Richard Romano is Managing Editor of WhatTheyThink. He curates the Wide Format section on WhatTheyThink.com. He has been writing about the graphic communications industry for more than 25 years. He is the author or coauthor of more than half a dozen books on printing technology and business. His most recent book is “Beyond Paper: An Interactive Guide to Wide-Format and Specialty Printing.
Displaying 301-400 of 1223 articles
Published May 16, 2018
Frank Mallozzi, Chief Revenue Officer for EFI, talks about the new hybrid VUTEk printer series the company is launching this week at FESPA in Berlin: the h Series, EFI's new mid-range line, which boasts faster speed, higher image quality, and lower operating costs. The company is also demonstrating its textile-based "mini factory."
Published May 16, 2018
WhatTheyThink is live at FESPA Berlin 2018 on Day 2 of the show. Welcome to the concept of the microfactory.
Published May 15, 2018
The FESPA Global Print Expo 2018 kicked off in Berlin this morning. Here is a quick teaser of some early show highlights.
Published May 14, 2018
What do we talk about when we talk about “wide format”? How is the term definitionally changing—and what does it even mean anymore? And more importantly, how does whatever we define as “wide format” play nice with other kinds of printing such as industrial, packaging, and commercial? And how can we navigate the “convergence” of these different print silos? Read on for more.
Published May 10, 2018
"Direct-to-shape" is a fast-growing subset of industrial—and even commercial—printing. Steven Calov, Omnifire 4D Product Manager for Heidelberg USA, talks about the Heidelberg Omnifire printers that can print on a plethora of materials and shapes, and the opportunities they offer for both industrial and specialty commercial printers.
Published May 7, 2018
A major theme of last week’s InPrint Industrial Inkjet Conference in Chicago was the emerging distinction between two specific kinds of industrial printing: printing as part of a larger manufacturing process and what we have often called specialty printing. The conference explored the differences between them, where the growth areas are, and what the drivers of that growth are. Read on for some reflections on the conference.
Published May 2, 2018
What is industrial inkjet printing? What are the high-growth parts of the industrial printing market? What are the opportunities for print businesses? Frazer Chesterman, Co-Founder of InPrint, talks about industrial inkjet technology, the mission of the InPrint Conference, and what attendees can expect at this year’s event.
Published April 24, 2018
For about 15 years, Carbon Wraps Orlando has specialized in highly creative vehicle graphics. They took car wrapping to the next level when they worked with local artist Kurt Meister and Avery Dennison to wrap one of his paintings on a vehicle live at the ISA Sign Expo last March. Read on for more about the company and this unique project.
Published April 17, 2018
Patti Draper Doychak, Senior Marketing Communications Manager for Avery Dennison, describes new innovations in cut vinyl. Easier weeding with a re-engineered adhesive, a larger color palette, and longer-lasting adhesive all give the client more choices and a better-quality vinyl product.
Published April 16, 2018
Lori Anderson, President and CEO of the International Sign Association (ISA), shares the many ways ISA helps members of the sign industry. Beyond the annual Sign Expo, in which professionals can learn about new technologies, ISA is active in advocacy for companies in relation to sign codes and regulations, as well as helping educate students about the opportunities available to them after high school.
Published April 12, 2018
The Association for Print Technologies (APTech), through its PRIMIR Research Unit and Market Data programs, provides a wealth of woefully underutilized industry research that can be of great practical use to all the links in the print supply chain—not just suppliers and vendors but print service providers, as well. Read on to see how.
Published April 12, 2018
Catherine Monson, CEO of FASTSIGNS, talks about her recent testimony before the U.S. Congress on behalf of her long commitment to establishing association-based health plans so that small businesses, like print franchises, can provide affordable health care plans to their employees.
Published April 11, 2018
Michael Johnson, VP of Marketing for Nazdar Source One, a distributor to the wide-format printing market, talks to Richard Romano at last month’s ISA Sign Expo about the business opportunities and profitability potential in specialty printing—printing on water bottles and other kinds of promotional materials.
