February Shipments: Well, At Least It’s Seasonal

Published April 19, 2024

February 2024 shipments came in at $6.01 billion, down from January’s $7.04 billion—and right between February 2021 and 2022.

Around the Web: Met Medics. Type Tenets. Bend’s Blockbuster. Insurance Inflation. Follicle Fashion. Humdrum Handset. Bee Bandits. Clever Cutlery. Collaborative Condiment.

Published April 19, 2024

Inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s book conservation lab. A new book lays out the  Universal Principles of Typography. 11 signs from around the country that evoke “pure Americana.” Mattel releases a team-based version of Scrabble. Physical media’s last stand. Car insurance premiums have sure kicked into overdrive. Textiles made from human hair may not be as creepy as they sound. HMD and Heineken introduce the Boring Phone. Battling the West’s “bee rustlers” would make for an interesting John Wayne film. Horatio Nelson’s “Knork.” Heinz and Mattel team up to launch “Barbiecue sauce.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Assorted Publishing Establishments—2010–2021

Published April 12, 2024

According to County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 726 establishments in NAICS 511199 (All Other Publishing). This category saw a net decrease of 39% since 2010, although establishments spiked from 2020 to 2021. In macro news, estimates of Q1 GDP are running around +2%.

Around the Web: Publishing Posters. Pyrotechnic Packaging. Mock Media. AI Aide. Agile ANYmal. Tail Tech. New Nova. Silent Solo. Dairy-esque Dye.

Published April 12, 2024

A new book celebrates the short-lived “literary poster” craze. A new zine looks at the art of fireworks packaging design. One of the most game-changing technologies in the history of civilization was affordable artificial light. A social media platform that doesn’t actually exist. A new wearable AI device. A four-legged dog-like robot can do parkour moves, freakishly enough. Jet suit racing is now a thing. A prehensile stabilizing tail for floating astronauts. Another upcoming celestial event. The decline of the guitar solo. Apparently it’s a real thing: Velveeta Hair Dye. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

WhatTheyThink Magazine Issue 2—What's Up?

Published April 10, 2024

The WhatTheyThink team gets together to chat about the latest edition of the WhatTheyThink magazine: Issue 2 Display Graphics & Textiles. Julie, Richard, Amy, and Eric chat about the theme, content, and overall approach to the magazine.

Around the Web: Eclipse Eats. Wood Work. Modifier Methodology. Checkout Change. Wi-Fi Weirdness. Electronic Eyewear. Kangaroo Collisions. Bus Battle. Stick Status.

Published April 5, 2024

Eclipse-themed food and beverage items for Monday’s event. Cardiff, Wales’, Printed Festival 2024, this June. A new 3D printing ink based on wood waste. Did you know that there is a “royal order of adjectives”? Amazon is ending its “Just Walk Out” checkout—which wasn’t actually an automated system. What does the term “Wi-Fi” stand for? LCD lenses that can turn sunglasses into reading glasses. Volkswagen is working on an electronic device to avoid car-kangaroo collisions. New York City’s acrimonious “tour bus battle.” The James Webb Space Telescope takes a close look at galaxy I Zwicky 18. Instagram’s “Official Stick Reviews” rates actual sticks—and is more popular than you would think. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Welcome to the Display Graphics and Textiles Issue!

Published April 1, 2024

This week and next, we are publishing the content from our latest print edition, Issue Two: Display Graphics and Textiles. Here’s a preview.

February Graphic Arts Employment Remains Generally Flat

Published March 29, 2024

Overall printing employment in February 2024 was little changed from January, with production employment down -1.0%, while non-production employment was down -0.6%, with net employment down -0.1%.

Around the Web: Packaging Preferences. Cover Conundrum. Impressive Impressionists. Dial Dilemma. Timepiece Trouble. Rockin’ Roads. Drone Danger. Tarantula Tempura. Sun Snacks.

