Printing Industry Commentary & Analysis

Graph Expo to Showcase State of the Wide-Format Art

Published September 24, 2014

Graph Expo 2014 kicks off on Sunday. Every year, wide-format becomes a more conspicuous and important part of the show. Here is a rundown of some of the things you can look forward to on the show floor.

The ABCs of DDS: A Digital Signage Primer

Published September 10, 2014

Dynamic digital signage (DDS) is being touted as a hot opportunity for sign shops and other wide-format service providers. But where does one start? And how can digital complement print signage?

Memjet Looks Back At Its First Generation Printheads—and Ahead to Generation Next

Published August 27, 2014

The first-generation Memjet-based devices have hit the market, and have helped wide-format inkjet conquer the speed challenge. What will second-gen Memjet look like?

Big Points: A “This Point Forward” Approach to Wide-Format Printing

Published August 20, 2014

Creating a printing business that can cope with a changing market for print and that is “future-focused”—is imperative as we hurtle toward 2020. If you’re a wide-format printer, you may be halfway there—but that’s no excuse for complacency.

Indy Imaging Fills a Capacity Niche in Wide Format

Published August 12, 2014

Robbie Gordon, President & CEO of Indy Imaging, talks to Richard Romano about their business as a wholesale printer for the sign industry serving industrial sign shops and commercial sign shops.

Adding Value to Signmaking by Adding Digital Signage

Published August 8, 2014

Rick Scrimger, President of Roland DGA, talks to Richard Romano from ISA 2014 about their new digital display studio, the demand for digital signage, and how digital and print can compliment each other.

New Esko Kongsberg Digital Finishing System at ISA

Published July 25, 2014

Bill Hartman, SVP at Esko, talks to Richard Romano about introducing the new Kongsberg V Digital Finishing System at ISA.

HP Announces Additions to Latex Series at ISA

Published July 22, 2014

Xavier Garcia, VP & GM at HP, talks to Richard Romano at ISA about new additions to their latex series. They discuss new inks, the target market, and the main applications for the technology.

Roland DGA's Oransky Talks Products and Trends from ISA

Published July 21, 2014

Andrew Oransky, Senior Director of Marketing & Product Management at Roland DGA, talks to Richard Romano from ISA about the products they showed. They discuss applications of the products and the demands in the marketplace.

Liquid Meddle: Digital Inkjet Makes Inroads in Industrial Printing

Published July 18, 2014

If you look around your home or office (or home office), you’ll notice numerous examples of what I’ve referred to in the past as “stealth printing,” printed materials that don’t fall into what we consider commercial printing, but is a huge market nonetheless.

Catching up with EFI's Guy Gecht at ISA

Published July 18, 2014

Guy Gecht, CEO of EFI, talks to Richard Romano at ISA about what they are showing, LED technology, the companies growth, and what he is hearing from the demands of the customer.

Bordeaux Digital PrintInk Brings Alternative Inks to the Wide Format Market

Published July 11, 2014

Guy Evron, Marketing Manager at Bordeaux Digital PrintInk, talks to Richard Romano about the company and their approach to alternative inks.

HP Scales Up Its PageWide Technology

Published June 23, 2014

At an event in San Diego, Calif., held June 9 and 10, HP announced that they are scaling up their PageWide technology for use in wide-format printers. PageWide made its debut in 2013 in the Officejet Pro X Series of desktop multifunction devices.

Color Management Challenges in the Wide Format Market

Published June 23, 2014

Ed Thompson, Product Manager at Onyx, talks to Richard Romano about the long history of the company in color management for wide format printing.

Notes from a Safari: Nine Big Mistakes That Would-Be Wide-Format Printers Can Make

Published June 6, 2014

Unless you have been lost, you are all too aware that the market for print has been changing, changing dramatically, and not changing for the best. We’ve had this discussion for a long time, so we need not dwell on it here. As a result, many companies have looked to wide-format and other types of specialty printing as a compelling replacement.

Sipe Sets Themselves Apart with MGI Technology

Published June 2, 2014

Steve Hatlem, President of Sipe, talks to Richard Romano about the company and their relationship with MGI. They discuss how the process works and how they use the technology to differentiate their business.

Crystal Clear Imaging Focuses on Sports in Wide Format Market

Published May 30, 2014

Arthur Boisfontaine, Owner of Crystal Clear Imaging in New Orleans, talks to Richard Romano about the business and their focus on sports and the wide format market.

PVS In-Store Graphics Transitions to Digital

Published May 23, 2014

Richard Romano talks to Wes Shin, Co-Owner & GM of PVS In-Store Graphics, about the company and their business as well as their transition to digital.