Published April 11, 2018
Sapna Budev, Executive Director of the Sign Research Foundation (SRF), talks about the collaborative relationship between the SRF and the International Sign Association, and the value of the information gathered by the SRF. SRF research helps signmakers and sign customers navigate such issues as brightness standards and sign codes, calculate the ROI of a sign for a retailer, and determine the economic value of signage to a community.
Published April 10, 2018
If you watch the RBC Heritage Golf Classic this week, pay attention to the iconic Harbour Town Lighthouse. In a first-of-its-kind wrap project undertaken by Savannah, Ga.’s Kennickell Group, the 90-foot structure had its red stripes converted to plaid to commemorate the event’s 50th anniversary. Read on to find out more about the company’s dramatic growth in the wide-format market and how the unique project came about.
Published April 9, 2018
Tim Check, Production Manager, Epson America, talks about direct-to-garment printing, particularly using the brand-new Epson F-2100 Series printer which can print directly on T-shirts, baby onesies, towels, and other kinds of fabric-based items. Garment printing is a growth area for not only traditional screen printers looking to print short-run items, but also for commercial printers who can complement other display graphics services they may be offering.
Published April 9, 2018
Inkjet technologies have been blurring, or completely eliminating, the lines between commercial and industrial printing. But understanding new print applications and new print markets involves more than technology. We talk with Frazer Chesterman, Director of FM Brooks, which is bringing the InPrint Industrial Print Conference to Chicago next month, about the dwindling distinction between industrial and commercial printing and the opportunities that are emerging.
Published April 5, 2018
Erik Schmitt, Director of Sales–Canada, for GMG Color, talks about the software tool set GMG Color has available for sign makers to create an entire workflow specific to the production of signage. He also talks about the importance of color management and the increasing trend toward automation.
Published April 3, 2018
Frank Malozzi, SVP, Worldwide Sales and Marketing for EFI, talks up the hardware and software portfolio on display at last month’s ISA Sign Expo, and the increasing demand from traditional sign and display customers for new applications such as thermoforming.
Published April 3, 2018
The landmark 2015 Supreme Court case Reed v. Town of Gilbert turned a sign code issue into a First Amendment battle. Three years later, its effects are still being felt throughout the signage industry—for good or ill. Read on for some of the latest developments in signage regulations.
Published March 29, 2018
It’s been more than a year since Canon Solutions America (CSA) launched the Océ Colorado 1640 UVgel-based wide-format printer. CSA was showing the machine at last week’s ISA Sign Expo, and Senior Marketing Expert John Kaufman provides an update on new features, new inks, and how it has performed in the market.
Published March 28, 2018
David Hickey, VP of Advocacy for the International Sign Association, talks about the latest issues related to sign codes, impending OSHA regulations, and the potential impact of steel and aluminum tariffs on businesses in the sign and display industry.
Published March 27, 2018
At the ISA Sign Expo 2018, Roland DGA introduced the DGSHAPE LD-80 laser foil decorator. Roland President Andrew Oransky talks about the new device and the opportunities it opens up for print service providers to offer unique, high-value printed specialty products.
Published March 26, 2018
Last week, at the ISA Sign Expo 2018, HP announced its new Latex R, the company’s first Latex series to print on rigid media. Joan Pérez Pericot, General Manager for HP’s Large Format Graphics Business, talks to Richard Romano about the new device line, its features and intended applications, and the product rollout schedule.
Published March 26, 2018
The International Sign Association (ISA) Sign Expo 2018 was held in Orlando, Fla., last week. Channel letters, magnetic signage, neon lighting, LED displays, digital displays, 3D printing, and wide-format and display graphics in all their various incarnations were being showcased. Read on for some highlights from the show.
Published March 23, 2018
The ISA Sign Expo 2018 opened in Orlando, Fla., yesterday. Alicia Auerswald, VP of Marketing, Communications, and Membership for the International Sign Association (ISA), talks about some of the new technologies on the show floor, and the increasing need for sign shops to expand into other kinds of print.
