See Part 2

Graph Expo is the Trade Show and Conference for “Print,” right? Then what is this “upstart” called SGIA, Screen Graphics International Association, with its tag line - The Printing and Imaging Technology Show - that we just attended in Atlanta? Graph Expo was larger, with about 38,000 attendees according to GASC, however, SGIA expected to see over 12,000 attendees. So what is the difference and what does it mean?

For the most part, Graph Expo concerns itself with commercial print. And, actually SGIA, rather than being an upstart, has itself been around for a long time. What is different is that its members have adopted digital imaging faster than traditional commercial printers. SGIA caters to those who print graphics, technical screen-printing, textiles, electronics, and more, rather than just traditional rectangular pages; this is what we generally call “screen printing.” You generally may think of this group as ones who print all of those tee shirts and large format posters that don’t require much in the way of print quality. Often, screen print is much more important and professional. It can also be hidden inside other industries as an important part of the manufacturing process (e.g. for floor tile, vehicles and printed circuit boards).

In reality, through, the use of sophisticated flatbed graphics presses and now the larger flatbed ink jet “screen” presses, that this group uses puts out high quality and does it for far shorter print runs than we have traditionally considered “print.” They now also do a phenomenal job of printing graphics on all kinds of pliable media including plastics and have became the backbone of a new kind of label and decal-type printing.