Published March 29, 2024

Pentawards’ annual packaging Trends Report is out. When a company appears on the cover of a popular magazine, what signals does it give the market? More than two dozen new works have been added to the OED, 23 of them from Japanese cooking and art. Really? If you’re in France this summer, celebrate the 150th anniversary of Impressionism. Bad UI design on an ice cream thermostat. New options for non-wrist-based watches. Time Out lists the “30 Coolest Streets in the World.” “AI drone that could hunt and kill people built in just hours by scientist ‘for a game.’” Different ants have different flavor profiles, we are horrified to tell you. Appropriately, SunChips has an eclipse tie-in product. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Greeting Card Publishing Establishments—2010–2021

Published March 22, 2024

According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 113 establishments in NAICS  511191 (Greeting Card Publishers). Although this represents a net increase of 10% since 2010, it has been a category that has ebbed and flowed over the course of the decade, although we’re not talking about a tremendous number of establishments. In macro news, inflation increased in February.

Around the Web: Chip Challenge. State Sobriquets. Eclipse Excitement. Stopping Spillage. Ryan Reunion. Security Sales. Cake Kicks.

Published March 22, 2024

Three students at UW-Stout developed a prototype of a new kind of packaging for Pringles potato chips. A traveling exhibit in Italy highlights experimental book design and production. The literal meanings of US states and cities. We were saddened to learn of the passing this week of Hugo-winning SF writer Vernor Vinge, “father of the singularity.” How to geek out over the upcoming solar eclipse. How to carry coffee without spilling. Using the old “drinking bird” toy to create clean, renewable energy. Adding a fourth light to traffic signals control autonomous vehicles. Meetups solely for people named Ryan. A store where items that have been confiscated by TSA are being sold. Keds and Magnolia Bakery team up. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

January Shipments: Back to Normal?

Published March 15, 2024

January 2024 shipments came in at $7.04 billion, up from December’s $6.94 billion—and right between January 2021 and 2022.

Around the Web: Comic Creation. City Signage. New Knitting. Light Logic. Pork Parasite. Montana Monsters. Coors’ Calendar.

Published March 15, 2024

A new book explores how comics were made. A video tour of Manhattan signs. A new way of producing clothing requires only one size. “Agatha Christie: surfer dude.” Point Nemo: the place on Earth that is the farthest from dry land. Why it no long matters if you leave lights on when you leave a room. Yikes: a guy developed a parasitic infection in his brain after eating undercooked bacon. “Montana man pleads guilty to creating massive franken-sheep with cloned animal parts.” Coors Light’s 21-day “advent-inspired” calendar for March Madness. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly Kate-Middleton-Photoshop-scandal-free miscellany.

“Other” Publishing Establishments—2010–2021

Published March 8, 2024

According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 839 establishments in NAICS 51119 (Other Publishers). This represents a net decrease of 18% since 2010, but a 26% increase in the past year. In macro news, Q4 GDP was revised down slightly.

Around the Web: Font Films. Inked Intelligence. Decimal Discovery. Clever Clutch. Dog Data. Fruity Footwear. Thwarted Thief. Awful Offices. Fish Finder.

Published March 8, 2024

“This Year’s Best Picture Oscar Nominees as Typefaces.” Trial biking world champion Dougie Lampkin pays a high-octane visit to the shop printing his autobiography. A modified typewriter that uses ChatGPT to answer queries that are manually typed in. A graphene-based handbag with a fingerprint opening system. Yes, there is now Strava for dogs. For National Cereal Day, Post teamed up with Nike and LeBron James to develop Fruity Pebbles-themed sneakers. A would-be car thief’s failed attempt to steal a self-driving taxi. Has it been 25 years since the “Office Space” was released? What plastic surgery procedure is the most popular in your state? Busch Light teams (or teems) with Plenty of Fish to help fish lovers find a date.  All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

December Shipments: Ending the Year on a Low Note

Published March 1, 2024

December 2023 shipments came in at $6.98 billion, down from November’s $7.24 billion—and, alas, the lowest of the year.

Around the Web: Zine Zone. Typewriter Tune. Neat Notes. Warm Walls. Apocalypse Averted? Apocalypse Aroma. Virtual Velvet. Hole Heading. Packing Prawns? Sub Storage.