Published March 16, 2018
Print business owners need to have an effective “content strategy” for their websites and other online presences. John Foley, CEO of interlinkONE & Grow Socially, talks about the reasons for developing a content strategy, as well as some dos and don’ts for online content.
Published March 16, 2018
Last Wednesday, Dr. Joe Webb presented his quarterly economic conditions webinar, which included a look at the overall macroeconomic environment as well as current printing industry business conditions. Read on for a brief summary of what Dr. Webb discussed.
Published March 12, 2018
Less than two years ago, Mark Simmons left the retail world and launched a SpeedPro Imaging franchise in Apex, N.C. A knack for networking, a talented in-house designer, and a vibrant local business environment have helped drive Simmons’ success.
Published March 6, 2018
New systems are emerging that can print directly onto three-dimensional objects, especially cups, glasses, and bottles, to serve what is emerging as a lucrative promotional drinkware market. In this feature, Richard Romano looks at direct-to-object offerings from Xerox, Inkcups, and Engineered Printing Solutions.
Published March 6, 2018
At the NPOA Owners Conference, Danny Paline, President of Five Star Printing and Signs, talks about the benefits of talking with other print business owners as well as the importance of a positive attitude.
Published March 2, 2018
Longtime NPOA member and first-time Owners Conference attendee Joey Reinhardt, President of Barbour Printing Services, talks about how advice and guidance from his peers has helped him steer his business from an offset to a digital environment, as well as how the association—and the Conference—are well-suited for a business of his size.
Published March 2, 2018
At a “Taking Print Further” customer and media event this week in Rochester, N.Y., Kodak offered some forward-looking trend presentations, new product announcements for both cutting-edge and legacy systems, and customer panels. Read about Kodak’s commitment to the print industry.
Published March 1, 2018
At last week’s NPOA Owners Conference, Paul Reilly, Partner at New Direction Partners, gave an overview of the dominant business valuation methods. Here, Mr. Reilly summarizes what print business owners need to know about business valuation—whether they are planning to sell their business or not.
Published March 1, 2018
Gerry Engelhart, President of Porath Printsource, discusses the top challenges he faces as the owner of a print business, as well as the new marketing and promotion ideas he gleaned from this year’s NPOA Owners Conference.
Published February 28, 2018
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is all about ensuring that your business gets found on Google when potential customers search for the products and services you offer. John Foley, CEO of interlinkONE & Grow Socially, talks about his session at the NPOA Owner’s Conference on the importance of SEO for print businesses—and how even small shops can make the time to effectively optimize their websites.
Published February 28, 2018
Last week’s NPOA Owners Conference provided two days of sessions and networking for small and mid-size print businesses. Paula Fargo, President of Baltimore’s Curry Printing & Copy Center, talks about the challenges her business faces and the tangible benefits of events like the Owners Conference—especially interacting with peers.
Published February 26, 2018
John Henry, CEO of Mitchell’s Speedway Press and Conference Director for the National Print Owners Association, talks with Richard Romano about the benefits of the association and the Owners Conference, as well as some of the hot topics discussed at this year’s Conference.
Published February 20, 2018
ISA Sign Expo 2018 heads to Orlando next month, with four days of educational sessions and a packed exhibition floor. Richard Romano spoke with Brandon Hensley, ISA’s Chief Operating Officer, and Iain Mackenzie, ISA’s VP of Meetings & Events, about new show features and some returning favorites.
Published February 19, 2018
Richard Romano talks to Adam Carver, President & CEO of Minneapolis' Pixelwerx, about his wide-format, signage, and specialty graphics business. Pixelwerx also recently acquired Canon Solutions America Océ Colorado 1640 UVgel wide-format printer.
Published February 12, 2018
Environmental or experiential graphics are a growing trend in signage, with sign shops using the latest display graphics technologies and substrates to transform office spaces. As a result, sign and display graphics providers are working more closely with interior designers and architecture firms. Case in point: Signs By Tomorrow’s interior graphics for the American Diabetes Association’s new headquarters.
