Printing Industry Commentary & Analysis

The Toilet Paper Effect

Published August 16, 2021

Spare paper? Connect with inkjet printers in need.

Color Management is Not Just About Color - Uniformity

Published August 11, 2021

Inkjet for commercial and industrial printing are mostly using aqueous or UV ink. They may be jetting on media surfaces from metals, synthetics, plastics, glass and of course paper based substrates.

Eating Inkjet- Sweet!

Published June 24, 2021

Inkjet has moved past the outside packaging and print directly onto edible products. The printing is easy – the ink chemistry is hard.

Offset vs. Inkjet- Part 3 – Controlling the Pain Points

Published May 18, 2021

This article focuses on a challenge unique to inkjet presses, the jet-out. However, while offset does not experience jet-outs, it does experience ink voids in the form of hickies and picking.

Offset vs. Inkjet- Part 3 – Measuring Uniformity

Published May 4, 2021

Remember our comparison environment from the previous post on graininess? This time we compare uniformity challenges for inkjet and offset.

Offset vs. Inkjet- Measuring Print Defects For Perspective

Published April 27, 2021

The first in a series taking a measured approach to comparing offset and inkjet print quality.

Should Inkjet Be Compared to Commercial Print?

Published April 8, 2021

Mary does a bake off with a 200 lpi sheet-fed offset press against a continuous aqueous pigment inkjet press. She measures when she bakes.

Impress Without Leaving an Impression

Published February 4, 2021

Top reasons why inkjet is better than flexo for corrugated packaging.

Xaar Looking Toward The Future

Published January 21, 2021

A candid interview with John Mills of Xaar on strategy and changes to support industrial inkjet integrators and their customers.

Trends in Book Papers

Published December 1, 2020

Mary Schilling talks key attributes of book papers and some new paper releases for 2020.

Color Management and Shiny Things

Published November 23, 2020

As inkjet expands into more demanding markets it's time to demand more from your color management tools.

Cool Tools: Bringing You the World of Color

Published August 26, 2020

Have you ever wanted to hold a color globe just to systematically navigate between colors and explore how they blend into each other? Have you ever wanted to physically display the color wheels' gradual relational value from any given color to the next? Inkjet Insight has been on a mission to find Cool Tools which make our lives easier. For printers to prepress and designers, there are tools and innovations which help with the processes or create a better understanding of our creative, colorful world.

Cool Tools 2: Creating Cross-Channel Color Schemes

Published August 4, 2020

Being efficient is what digital communication is all about. Helping save time and energy when designing for different media is an industry requirement that can be achieved through knowledge as well as finding cool apps and gadgets for designers.

Cool Tools: Selecting Color Schemes for Print

Published July 28, 2020

Whether you are working on direct mail or transaction printing, designing for ease of navigation and to deliver a clear message is just as important as the color scheme or graphics used. Each color carries a message or an emotion and will provoke a response. Choosing the colors to support the intended tone of the mailing is important – particularly when there is a call to action that needs emphasis.

Mills and Converters Deliver Inkjet Innovations

Published June 26, 2020

As the grand finale to an exciting Inkjet Innovation Week, I had the pleasure of hosting Bill Rojack, vice president of Midland Paper, to discuss "Innovation Foundations: Inkjet Paper and Specialty Media.” An analysis of the trends in the inkjet industry would not be complete without exploring advances in media that can save printers money or open new markets.

Spreading Smiles...Not Cooties: Personalized Masks Bring a Little Humor During Difficult Times

Published June 23, 2020

Inkjet Insight co-founder Mary Schilling describes how she used her digital printing skills to start a cottage industry making masks...with a little help from her friends.

What’s Driving Innovation in Web-Fed Inkjet Systems?

Published June 22, 2020

A full recap of Inkjet Insight's webinar presentation of "What’s Driving Innovation in Web-Fed Inkjet Systems?" OEMs are continually finding creative solutions to make the process easier and faster, while giving customers the ability to expand their portfolios and increase profits, learn more about these innovations.