Published March 1, 2024

A Brooklyn Museum exhibition looks at the history of “zines.” Ukrainian type foundry produces faces that reflect Ukraine’s Soviet history as well as the current war. Judas! The Boston Typewriter Orchestra has gone electric. Turn any paper into a sticky note. Graphene-enhanced infrared wallpaper for efficient home heating. Learn all about piphilology in time for pi day. Will AI wipe out humanity? A perfume based on all the smells indicated in the Book of Revelation. Laurie Anderson uses AI to “communicate” with late husband Lou Reed. New app always points to supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy, very helpful for navigation. Le Sac Swoosh is a not very useful  designer handbag shaped like Nike’s iconic branding. Subway has developed a tote bag for storing footlongs. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Is It Time to Unify Your Print Room?

Published February 29, 2024

As PSPs diversify their businesses, they are managing a range of job types across different digital printing technologies from multiple vendors. In this article, sponsored by Fiery, John Henze from Fiery discusses how PSPs can embrace diversification and create a unified print room by leveraging RIP software.  

Directory and Mailing List Publishing Establishments—2010–2021

Published February 23, 2024

According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 548 establishments in NAICS 51114 (Directory and Mailing List Publishers). This represents a decrease of 67% since 2010. In macro news, retail sales dipped slightly in January.

Around the Web: Type Trends. Treacle Transformation. Tag Tampering. Petabit Packing. Suitcase Squishing. Meat Monitoring. Runaway Roomba. Door Dilemmas.

Published February 23, 2024

The latest Monotype Type Trends Report is now available. A company that has not changed its brand in 140 years…is changing its brand. A new antitampering tag can “reveal with near-perfect accuracy whether an item is real or fake.” Fitting one petabit of data on a DVD-sized optical disc. Using a 150-ton hydraulic press to compress a week’s worth of clothes into a carry-on suitcase. A chess set with pieces made of candles. New graphene-based sensors accurately test meat freshness. A household’s Roomba runs away from home. Friday meal options for Lent. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

January Graphic Arts Employment Generally Flat

Published February 16, 2024

Overall printing employment in January 2024 was unchanged from December, with production employment up 0.7%, while non-production employment was down -1.3%.

Around the Web: Type Tech. Guessing Game. Photo Filing. Dimensional Details. Bird Blower. Carrot Concerts. Rotation Reasoning. Escalator Exhibit. Breakfast Buddy.

Published February 16, 2024

Monotype’s new AI-powered font pairing tool. In the game TimeGuessr, determine where and when an old news photograph was taken. And how were old news photos transmitted back in the day? Some examples of 3D printing in action. AI-driven eyeglasses. Retired payphone plays bird calls. An Ohio funeral home will preserve the tattoos of the deceased. When in Austria, be sure to catch the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra. What would happen if the Earth suddenly stopped rotating? When in Vilnius, Lithuania, be sure to check out the Escalator Slide. The inventor of Pop-Tarts has passed away. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Paper Paean. Dinero Dearth. Color Can. Dental Disaster? Road Recharging. Hovering Hose. Habitat Havoc. Beneficial Beavers. Pickle Paramour. Bowl Bonanza.

Published February 9, 2024

Author and paper maker Beth Kephart has written a love letter to paper. Are we seeing the end of cash? A “Graffiti Color Mixer” includes multiple colors in the same spray can. Were a fleet of electronic toothbrushes involved in a massive DDoS attack? Installing EV chargers in the roads themselves. A phone charger that only charges when your eyes are closed. Three words: flying fire hose. In Kenya, through a complex series of relationships, an invasive ant species is impacting lion hunting skills. The time beavers parachuted into Idaho. This Valentine’s Day, say it with pickles. DoorDash contest is giving away everything advertised during this Sunday’s Super Bowl. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Welcome to the Software Issue

Published February 5, 2024

This week, we are publishing the content from 2024's Issue 1, the Software Issue, with an emphasis on “the cloud” and so-called AI. In this article, a preview of the week’s content.