Published February 6, 2018
We have a new report out, the Printing Forecast 2018, based in large part on the results of our Fall 2017 Print Business Outlook survey. There is quite a lot in the 172-page report, but here are some highlights specific to label and packaging printing. Thus far, commercial plants don't see tremendous opportunities in digital label or packaging—but that may be changing.
Published February 5, 2018
The NPOA Annual Print Owners Conference sails to the Riverside Hotel in Fort Lauderdale on February 22 to 24. The three-day event includes a dozen sessions that cover the waterfront of business, technology, and marketing issues important to small and md-size print business owners.
Published February 5, 2018
WhatTheyThink’s Forecast 2018 report, by Dr. Joe Webb and Richard Romano provides detailed analysis of the most recent Print Business Outlook Survey, the latest industry economic data and macroeconomic trends, as well as industry and cultural technological trends to look out for in 2018.
Published January 30, 2018
The National Printers Owners Association (NPOA) 2018 Conference will be held February 22 to 24, 2018, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. NPOA Chairman Randy Herron talks about the benefits of attending the conference.
Published January 23, 2018
We have a new report out, the Printing Forecast 2018, based in large part on the results of our Fall 2017 Business Conditions Outlook survey. There is quite a lot in the 172-page report, but here are some highlights specific to wide-format printing.
Published January 17, 2018
Richard Romano talks to Thayer Long about the name change from NPES to Association for Print Technology, as well as the association's new mission to drive the industry forward.
Published January 9, 2018
Personal voice assistants and the Internet of Things, wide-format graphics and specialty printing—what are some of the new (and old!) technologies to which we should pay attention and how will they affect us in 2018?
Published December 15, 2017
More industry consolidation in response to decreased demand. Yet, encouraging business conditions, and challenges with managing productivity. Meanwhile, inkjet continues to conquer the world and new print product and business opportunities emerge in strange new places. Let’s take a look back at the year that was.
Published December 5, 2017
Brick and mortar retailer has been struggling with foot traffic. According to early estimates all signs are pointing to more ecommerce, less in-person commerce this holiday season. What does this mean for retail graphics?
Published November 13, 2017
The company’s unique rebranding project resulted in an anthology of current authors writing about work, a series of videos, and a book launch event with author readings at New York’s venerable 92nd Street Y.
Published October 31, 2017
Radtech’ first UV+EB Packaging Conference last week featured suppliers, vendors, and brand owners surveying the current packaging landscape, with an emphasis on food packaging and safety.
Published October 24, 2017
What turned out to be the penultimate SGIA Expo featured an emphasis on “industrial printing”—a nebulous but increasingly common term for what mainstream printing may be morphing into.
Published October 11, 2017
New Orleans may have dodged a bullet when Tropical Storm Nate veered to the east, but strong winds of change were nonetheless buffeting the Ernest Morial Convention Center, as 2017’s SGIA Expo opened on Tuesday with the surprising—some even thought shocking—news that the long-beloved Expo was undergoing a major change.
Published October 5, 2017
EFI's Sean Roberts provides a preview of what EFI will be showing at next week's SGIA Expo in New Orleans. A number of new products will be on display.EFI will also utilize virtual reality technology to provide booth visitors with an immersive environment to explore the company's portfolio of wide format systems.
Published October 4, 2017
This executive report is based on the latest results of the WhatTheyThink print executive survey. It details the state of the industry at mid-2017 and looks ahead to what can be expected, economically and technologically, as we head toward 2018. The foundation of the report is the WhatTheyThink Printing Industry Survey of June 2017. This survey of more than 300 industry executives gauged their current business conditions, top business challenges, and planned investments for 2018. They also described how the volume for offset, color digital, black-and-white digital, and wide-format printing, as well as non-print-based services has changed.
Published September 19, 2017
Next month, the annual SGIA Expo heads to Bayou Country, with more than 50 educational sessions and one of the biggest show floors in the U.S. Here is a preview of what this year’s show offers.
Published August 27, 2017
We’re mercifully more than halfway through 2017. How is the industry faring thus far compared to last year? Our new Economics and Research Center report looks at the latest economic, technological, and cultural trends affecting the industry.
