on the rear of the sheet. Read More
Last month’s Typographics 2026 was a two-day conference devoted to type, language, and visual culture. Ghost Font is an attempt to keep AI from stealing content. Inkjet printing can be used to make inexpensive OLED displays. “What happens when a type foundry stops designing fonts as static objects and starts designing them as living systems?” An art vending machine. An artist who makes intricate sculptures out of paper. Germany’s the Kugelhaus was a spherical, six-story steel building. The first person in England to use an umbrella was treated to insults and abuse. Graphene oxide composite enables a flexible memristor for low-light artificial vision. “Weird Al” declined to be an AI company’s spokesman. A 1,478-piece “X Files” LEGO set. Could wet coffee grounds be used to generate cleaner sources of energy? Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
It used to seem simple, but employee retention has been complicated by evolving lifestyle preferences and increased competition. By fostering a culture that promotes loyalty and career development, PSPs can build a strong team while also positioning themselves for long-term success. In addition to discussing time-honored practices, this article explores innovative ways to attract and retain a high-powered workforce. Read More
New Designers held at the Business Design Centre in London each July brings the academic cohort together as one community. For over 40 years, New Designers has served as the UK's most established platform for graduate design talent—and the 2026 edition was no exception. It's an important element of ensuring the next generation of design professionals. Read More
In this installment of Taktiful...Thursday, Eric Vessels talks with Ed Wiegand, President and CEO of JetFX Inc., about the business case for digital embellishment. Wiegand discusses his path from labels and combination printing to launching JetFX, and explains how UV inkjet-based embellishment can help printers and converters improve profitability, reduce waste, and create new opportunities in fast-moving markets. Read More
Mary Schilling talks in depth with Don Schroeder, Senior Director, Technical Sales, Digital Packaging Solutions, Fujifilm North America Corporation, about the new J Press FP790 Inkjet Label Packaging Press. Read More
The executive report looks back at 2025 and the first few months of 2026 and ahead to what the industry can expect, economically and technologically, in the latter half of 2026 and into 2027 and beyond.
The report includes current and expected business conditions, top business challenges, top business opportunities, and planned investments for 2026.
In the latest Taktiful/WhatTheyThink 2026 Embellishment Study, two-thirds of users of digital embellishment equipment said they have seen more demand for digital embellishments in the past year, up from the 29% who said this in last year’s survey. Eighteen percent said demand has remained about the same (down from 56% last year), and only 5% have seen less demand for embellishments, down from 9% last year. Read More
Print buyers have changed, and the organizations winning their business aren’t the ones guessing what they want. Keypoint Intelligence’s German Sacristan breaks down what today’s print buyers really want, from digital integration to brand perception and why guessing isn’t good enough anymore. Is your strategy keeping up? Read More
After a sluggish four months, the employment situation picked up in May, with overall printing industry employment up 1.0% from April, production employment up 0.3%, and non-production employment up 2.5%. Read More
Speed on the pressroom floor is still an important factor, but real performance improvements are being driven by smoother workflows, better data, and faster decision-making. Read More
According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2023 there were 32,332 establishments in NAICS 511 (Publishing Industries [except Internet]). This represents an increase of 15% since 2010. In macro news, the University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Index is at record lows. Read More
The Print Buyer Has Changed. Has Your Strategy?
10 Things PSPs Should Consider Before Adopting Robotics: What You Need to Know to Begin the Journey
Why Highly Targeted Communications Make Digital Print Essential to Modern Marketing
Wide Format in 2026: How Technology Is Reshaping Competitive Advantage
WhatTheyThink's web roundup miscellany
Last month’s Typographics 2026 was a two-day conference devoted to type, language, and visual culture. Ghost Font is an attempt to keep AI from stealing content. Inkjet printing can be used to make inexpensive OLED displays. “What happens when a type foundry stops designing fonts as static objects and starts designing them as living systems?” An art vending machine. An artist who makes intricate sculptures out of paper. Germany’s the Kugelhaus was a spherical, six-story steel building. The first person in England to use an umbrella was treated to insults and abuse. Graphene oxide composite enables a flexible memristor for low-light artificial vision. “Weird Al” declined to be an AI company’s spokesman. A 1,478-piece “X Files” LEGO set. Could wet coffee grounds be used to generate cleaner sources of energy? Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Brits snap up tickets to see the Bayeux Tapestry. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette just got its existence renewed. What is the best clothing to wear to keep cool? Probably not leather made from Tyrannosaurus rex cells. Aw, shucks, we missed it: July 16 was “AI Appreciation Day.” A group of Italian students constructed the world’s largest paper airplane. The age-old problem of justifying calligraphic text, like Arabic. A laser-induced graphene sensor enables dopamine detection in tears. A hospital for…houseplants? The first robot to appear in a movie. An electronic nose that can detect food spoilage, food-borne pathogens, and allergens. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
The 1835 “Moon Hoax” made ridiculous news stories credible. The USPS is issuing the 2026 Route 66 Centennial Stamp Collection. Highlights from the recent Sustainable Brands Conference. Researchers have created what might be the most accurate mathematical representation of color perception ever. When in North Dakota, visit the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, which opens tomorrow, July 4. An Etsy gardening scam features AI-generated plant images and fake seeds. Good grief: corneal tattooing is a thing. Graphene radar-absorbing coatings for defense use. If you missed Monday’s Strawberry Moon, more moons are coming. Answering the burning question: “do bug zappers still exist?” Turn any water bottle into a water vessel for dogs. Is there any advantage to “alkaline water”? Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Newspaper Club has partnered with type foundry abcD8 to create a custom typeface inspired by the visual history of newspapers. MAD magazine has published its 600th issue. “Wordhord: Old English Word of the Day.” New evidence for the cause of death of the model for Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus.” Attending a Zoom meeting while on a roller coaster. Graphene-enabled PFAS-free firefighting foam. A jacket that can harvest moisture from the atmosphere. The iPhone’s Vehicle Motion Cues are surprisingly effective at reducing car sickness. An e-bike designed specifically to carry children. “Do fitness trackers still work if you have tattoos?” Rouser Lab’s “Earth’s black box” attempts to track humanity’s spiral into environmental destruction. “Beef tea” was a thing in the 19th century. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