Book Publishing Establishments—2010–2021

Published February 2, 2024

According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 2,386 establishments in NAICS 51113 (Book Publishing). Although this represents a decrease of 20% since 2010, establishments ticked up by 29 establishments in 2021. In macro news, Q4 GDP grew 3.3%.

Around the Web: ’Hog History. Snowy Sobriquets. Acrobat Antics. Reading Realm. Cursive Comeback. Additive Aluminum. Desk Defacing. Funding Fest. Galaxies Galore. Pasta Pleasure.

Published February 2, 2024

Where did Groundhog Day come from? Taylor Drift conquers Minnesota. Is the maximum size of a PDF really “smaller than Germany”? Wales’ “Kingdom of Books.” Is E Ink finally ready for prime time? Cursive handwriting is starting to be taught again, for some reason. 3D printing using liquid metal. Casual vandalism is OK if you’re a Romantic poet. A round-up of some of the “good, bad, and weird stuff that was crowdfunded in 2023.” The James Webb Space Telescope captures 19 amazingly detailed spiral galaxies. “Eating pasta is scientifically proven to make you feel better.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

November Shipments: Tis the Season…

Published January 26, 2024

November 2023 shipments came in at $7.24 billion, down from the year’s high of $7.76 billion a month earlier.

Around the Web: Type Testing. Dramatic Displays. Migration Message. Balloon Ballyhoo. Glass Gloss. Sustainable Sabots. Snow Snacking. Fjord Facts. Piscine Prank. Unlikely Unguent.

Published January 26, 2024

A Monotype study aims to answer “questions about the cultural differences in perceiving meaning and emotion in type.” Chinese signmakers use infinity mirrors to create cool LED signage. A road sign in Canada wishes monarch butterflies a safe migration. “The golden age of ballooning” led to the first aerial maps. AR-based windows for tour buses. Auto-focusing eyeglasses! The graphene-based “Everything Proof Pants & Shirt.” 3D-printed compostable shoes. Torn from the headlines: is it safe to eat snow? Burning question: why does Norway have so many fjords? Puckish teenager tapes fish to ATMs, for some reason. Hidden Valley and Burt’s Bees collaborate on ranch-flavored lip balm, much to the bees’ dismay. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Periodical Publishing Establishments—2010–2021

Published January 19, 2024

According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 4,315 establishments in NAICS 51112 (Periodical Publishing). This represents a decrease of 40% since 2010. In macro news, December retail sales were up from November.

Around the Web: Folio Fest. Cat Crates. Device Dilemma. Winter Wear. Hovering Haven. Breed Brief. Lavish Lego. Chicken Chatting. Winning Wings.

Published January 19, 2024

The Folger Library will be publicly exhibiting its collection of Shakespeare First Folios. A new, high-concept typeface based on meteorology. Why do cats love cardboard boxes (and should converters be targeting them)? Trying to figure out what the highly touted Rabbit R1 is actually used for. A wealthy Frenchwoman stipulated in her will that her money go to providing clothes for snowmen. A prototype for a floating umbrella that can follow you around and we want one. how did the dog breeds get their names? An artist whose chosen medium is black Lego. How to detect a chicken’s emotions, should you ever want to. Tito’s Vodka’s new “Spokescart.” Popeyes is offering free wings if a “winged” team—or the Bills—win the Super Bowl. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

October Shipments: Peak Performance

Published January 12, 2024

October 2023 printing shipments came in at $7.84 billion, up from September’s $7.37 billion.

Around the Web: Clever Collage. Cover Creation. Letter Lovers. Punctuation People. Tech Table. New Nostalgia. Air App. Phantom Fight. Dog Drivers. Gum Gone.