Published August 21, 2017
Last month, the PIA Alliance hosted a “Digital Think Tank” in New York City that brought together 150 equipment manufacturers, their customers, and other printers to talk about the latest technology and trends in digital printing and the industry in general. Here are the highlights.
Published August 14, 2017
Canned beer isn’t your daddy’s tinny-tasting brew. As microbreweries move small-batch production from bottles to cans, it opens up opportunities for short-run can decoration.
Published July 31, 2017
Canned beer isn’t your daddy’s tinny-tasting brew. As microbreweries move small-batch production from bottles to cans, it opens up opportunities for short-run can decoration.
Published July 17, 2017
Helping customers navigate complex and constantly changing postal regulations has historically been a vital value-added service for commercial printers. The various rules and regulations regarding signage today provide an opportunity for sign printers.
Published June 19, 2017
QR codes are great for “making print interactive,” but in today’s high-data marketing environment, they also have a more important purpose: making print measurable.
Published June 4, 2017
Wide-format and specialty and specialty printing are where a lot of the action is today. But expanding into these new areas is not without its pitfalls. Here are some worth avoiding.
Published May 30, 2017
Commercial printing is evolving into specialty printing, and opportunities abound—if you know where and how to look for them.
Published May 23, 2017
The same technologies that have enabled the proliferation of wide-format graphics are also profoundly changing the traditional specialty printing market. Here’s how print service providers can take advantage of the “nichification” of commercial print.
Published May 15, 2017
Last week, FESPA 2017 drew attendees from across Europe and beyond to see the latest in wide-format and specialty printing technology and applications.
Published May 1, 2017
We are about to be hit by a “Third Wave” of technology disruption that will negatively impact the demand for print. Or will it? Not all print is created equal these days. Here are some suggestions for how to weather the storm.
Published April 24, 2017
Richard Romano visits with ISA President & CEO Lori Anderson from the show floor to talk about the 2017 expo and breaking attendance records once again.
Published April 24, 2017
Neon. LED. Channel letters. Wooden signs. Magnetic letters. Aside from dynamic digital signage, the “new media” in the sign industry is, strange as it may sound, print. The International Sign Association’s Sign Expo 2017 wrapped up last weekend. Here are some highlights from the show floor and beyond.
Published April 17, 2017
Berkeley-based digital artist Bert Monroy has spent more than three decades creating intricately detailed digital fine art. His most complex image is part of a new software retrospective exhibit at the Computer History Museum.
Published April 10, 2017
The Environmental Protection Agency made some changes to its “generator standard” regarding the safe disposal of hazardous waste. Here is what the printing industry needs to know.
Published April 3, 2017
ISA Sign Expo 2017 is back in Vegas, with four days of educational sessions, a packed exhibition hall, and some brand-new partnerships and colocations, including the Collaboration in Packaging Production (CPP) Expo.
Published March 27, 2017
Earlier this month, Canon Solutions America hosted its annual analyst and press event in Boca Raton, Fla., debuting new wide-format technologies and market strategies.
Published March 9, 2017
At yesterday’s Canon One event in Boca Raton, Canon Solutions America officially launched the Colorado 1640, the first model in the company’s new line of roll-to-roll wide-format printers based on the revolutionary new UVgel ink technology.
Published March 6, 2017
For many people, color management is like the weather. Everyone talks about it, but no one ever does anything about it. But new machines with new ink sets are turning what was always a tricky issue into an even trickier one.
Published February 27, 2017
As interest in industrial printing gains momentum, the inaugural InPrint USA Industrial Print Show will take place in Orlando in April. We spoke with SGIA President and CEO Ford Bowers about industrial printing in general and the upcoming show in particular.
Published January 31, 2017
The next big communication disruption is upon us. There are many ways print businesses should respond, but focusing on specialty items is one way. This article cites IPMA and WhatTheyThink research to explore opportunities in-plants and commercial printing establishments are seeing in 2017.
Published January 24, 2017
Last week’s EFI Connect in Las Vegas saw some new product rollouts, status reports on recent product introductions, and an alternately lighthearted and frightening look at artificial intelligence.