Mary Schilling Shares Smiles, Not Cooties

Published June 22, 2020

Inkjet Insight co-founder and WhatTheyThink contributor Mary Schilling has put her digital printing skills to work, producing on-demand facemasks featuring either stock or custom images. All masks are digitally printed and hand-sewn. Curiously, her best-seller features the face of WhatTheyThink’s Adam Dewitz—and in this video, check out some of her “face models.”

Trend Knows Their Destination

Published June 16, 2020

We love printing companies who eat their own cooking. Learn how Trend Offset Printing put their inkjet environment to use on their own marketing leveraging data, creative design and extensive personalization. #inkjetinnovation

Inkjet Makes a Grand Entry: axpanel Revolutionizes Garage Doors

Published May 26, 2020

Axpanel, a custom developer of inkjet printing and industrial automation for XY, rotary, and single-pass solutions, offers solutions for customized inkjet printing on sectional garage door panels.

Shift Happens: Welcome to Print Conditions

Published May 12, 2020

Characterized Reference Printing Condition Profiles, or CRPC, are a 1-7 series of color ICC profiles based on paper type that defines the conversion between Adobe device CMYK values and the inkjet output device. These profiles are not newly released, so I am often surprised to find that people have not applied them to their workflows.

Shift Happens- Aligning Color Targets

Published May 5, 2020

Spreading Smiles Not Cooties

Published May 4, 2020

I now understand, why my dog is so excited to go outside or for car rides. Lately, I feel the same way. But wearing my custom mask helps me know I am protecting myself and others while bringing smiles in these changing times.

Label Production Delays—Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That

Published April 16, 2020

There is no time for delays in the ever-evolving COVID-19 world, especially when it comes to printing labels with important health and safety information. Digital and inkjet processes have provided a process which high speed and on demand labels can be produced without any delays in film or platemaking.

Banding Together to Support Healthcare Workers

Published April 9, 2020

With personal protective equipment in high demand to combat spread of COVID-19, Alliance Rubber Company is modifying their production and offering solutions.

Helping Designers Bring Bling to Inkjet

Published April 8, 2020

Mary Schilling helps a Chicago designer for Allison&Ivy tackle her first catalog project on inkjet. Learn about the designer's questions and why the project was a success. Helping designers helps the industry.

Cool Stuff: Inkjet as Unique as a Unicorn

Published March 17, 2020

Unicorn Graphics began in New York as a humble calendar printer in 1985 and has expanded into a multi-million-dollar creative print company offering a wide array of printed products.Looking beyond inkjet technology as a print service, Unicorn Graphics is bringing product, and product customization, to market using material which we don't normally don’t think about printing on. Get ready to see some cool stuff.

Cool Stuff: Inkjet Makes a Grand Entry

Published February 12, 2020

Inkjet has entered our homes in many ways. From flooring and wallpaper to tile and upholstery, inkjet print technology has touched just about every point in our personal lives. There seems to be no limit to the ability to personalize the interior of our homes and make them one of a kind. But, why limit the personal touch to the interior?

Profiling with Primers and Coatings

Published January 29, 2020

In the previous post How to Make an Inkjet Sandwich I talked about the potential different ways that ink can react to a substrate when used in combination with other fluids such as primers or post-coatings. Those interactions make it critical to optimize all the fluids for your entire process, prior to linearization and profiling, to avoid print defects such as color to color bleed and coalescence.

Get Skin in the Game When Educating Customers

Published January 29, 2020

New Year, New Opportunities with 3D Scanning

Published January 13, 2020

The METIS 3D Scanner creates opportunities for designers and printers think outside the box and expand creative applications for all print markets. Being able to reproduce 3D texture reproductions with existing UV printing equipment or providing scanning services for CGI/PBR (computer-generated imagery/physical based rendering) applications allows designers to not only visualize but customize and develop 3D patterns.

