The book segment in digital printing is among the fastest-growing applications, favored by publishers seeking flexible supply chains and minimized financial risk. By 2030, research suggests inkjet will be the preferred technology for the majority of book printing worldwide, especially as print-on-demand and educational customization accelerate market shifts.

Using inkjet for book manufacturing enables ultra-fast turnaround, critical for Amazon, educational publishers, and self-published authors, so books can be printed as orders arrive, drastically reducing unsold inventory. Inkjet also makes short-run and niche printing affordable, opening profitable segments such as academic reprints, indie publishing, and personalized children’s books. While it also supports full-color, high-resolution output, suitable for graphic novels, photo books, and instructional texts without the setup costs of offset or toner presses.

The application specific modular design mentality is finding its way into the development of book production workflows, printing systems, and platforms like the HP Advantage, which enables the print service provider to configure their press purchase based on their application requirements. Historically, there have been different platforms for different printing applications. We can expect that there will continue to be many evolutionary changes to production inkjet and finishing development and use going forward tailored to more targeted and specialized book production.