Published January 16, 2017
Our annual rundown of the current flatbed wide-format printer landscape.
Published January 9, 2017
As we plunge headlong into 2017, let’s kick off the year, as we traditionally do, with a look at the current roll-to-roll printer landscape. Next week, we’ll look at flatbed printers.
Published December 23, 2016
The halls, they are decked, the silver bells, they are ringing, and throughout the land a festive Christmas spirit is finally descending upon us. It’s also the electric company’s favorite time of year, I would guess, and it’s always entertaining walking or driving around and seeing how extravagantly some homeowners festoon their homes—tastefully, garishly, and everything in between—with all manner of lights, inflatables, and giant electric snow globes.
Published December 19, 2016
Last week, we took a wide-format look back at 2016. What lies ahead for wide-format and specialty graphics printing in 2017?
Published December 16, 2016
We’re all familiar with the first telegraph message, the first phone call, and maybe the first message sent from one computer to another . But what about the first cellphone call?
Published December 13, 2016
2016 is almost over! Whew! So, what were the top growth areas for wide-format? What applications are ascendant? What technologies have emerged and evolved?
Published December 5, 2016
Advice abounds for using social and other electronic media for marketing, but don’t ignore some “old school” offline marketing strategies.
Published November 21, 2016
What wide-format and specialty printing products will be in demand in 2017? Sure, one could say “all of them,” but here are three particular areas to pay special attention to in the new year.
Published November 7, 2016
There was a time when I could describe lenticular imaging thusly: “You know those prizes that used to come in boxes of Cracker Jack, little cards that if you held it one way it displayed one image and if you held it another it would flip to another image?” It was a low-tech 3D effect or animation, kind of the analog equivalent of an animated GIF.
Published October 31, 2016
A recent state of the in-plant industry report finds that in-plant printing departments are well-poised to expand their wide-format and specialty printing options—not just for their parent organizations, but for outside customers, as well.
Published October 18, 2016
When Joshua Feller bought a failing trade show graphics company in 2005, he had little idea that it was the start of a journey that would take him into the world of wide-format printing—and the burgeoning world of digital label printing.
Published October 6, 2016
WhatTheyThink Senior Analyst Richard Romano talks to FastSigns CEO Catherine Monson about recent expansion into 5 countries in Central America, activity in Brazil and Mexico, and development in Southeast Asia.
Published October 3, 2016
A collection of new products and product previews that were seen on the show floor at last month’s SGIA Expo.
Published October 3, 2016
In this installment of WhatTheyThink's Thought Leadership Series, Canon Solutions America's Randy Paar talks about the most recent Océ Arizona flatbed UV printers, and offers a sneak peek at CSA's forthcoming new UVgel UV-based ink platform.
Published September 21, 2016
On location in Las Vegas, Richard Romano talks to SGIA President and CEO Ford Bowers about this year’s record-setting SGIA Expo.
Published September 20, 2016
Richard Romano talks to new Roland DG President Andrew Oransky about his new role, Roland's activities in and out of the imaging industry, and his vision for the future of the company.
Published September 16, 2016
Richard Romano talks to Larry Damico of Durst Imaging about the latest entries in the company’s flatbed and roll-to-roll wide-format printing equipment portfolio.
Published September 15, 2016
What happened at this year’s SGIA Expo may have happened in Vegas, but it’s not staying in Vegas. Our report from Day One of the show.
Published September 12, 2016
Whether it’s only a select few tasks or an entire production workflow, automation is slowly but surely coming to wide-format printing. How is that possible?
Published August 29, 2016
Next month, the annual SGIA Expo heads to its West Coast home at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Two of this year’s big topics are garment decoration and 3D printing—and it turns out they are not mutually exclusive. Here’s a preview of this year’s show.
Published August 23, 2016
The Printing Industries Alliance hosted an all-day drupa recap at Manhattan’s Club 101. Among the day’s presentations and panel discussions was an extensive conversation about the current state of wide-format graphics and opportunities in the market for commercial printers.
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