Replicate the Real Thing

Published January 6, 2020

One of the fastest-growing applications in wide-format and industrial printing is textures. While a lot has been written about how these kinds of materials are printed, not much has been said about how these textures are created. This article looks at multi configuration scanners from METIS, used to capture high-quality, photorealistic reproductions of existing surfaces.

Designers Are You Ready for Industrial Inkjet?

Published December 17, 2019

Mary’s Wish List: Scanner to Replicate 3D Textured Objects

Published December 3, 2019

One of the fastest-growing applications in wide-format and industrial printing is textures, and while a lot has been written about how these kinds of materials are printed, typically using UV flatbed wide-format printers, not much has been said about the front end of the required process when developing inkjet imaged home décor such as flooring and window covering.

Soft Touch Effects- Adding Emotion to Inkjet

Published November 13, 2019

Adding a tactile differentiator like soft-touch to inkjet pages is the simplest way to gain attention and make inkjet print stand out. Learn about options for different applications and the potential benefits beyond haptic response.

Expanding Creative Opportunities and Careers

Published October 25, 2019

Media Considerations for Digital Print

Published October 11, 2019

Mary Schilling will be presenting on Media Considerations for Digital Print as part of the 2-day Brand United, Digital Printing for Professionals. The session will be delivered in Dallas on Thursday October 24 at 9:30 a.m. as part of the 2019 Printing United event. See the full session description and receive a free attendee code from Inkjet Insight.

Solimar Systems Announces ReadyPDF Module

Published October 4, 2019

Solimar Systems announced the addition of a new module, ReadyPDF™, to their existing robust suite of variable data document processing tools. This tool is very relevant in a production inkjet environment. Print organizations who accept large variable text and image files commonly find that improperly prepared PDF files can process slowly, choke, or error out, slowing overall production because of file element and structure issues within the PDF

Primary Ink Management = Savings

Published October 1, 2019

Many printers practice ink management by limiting combined process inks (CMYK and +) through a color profiling process. TAC adjustment can help control ink costs, drying, curl and paper cockle by limiting the overall volume of ink printed. Let's talk about how to find the the percentage value of a color at which we no longer gain any color value by adding ink.

Inkjet TechWalks at Print19

Published September 25, 2019

Next Generation of Canon VarioPrint i-series

Published September 19, 2019

Screen Announces New Label Press

Published September 19, 2019

Inkjet Paper at your Fingertips

Published September 11, 2019

Understanding Ream Labels

Published August 20, 2019

You may already know that the TAPPI roll label is a very important item to review and retain, but did you know that the label on cut sheet reams and cartons holds the same valuable information?

Help Customers Match Inkjet Colors Online

Published July 22, 2019

Does your customer want their web presence in synch with your CMYK print design?

6 Sensible Steps for Diversifying your Inkjet Book of Business

Published June 13, 2019

Inkjet is having an impact on every segment of the print market. While adoption has been slower in some segments than others, the need for inkjet presses to stay running has caused a ripple effect across segments. Many print organizations who invest in inkjet quickly seek to diversify their book of business in order to fill their inkjet presses, minimize marginal running costs and maximize revenue.

Inkjet Insight and Group JOOS Present

Published May 29, 2019

Mary Schilling will be in Belgium next week presenting to a mixed audience of creative and production professionals hosted by Group JOOS Unlimited Digital Solutions. Group JOOS are experts in converting big data into hyper-individualized cross marketing communication through digital, print and augmented reality. We are excited to announce this year’s program will be held at the Roosekes Breem Venue on June 4, 2019, focusing on “Better Match-Better Return through Cross Marketing and Inkjet Printing through Inkjet Insight’s Great 8 Program

Combating Coated Paper

Published May 14, 2019

Coated papers being more expensive, we expect higher quality from the printed piece. Gloss coated, which holds the ink high on the surface, will show any defect from inconsistent pre-coating, print head jetting and even inconsistent paper coating. Note that, even though we may not see a difference in surface coating, offset coated papers can come with inconsistencies that originate at the paper mill. If coating is not evenly applied across the entire paper machine, the roll or ream you receive will print and dry differently than the one before.