Published January 12, 2024

A Sgt. Pepper-esque tribute to the celebrities who passed away in 2023. Behind some book cover redesigns from hardcover to paperback. A Minneapolis store where you can buy vintage, discarded channel letters. A fun 1824 primer on punctuation. A coffee table that is also a touchscreen display. “What was life like before the Internet?” A start-up is developing an app that lets a smartphone evaluate air quality. Graphene-based batteries now for pre-sale! The economics of time travel. Protesting Pontianak, Indonesia’s proposed “ghost statue.” Oscar Mayer is hiring Wienermobile drivers. Fruit Stripe gum has been discontinued. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Tradition Travel. Myrrh Mystery. Window Wonders. Baffling Blizzard. Desk Documents. Wood Wonder. Pseudo Sports. Dead Dialogue. Drinking Doritos.

Published December 15, 2023

Exploring some of the odder Christmas traditions around the world. What exactly are frankincense and myrrh, anyway? Intricate and beautiful window graphics created with “snow spray.” The etymology of the word “blizzard.” The case of the missing ISS tomato has been solved! Medieval ergonomic scriptorium desks. Advances in transparent wood, stronger than plastics and tougher than glass. Graphene-based corrugated board. Sports Illustrated “writers” were AI-generated personas. Using AI to talk to the dead. Doritos-flavored booze. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Welcome to the Production Print Issue

Published December 11, 2023

This week, we are publishing the content from Issue 6, the Production Print Issue. In this article, a preview of the week’s content.

Newspaper Publishing Establishments—2010–2021

Published December 8, 2023

According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 6,260 establishments in NAICS 51111 (Newspaper Publishing). This represents a decrease of 20% since 2010. In macro news, what is going on with GDP?

Around the Web: Dictionary Delusions. Peachy Pantone. General Journalism. Gotham Graphics. Card Creativity. Petrol Pilgrimages. Pseudo Simmons/Stanley. Potato Poser.

Published December 8, 2023

The major dictionaries have announced their “words of the year”—believe it or not. Pantone announces its Color of the Year. A new book tells the long-lost story of the American military’s World War II troop newspapers. A new poster series celebrates NYC’s design community. St. Pancras train station’s Christmas tree display is a tower of hand-painted books. A new card game uses creativity to help generate good ideas. The USPS is releasing a series of Dungeons & Dragons stamps. A selection of “America’s grandest gas stations.” KISS plan to stay on tour forever…as digital avatars. Why are french fries called chips, and chips called crisps, in the UK? All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly hallucinatory miscellany.

An Inside Look at Fiery Command WorkStation 7

Published December 4, 2023

Last month, Fiery® unveiled Fiery Command WorkStation® 7, a centralized job management solution that helps unify the digital print room. In this Q&A, sponsored by Fiery, we sat down with the Fiery product team to discuss what’s new in Command WorkStation and how printers can use it to gain operational efficiencies and elevate color performance to meet customer expectations.

September Shipments: Heading into the Fall

Published December 1, 2023

September 2023 printing shipments came in at $7.42 billion, down from August’s $7.47 billion.

Around the Web: Perishing PopSci. New Nylon. Dictionary Dump. Newspaper Noel. Punctuation Pedantry. Dead Dye. Decapod Doom. Mascot Mastication.

Published December 1, 2023

The venerable Popular Science will no longer be available as a magazine, p- or e-. But Nylon magazine will. An artist who specializes in turning the detritus generated by “fast fashion” into art. A dictionary hoarder spawned a museum. The 100th anniversary of the publication of “A Visit from St. Nick” in a Troy, N.Y. newspaper.  Meet the Apostrophe Protection Society, perhaps against your will. Trying to recreate the lost Tyrian purple. A space-saving alternative to a nightstand. A space-saving coat hanger. This year’s Pop-Tart Bowl will feature an edible mascot. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Publishing Establishments—2010–2021

Published November 17, 2023

According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 30,939 establishments in NAICS 511 (Publishing Industries [except Internet]). This represents an increase of 10% since 2010 and increase of 13% since 2016. In macro news, October inflation was unchanged from September.

Around the Web: Lost Labours? Rhoticity Review. Pin Predictions. Flag Flap. Turbine Tech. Piscine Potable. Crunch Canceling.