For O’Neil Data Systems, the Need for Speed Leads to an Inkjet-Driven Transformation

Published May 16, 2014

Next week, O’Neil Data Systems (ODS) will be hosting an HP-sponsored event at their Plano, Tex, facility, which will bring together vendors, customers, and printers from all corners of the digital printing ecosystem to see the company’s high-powered “data-driven publishing” in action, as well as showcase their own contributions to this expanding print market segment.

New EFI Thermoforming Printer/Ink Technology Allows for New Plastic Applications

Published May 16, 2014

Spencer Craig, EFI Director of Business Development, talks to Richard Romano about their new thermoforming technology. Spencer also demonstrates some examples of output.

ISA Sign Expo Showcases Dynamic Evolution of Sign Solutions

Published May 2, 2014

At the International Sign Association’s Sign Expo, the current state of dynamic digital signage (DDS) was reminiscent of a kind of “Cambrian explosion,” with a proliferation of solutions emerging.

Crystal Clear Imaging Focus on Sports Market Drives Growth

Published April 22, 2014

Arthur Boisfontaine, owner of Crystal Clear Imaging, talks to Richard Romano about their business and how they shifted to focus on the sports market.

New Proposal Stresses “Economy of Language” to Save Printing Costs

Published April 1, 2014

Last week, the mainstream media were abuzz with the results of a new study—conducted by a 14-year-old-high school student—that found that the U.S. Government could save $400 million by switching typefaces from Times New Roman to Garamond. While the results of this study have not gone without legitimate criticism, that hasn’t stopped others from proposing initiatives that would save the government even more money through changes in typography.

Signs of the Times—and Times of the Signs: Countdown to the International Sign Expo 2014

Published March 28, 2014

The ISA International Sign Expo 2014 is coming to Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center this April 23–26, with educational and networking sessions starting on the 23rd and the trade show itself starting on the 24th. (Each year, the Sign Expo alternates between Las Vegas and Orlando.) Some new features of the show debuted in Vegas last year, and will thus be new to an Orlando—and thus a largely Southeast U.S.— crowd.

GOA Organizer George Ryan on the Show and Latin American Market

Published March 10, 2014

Printing Association of Florida President George Ryan speaks with Richard Romano at Graphics of the Americas about the show compared to last year. They also discuss Latin American market trends.

...But Is It Art?

Published March 7, 2014

It was a sunny morning Southern California. An ocean breeze was blowing in from nearby Redondo Beach, and as the freight train next door—the bane of our existence—clattered endlessly and rattled the building, we gathered in the first floor conference room of the Torrance offices of Micro Publishing News magazine to evaluate the hundred or so submissions to what, back in 1999, was our Seventh Annual Digital Art contest.

PAF's George Ryan on GOA's Unique Education Sessions

Published March 7, 2014

Richard Romano talks to George Ryan, President of Printing Association of Florida, at Graphics of the Americas about the unique nature of the show relative to training and education.

Alex Nussem on CMA Imaging at Graphics of the Americas

Published March 7, 2014

Alex Nussem, International Director of Sales at CMA Imaging, talks to Richard Romano at GOA. We learn a bit about the company and the products they launched at the show.

RBP Chemical's Mark Heimerl at GOA

Published March 6, 2014

Mark Heimerl, Sales Director at RBP Chemical, talks to Richard Romano about exhibiting at Graphics of the Americas for the first time and tapping the growing South American market.

Colordyne Technologies Explores Latin American Market at GOA

Published March 5, 2014

Emily Kroll of Colordyne Technologies talks to Richard Romano at Graphics of the Americas about their first time exhibiting there and the importance of the Latin American market. They also discuss their use of Memjet technology.

Printware Named Game Changer at GOA

Published March 4, 2014

Tim Murphy, President of Printware, is interviewed by Richard Romano at Graphics of the Americas and talks about the company and discusses being named a "Game Changer" at GOA.

GOA: Printing Industry Trends in Latin America

Published March 3, 2014

WhatTheyThink's Richard Romano talks with Patricia Alvarez, President of Intermarket Group, at Graphics of the Americas about the company and printing industry trends in Latin America.

Fabian Prudhomme of Enfocus on the Latin American Market

Published March 3, 2014

Fabian Prudhomme, VP at Enfocus, talks to Richard Romano at Graphics of the Americas about their new distribution deal with Intermarket as well as the growing Latin American market. They also discuss Enfocus activity in 2014.

Getting a Good Visual Appraisal of Color

Published February 17, 2014

GTI VP Bob McCurdy, talks to Richard Romano about their color viewing products and the challenges of lighting for proper viewing of commercial printing. They also discuss the specific challenges for wide format color viewing.

E Pluribus Unum: “Butterflies & Buffalo” Project Uses Wide-Format Graphics to Document and Celebrate American Cultures

Published February 10, 2014

In this age of poor-quality cameraphone images and unflattering “selfies,” it’s easy to forget how powerful high-quality, professional photography can be.