Loss of Another Great Paper Mill - Verso

Published May 3, 2019

Verso Corporation announced it will permanently close its 130 year old paper mill in Luke, Maryland.

Inkjet Designers: Think Before you Click

Published May 2, 2019

There's more at stake than pretty print - files that are inefficient, or just plain bad cost a lot of people time and money. Designing for inkjet comes with great responsibility - are you ready? Or should we find you a radioactive spider?

Inkjet Success and the Great Eight

Published April 24, 2019

To successfully integrate inkjet into your print workflow, focus on 8 key elements to create a clearer path to success. Whether you are in high speed, industrial or packaging, the Great Eight will empower a process, reduce production preparation and down time and pave the way to on-board projects with more profitability.

Automation with Dynamic Production Controls in Print Finishing

Published April 16, 2019

Shift Happens... Visual Expectations

Published April 3, 2019

Shift can happen anywhere in the printing process, but if the process is set up with visual expectations which can't possibly be matched, the process is set up for disappointment. Here's how to help internal and external designers create files with a better understanding of Machine, Ink and Media or MIM.

Using Your Inkjet Press for Finished Samples

Published March 19, 2019

Inkjet is still new to the masses and its differences are easier to "see" than verbally explain. Seems crazy, but this is why we use these multi-million dollar print workflows for one or two finished proofs.

Paper Partners Meet in the Mountains

Published February 26, 2019

At Hunkeler Innovation Days, media developers Arctic Paper, Crown Van Gelder (CVG), Drewsen, Mitsubish and Mondi gathered to showcase their array of media products compatible with inkjet printers and finishing.

Preparing Your Brain for Inkjet

Published February 12, 2019

Regardless of whether you are new to production inkjet or trying to work through production challenges, success often comes with a well-rounded approach that includes filling knowledge gaps and executing critical process steps.

Shift Happens... Understanding Aqueous Ink Chemistry

Published January 22, 2019

Welcome to the latest post in the "Shift Happens" series. In this post, we will focus on aqueous ink chemistry and factors affecting color shift. Knowing the type of ink and understanding its chemistry is just as important as understanding how it reacts to your surface conditions. Find out why.

Closure of a GP Paper Mill

Published January 11, 2019

Another blow for the publishing marketannounced by Georgia Pacific. GP is closing the communications paper division of its Port Hudson facility, as well as the wood yard, pulp mill and energy complex that support it.

Inkjet Needs Maintenance Too

Published November 27, 2018

Like all mechanical printing technologies, inkjet requires maintenance. We often forget that ink and dust build up that happens with conventional printing and toner units can also impact inkjet equipment.

Shift Happens... Know Your Workflow

Published November 26, 2018

Inkjet is data driven. Understanding design to RIP process and documenting is important when it comes to color alignment in your workflow.

Shift Happens... So Measure

Published November 19, 2018

Color shifts can happen, and when it does, it may become unacceptable and even embarrassing when they are visually obvious. For our first segment of our Color Shift Happens series, we will discuss why it is important to add industry proven methods to evaluate color.

Shift Happens

Published November 15, 2018

Have you ever received a pdf file which called for bright red or a blue shade, but didn’t print correctly with colors visually different from what the customer was targeting? Shift can happen from paper to paper or from device to device. It can even happen to the same color printed in different areas on the same page in certain conditions. Color shift is any change which is unexpected and doesn’t meet customer expectations.

Appvion Announces Price Increase

Published November 7, 2018

Better order your paper now, another price increase is just in time for the holidays.

Rich Black in Images Shouldn't Be Scary

Published October 31, 2018

Producing quality rich blacks and image details with inkjet can become a scary task. Learn how to control black details (shadows) by understanding the ink/paper/profile combinations that are spooking your results. Happy Halloween.