Published November 17, 2023

Holy crap, is there a lost Shakespeare play out there? A linguistics conference is solely dedicated to the R sound. Is the AI pin the future of technology? Don’t count E Ink technology out just yet. Automakers have started using recycled materials for car interiors. Minnesota is crowd-sourcing its new state flag design, unfortunately. A new turbine deign could revolutionize wind power. An AI-powered robotic beehive that can help beekeepers save honeybee colonies. A New Hampshire distillery has come out with a trout-flavored brandy. AI-powered crunch-cancelling software that eliminates the distracting crunching sound of chips. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

October Graphic Arts Employment Up Slightly

Published November 10, 2023

Overall printing employment in October 2023 was up 0.8% from September. Production employment was up 0.7% while non-production employment was up 1.1%.

Around the Web: Friendly Fonts. Logo Loathing. Symbol Source. Snail Style. Rat Radar. Cover Character. Aldi Advent.

Published November 10, 2023

Celebrating World Kindness Day through typography. Print magazine is not a fan of IP’s new logo. The origin of the ampersand. Here is a fashion design trend we never saw coming: snails. Furniture design based on shipping containers. NYC’s Transit app now features a rat detector. A classic album cover star is identified after 52 years. Wilco’s unique approach to merch: its own typeface. Aldi has an advent calendar for all tastes. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Pre- and Postpress Establishments—2010–2021

Published November 3, 2023

According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 1,059 establishments in NAICS 32312 (Support Activities for Printing). This represents a decrease of 49% since 2010. In macro news, Q3 GDP was up 4.9%. 

Around the Web:  Book Bulk. Massive Manuscript. Spot Speak. Tree Talk. Restaurant Robots. Flatware Fashion. Pizza Peppers.

Published November 3, 2023

Heavy books are proliferating—but they may be health hazards. The world’s largest Medieval manuscript features a full-page picture of the Devil. Japan's mundane costume festival. Boston Dynamics’ robot dog now talks using ChatGPT. Understanding how trees communicate. The blackest known black paint. On-demand toaster printing. JR’s Appliance Museum features more than 10,000 rare electrical appliances. White Castle and Chipotle are adding food-prep robots. A jacket made of spoons. The James Webb Space Telescope cracks open the Crab Nebula. Tabasco and Banza have collaborated on a pizza that gets hotter the more you eat it.  All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Canva Curriculum. Refrigerator Rhyme. Dancing Dinner. Bottle Brace. Picaresque Planning. Coat Comfort. Jupiter Jet. Grocery Ghosts. Candy Canard. Cold Calendar.

Published October 27, 2023

Monotype and Canva collaborate on typography courses for schools. An online fridge magnet poetry simulator provides hours of entertainment. A “computational food project” turns meals into interactive performance art, terrifyingly. A frying pan manufacturer is sued for claiming its cookware was forged at a temperature exceeding that of the sun. A water bottle has a magnetic cap that turns it into an iPhone holder or tripod. An online adventure makes inventory management fun. A graphene-based heated jacket hits the market. The James Webb Space Telescope finds a high-speed jet stream on Jupiter. The persistent myth of poisoned Halloween candy. Stouffer’s releases an advent calendar filled with frozen food. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

August Shipments: …And We’re Up Again

Published October 27, 2023

August 2023 printing shipments came in at $7.44 billion, up from July’s $7.04 billion.

Book Printing Establishments—2010–2021

Published October 20, 2023

According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 370 establishments in NAICS 323117 (Commercial Book Printing). This represents a decrease of 31% since 2010—but a decrease of -2.4% from 2020. In macro news, AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) indicates that demand for design services decelerated in September, boding ill for commercial real estate construction and thus signage projects.

Around the Web: Dead Directories. Packaging Plaudits. Board Biography. Legal Lullabies. Time Travail. Coin Conundrum. Bathroom Boo. Poultry Pro.

