Printing Industry Commentary & Analysis

Articles by Mark Vruno

A creative business/technical writer and skilled editor with proven success in multiple facets of internal and external corporate and high-technology public relations. Specialties: A seasoned communication professional with extensive experience planning and executing marketing and business-to-business communications.

Displaying 1-13 of 13 articles

Print Takes Shape for Wide-Format Applications

Published April 13, 2023

In today’s printing shops, making the cut begins with sharp blades and ends with precise routing. Mark Vruno looks at today’s cutting tables for wide-format finishing.

RMGT’s “Commit to Print” World Tour Kicks Off in St. Louis

Published May 17, 2022

Mark Vruno leads a tour of Advertisers Printing in St. Louis as RMGT’s “Commit to Print” World Tour celebrating sheetfed-offset printing kicks off. The rock-n-roll themed events are taking place in six cities, featuring seven plants and 10 sheetfed offset presses over the next six months.

Needed: Quick Turn Labels—A Trio of OEMs Share What to Expect in Label Printing Trends

Published May 16, 2022

Demand for fast-turn and short-run labels went up during and after the pandemic, but employment and consumables problems tempered what could have been a boon for label printers and label equipment vendors. Contributor Mark Vruno looks at where we stand today.

Press On & Rock On: RMGT’s “Commit to Print” World Tour Kicks Off

Published May 10, 2022

Celebrating sheetfed-offset printing, RMGT’s “Commit to Print” World Tour kicked off last week in St. Louis, Mo., at Advertisers Printing. Contributor Mark Vruno previews the rest of the tour, and documents Advertisers Printing’s investment in a 10-color RMGT 9 Series perfecting press.

Sign Design UX Do’s and Don’ts: Employ a Functional Graphic Approach for Positive Wayfinding User Experiences, Top Designers Advise

Published April 25, 2022

WhatTheyThink contributor Mark Vruno talks with designers about best practices for wayfinding and other types of signage design.

Meet Vehicle-Wrap Competition Host Dirk Moebes

Published March 10, 2022

Contributor Mark Vruno talks to Dirk Moebes, the vehicle-wrap competition organizer from Germany who has been generating excitement at industry trade shows for more than two decades.

Digital Schmigital: Who Hearts Offset Printing?

Published June 29, 2021

Literally trillions of printed pages still are reproduced worldwide each year using traditional offset press technology—not to mention “newer” offset product applications such as door hangers, pocket folders, and packaging. Contributor Mark Vruno looks at the latest developments in offset equipment.

The Paper Chase Challenge: Amid Shrinking Inventories and the COVID-19 Outbreak, Procuring Paper Is More Time-Consuming than Ever for Those Who Buy It

Published June 3, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic worsened paper supply chain challenges that had been developing for the past several years. Contributor Mark Vruno looks at the problems print businesses have been having sourcing paper, the reasons behind those problems, and some of the workarounds that have been devised.

Finding Our Way: Printed Signage Helps us to Navigate Safely Through the COVID-19 World.

Published March 22, 2021

Wayfinding signage abruptly evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contributor Mark Vruno looks at how sign companies coped with the change—and surge—in demand.

Paper or Plastic: Depending on the Application, Printing Digitally on Synthetic Substrates May Be Worth Premium Pricing

Published November 5, 2020

Digitally printing on synthetic paper and plastics is more expensive than running traditional, wood-fiber papers on press, but certain products may be worth the expense, especially in the COVID era. Contributor Mark Vruno looks at the latest in synthetic papers.

How Casting Votes By Mail Could Work (Well)

Published August 24, 2020

Safe, socially distanced general elections in 2020 are proving to be a boon for print and mail service providers that can handle specialized operations, including “ballot mail.” Contributor Mark Vruno takes a close look at vote by mail (VBM).

Finding Hard Profit in Soft Signage

Published May 12, 2020

What was once a specialty niche for wide-format print service providers now is a “must-have technology” for producing more mainstream applications. WhatTheyThink contributor Mark Vruno looks at the current state of, and best practices for, soft signage.

Finding the Way(s): Signage Still Has a Place—Even Amid GPS Technologies

Published April 9, 2020

As output and substrate technologies continue to improve, wayfinding signage opportunities remain rife for commercial and wide-format printers in 2020 and beyond. However, to land these types of jobs, you first need to know with whom to engage.