New CapEx Report Shows Substantial Interest in Investment in Wide-Format Capabilities

Published January 30, 2014

Our own Dr. Joe Webb has just published the results of his latest survey of commercial printers and their planned investments for 2014—Strategies for Management’s 2014 U.S. Commercial Printers Capital Investment Survey and Forecast.

Phoenix’s AZ Pro Uses Vehicle and Fleet Graphics to Keep on Truckin’

Published December 16, 2013

From so simple a beginning. Avondale, Ariz.’s AZ Pro Signs and Graphics, based just outside Phoenix, started nine years ago with a 21-inch plotter—and has seen no less than double-digit growth every year, even during the recession years.

The Importance of Data in 1:1 Marketing and Variable Data Printing

Published December 5, 2013

Richard Romano joins us from the Xerox Gil Hatch center where he talks to Shelley Sweeney, Vice President of Service Bureau and Direct Mail about the importance of data in 1:1 marketing and VDP and how to market it.

Interstate Graphics Feels the Heat with New Thermoforming System

Published November 20, 2013

At the SGIA Expo in Orlando several weeks ago, EFI garnered a Product of the Year award for its GS Pro-TF thermoforming system. Interstate Graphics Inc. (IGI), based in Machesney Park, Ill.—just outside Rockford—was the first company to install the GS Pro-TF.

Graphics Canada Marks Its 50th Anniversary By Looking to the Future of Print

Published November 18, 2013

Graphics Canada is held every two years and celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. To mark this milestone, says Dan Mustata, show manager for Graphics Canada, “we’ve brought together more features, more conferences, and more colocated events than ever.”

Strategic Content Imaging Uses Automation and Production Inkjet to Live Up to Its Name

Published November 13, 2013

It’s less about belts and gears and more about software,” says Ron Diaz, press operator at Secaucus, N.J.’s Strategic Content Imaging (SCI), summing up what he sees as one of the primary differences between digital production inkjet and traditional offset printing. “We have to move four gigabytes of data in a very short period of time.

SGIA Wraps Up Successful Orlando Expo

Published November 6, 2013

At the beginning of day one of the SGIA Expo, SGIA President Michael Robertson had announced a pre-registered attendee count of around 21,000. By Friday morning, the third and final day of the Expo, the count had topped 22,400.

SGIA President Michael Robertson on the 2013 Show

Published October 28, 2013

SGIA President Michael Robertson talks to Richard Romano about the 2013 SGIA Expo in Orlando, the attendance at the show, and trends he's seeing in the wide format segment.

Soft Signage: Ready for the Mainstream?

Published October 25, 2013

Digital textile printing began in earnest in the 1990s, but technology, market, and supply chain challenges have kept it from going truly mainstream. However, all of these challenges—technology, market, and even supply chain—are gradually being overcome, and digital textile printing.

EFI Nabs Product of the Year Award at SGIA for Thermoform System

Published October 25, 2013

Spencer Craig, Director of Business Development at EFI, talks to Richard Romano at SGIA about winning Product of the Year Award for their Thermoform system. They discuss the different applications and details about the process.

SGIA Highlights the "Shining Star" of the Printing Industry—Day 1: The Quickening

Published October 24, 2013

Day 1 of SGIA and WhatTheyThink is on the ground in Orlando and Richard Romano has you covered with the latest from the show as we kick off what is said to be near record crowds.

HP's Joan Perez Pericot on their Latex series and the 3000

Published September 26, 2013

Joan Perez Pericot, Category Manager for HP Scitex, talks to Richard Romano about the success of their Latex Series and their newest addition - the 3000.

The Going Green Interview: SGP Board Member Theresa Vanna

Published September 20, 2013

Wide-Format Goes Mainstream at Print 13

Published September 20, 2013

Wide-format printing has always been an endeavor for the highly creative, and it would be hard to find someone more creative than Armstrong.

Richard Romano Gives His Wide Format Takes on Print 13

Published September 12, 2013

WhatTheyThink Senior Analyst Richard Romano gives his take on Print 13 from a wide format perspective.

Happy Anniversary!

Published September 11, 2013

Two Sides Announces Eco-graphic Contest Winner

Published September 10, 2013

Dave Lewis of Prolist on Their Success in the Mail Service Industry

Published September 9, 2013

Dave Lewis, VP or Sales and Marketing at Prolist, speaks with WhatTheyThink's Richard Romano about their business and their success in the mail services business and relationship with HP and MCS.

Lisa White of Think Ink on their broad ink selections

Published September 6, 2013

Lisa White, General Manager of Think Ink, talks to Richard Romano about their ink portfolio, working with HP, and the MCS Falcon System.