Conventional Offset - Is it time for Inkjet?

Published August 21, 2018

Mary Schilling discusses the opportunity for sheet-fed inkjet including the traditional barriers of paper, pricing and image quality. The analysis discusses the requirements for inkjet to compete with commercial offset printing.

Color Vision Deficiencies

Published June 4, 2018

Knowing he color capabilities of your inkjet device is very important, but understanding the color capabilities of your press crew is critical. Visually tweaking or modifying color on press is never an efficient or repeatable way to run production. Making your staff aware of their potential vision deficiencies will help catch color, as well as print quality issues, before they get to your customer. Here are some things you should know.

Pigment Ink and Creme Brûlée

Published May 15, 2018

As inkjet moves into applications with high ink coverage and quality demands, users can run into some hard to diagnose problems. If you only focus on the paper and the print heads when trying to diagnose print quality issues, you could struggle for a long time looking in the wrong places.

Understanding Paper Specifications-Shade

Published April 16, 2018

Shade is important to inkjet color reproduction as the paper's shade shows through the ink and can shift the ink's colorant when applied to the sheet. Paper shade can affect all values of highlight, mid-tone and shadow areas of print.

Understanding Paper Specifications-Whiteness

Published April 10, 2018

Paper whiteness is particularly important in markets for which small text and readability is important such as book as well as magazine. For magazine images, the level of OBA's in the paper can affect color reproduction accuracy of certain colors combinations.

Understanding Paper Specifications-Brightness

Published April 6, 2018

Characteristics like brightness, whiteness and shade level of the paper can impact the inkjet color outcomes for your project. Lets talk about how some of the manufactured paper specifications and how brightness can directly affect your color fidelity.

Objective Ink Measures - Chroma

Published March 14, 2018

In this installment of "Let Data Drive your Print Quality Comparisons" Mary Schilling discusses the importance of chroma, how it's defined within the context of print quality analysis and differences between inkjet and offset.

Objective Inkjet Measures - Optical Density

Published March 5, 2018

This the first in a series of articles by Mary Schilling that will drill down on specific print quality metrics, what they mean, how they are measured and what factors in your printing process can affect them. Optical Density is one of the important quality metrics that can be objectively measured and it can be correlated to a number of other quality metrics.

Highly Calendered Inkjet Papers - What to Know

Published February 7, 2018

Mary Schilling dives into the process for creating inkjet treated, coated and hybrid papers that are treated, yet perform like a coated paper. Some mills describe these as a "coated feel" paper and list them as coated, while others list them as treated (which is technically more accurate.)

Transactional Images Looking a Bit Ragged?

Published December 12, 2017

Can You Print This Pantone Color with Production Inkjet?

Published December 6, 2017

How Media Affects Perceived Resolution

Published November 16, 2017

Print manufacturers include print resolution in their machine specs. It is usually shown as dots per inch (DPI) e.g. 600 x 600 or 1200 x 1200, but you may also see different amounts for the process and cross process directions e.g. 600 x 480, particularly with high speed continuous devices.

Components of Inkjet Print Quality

Published August 28, 2017

Understanding Linearization

Published June 1, 2017

Proper Packaging of Design Files

Published May 3, 2017

Design files can be pretty complex. A typical file could contain hundreds or thousands of detailed elements such as font families, lines, vignettes plus drawn and linked elements such as logos and photos. These may be created in multiple formats housing extremely detailed dither and color data. Designers sometimes go to painstaking detail to create a particular effect.

Understanding the TAPPI Roll Identifier

Published April 27, 2017

Understanding the “Two-Sided” Effect

Published March 10, 2017

Have you ever completed a custom profile of your paper to only find out that when printed, one side looks darker than the other? You may notice that the ink densities are different, but may also see a visual color and perhaps a mottle, line and text clarity difference.