Glenn Toole of MCS on the Falcon System

Published September 5, 2013

Glenn Toole, VP of Sales and Marketing for MCS, talks to Richard Romano about the company and the Falcon System. Falcon is the latest MCS technology developed in cooperation with HP.

Jim Kelley of HP On Thermal Inkjet Technology

Published September 4, 2013

HP's Jim Kelley joins Richard Romano again at the MCS facility to talk about the Falcon system - getting into more about the printheads and other technical details.

HP's Jim Kelley on the MCS Falcon System

Published September 3, 2013

Jim Kelley, Strategic Alliance Manager at HP, speaks with WhatTheyThink's Richard Romano about the MCS Falcon system at their facility in Gaithersburg Maryland.

Patrice Aurenty of Sun Chemical Announces Their Endorsement of X-Rite eXact

Published August 26, 2013

Kevin Karstedt talks to Patrice Aurenty, Business Leader at Sun Chemical, about their business and announces Sun's endorsement of the X-Rite eXact color matching system.

Five Years On

Published August 22, 2013

Go Paperless? Not Just Yet

Published August 13, 2013

The Red and the Black

Published August 5, 2013

Above-the-Cloud Computing

Published July 24, 2013

HP Scitex's Ken VanHorn on Launching a New Color Pack

Published July 22, 2013

Ken VanHorn, HP Scitex Category Manager, talks to Richard Romano about the release of two new inks - orange and light black - that enable printers to print better skin tones and corporate colors.

Second Canadian Facility Receives SGP Certification

Published July 17, 2013

The Two Sides Eco-Graphic Challenge

Published July 9, 2013

The East Enders: Report From FESPA London 2013

Published July 3, 2013

The DLR (Docklands Light Rail) train wended its way through London’s East End and the Docklands and pulled into the station for London’s ExCel Centre. The conductor announced, “Customs House for the ExCel Centre. If you’re going to FESPA 2013, please alight here.”

Green and Wide

Published July 2, 2013

Production Inkjet Heads to Scotland

Published July 2, 2013

A week or so ago, the news went around that Glasgow, Scotland’s Bell & Bain placed the world’s first order for the Fujifilm Jet Press 540W.

Chew Chew Train

Published June 28, 2013

HP's Ken VanHorn on the Scitex FB10000 Launch at FESPA

Published June 25, 2013

Ken VanHorn, Category Manager for HP Scitex, talks to Richard Romano about the announcement of the Scitex FB10000 at FESPA. Ken talks about HDR and other technical specifications.

Two Sides Going Green Fast Fact

Published June 17, 2013

Road Trip: A Visit to EFI’s Inkjet Solutions Facility

Published June 14, 2013

This is Part I of what will be an occasional series of manufacturer “Experience Center” visits.

Second Navitor Facility Achieves SGP Certification

Published June 10, 2013

Sustainability 101

Published June 3, 2013

xpedx Road Show Offers Data and Demos for Prospective Wide-Format Print Providers

Published May 30, 2013

WhatTheyThink's Richard Romano attends an xpedx wide format printer summit and comes away with the impression that a cutter stole the show!

Precious Fluids II: Wide-Format Inks Are Opening Up New Applications for Graphics Providers—And Vice Versa

Published May 28, 2013

In part I of this feature, we took a broad look at the different categories of inks available for wide-format inks. This week, we’ll take a closer look at how inks handle different applications (or perhaps vice versa) and, more importantly, how to think about ink in the context of choosing wide-format equipment, and how to measure and evaluate estimates of things like “cost per square foot.”

The Menagerie

Published May 23, 2013

FastSigns CEO Catherine Monson Talks About Co-branding at ISA

Published May 17, 2013

Catherine Monson, CEO of FastSigns, sits down with WhatTheyThink at the ISA show and talks about their new co-branding program which allows printers an easy way to get into the sign business while maintaining their commercial print business.

SFI Launches Consumer Microsite

Published May 15, 2013

Precious Fluids: Wide-Format Inks Are Opening Up New Applications for Graphics Providers

Published May 15, 2013

There is, in some ways, a fundamental paradox when it comes to wide-format inks. There are more ink choices than ever, and yet for any given piece of equipment, you are generally stuck in a “one-cartridge-fits-all” situation.

4Over’s Sandy-Damaged Plant Now Fully Operational

Published May 7, 2013

What Is Sustainability?

Published May 3, 2013

The Shows Must Go On! Next Stop: FESPA London

Published May 1, 2013

Perched on the northern quay of the Royal Victoria Dock in the Docklands of London is the ExCel Centre, an exhibit space constructed in 2000 but retooled and overhauled for the 2012 Olympic Games, where weightlifters, fencers, boxers, and wrestlers grappled for the gold. Next month, the Centre will host competitors of a different sort.

Articles by Richard Romano