Published October 20, 2023

An exhibition of imaginary languages. The last vestiges of the phone book are on their way out. Packaging designed specifically to be easy to open. A history of the Ouija board. A site that reads the terms of service for Instagram or TikTok as if they were lullabies. A clock design that is linear—like time itself. Netflix is opening physical locations. Graphene-enhanced condoms. New research finds that the outcome of a coin toss is not exactly 50-50. Japanese ghosts prefer haunting bathrooms. An art exhibition based on James Webb Space Telescope images. grocery chain B&M is looking for a chicken nugget connoisseur. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Finnegan’s Finale. Taboo Tomes. Reading Remedy. Tack Tech. Poultry Performance. Fish Fable. Webb Wonders. Candy Cartography.

Published October 13, 2023

A book club finally finishes Finnegans Wake—28 years after it started. A history of book banning. Graphene-infused packaging that reduces plastic consumption. DEC may be gone, but its legacy lingers. A new font aims to make reading easier for dyslexics. An AR-powered football helmet with a screen that allows deaf players to see play calls in ASL. “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?…The Shadow knows!” Music for chickens. What’s the most popular Halloween candy in your state? All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Q2 Industry Profits: The Latest From the Two Cities

Published October 13, 2023

Quarter-over-quarter profit margin data can be fairly noisy but we’re on a general upward trend since the trough of the pandemic.

Around the Web: Tapestry Type. Key Clacking. Stymied Searches. Disc De-Extincting. Amazing Apiaries. Snooze Cell. Car Customization. Cosmic Conundrum. Foot Food.

Published October 6, 2023

A small command-line program that plays typewriter sounds every time you press a computer key. Does Google alter user search queries to generate more revenue? Scarecrow Video is keeping physical media alive. Slovenia’s beautiful, illustrated beehives. Social media app Mastodon will now run on an Apple II. A sleeping pod designed to let you nap vertically, which is apparently a good thing. What ever happened to hood ornaments? The standard cosmological model is saved! All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Executive Q&A: Michelman’s Lisa DiGate on Driving Innovation in Digital Printing and Packaging

Published October 3, 2023

We recently sat down with Lisa DiGate, vice president, global business–HP Indigo at Michelman, to discuss the power of innovation, collaboration and a focus on sustainability in propelling innovation forward in the digital printing and packaging industries.

Welcome to the Labels & Packaging Issue

Published October 2, 2023

This week, we are publishing the content from Issue 5, the Labels & Packaging Issue. In this article, a preview of the week’s content.

Screen Printing Establishments—2010–2020

Published September 29, 2023

According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 5,559 establishments in NAICS 323113 (Commercial Screen Printing). This represents an increase of 25% since 2010—but a decrease of -0.1% from 2020. In macro news, the third estimate of Q2 GDP is unchanged, but with some subtle changes “under the hood.”

Around the Web: Dietary Designer. Paper Pictures. Meteorological Melee. Silly Soda. Korean Characters. Convenient Cookware. Roman Restaurant. Fleeting Food.

Published September 29, 2023

The designer of the nutrition label, Burkey Belser, has passed away. Designer and artist Alexa Edgerton’s letter-shaped cakes. Two artists whose chosen medium is rolled-up paper. Two St. Louis TV stations battle it out over the phrase “First Alert Weather.” Coke’s Y3000 soda was developed with AI, with predictable results. When in Seoul, visit the National Hangeul Museum, dedicated to the history of Korea’s national writing system. Has the James Webb Space Telescope found evidence of potential life on Europa? Panera Bread has a “Roman Empire menu,” but it could be more accurate. McDonald’s has a secret “McBrunch Burger,” which is only available for a few minutes a day. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

July Shipments: Down, Down We Go

Published September 22, 2023

In a year that continues to surprise, July 2023 printing shipments came in at $7.04 billion, down from June’s $7.40 billion.

Around the Web: Type Trolls. Coin-Op Canvas. Signage Syllabus. Inertia Inquiry. Invisible Island. Brady Blunder. Cereal Slump. Avocado Aficionado.

Published September 22, 2023

Copyright trolling comes to typography. Paper checks are going the way of the landline and the fax machine. A vending machine for art prints. Inside Los Angeles Trade Tech College’s (LATTC) Sign Graphics program. A new paper argues that we’ve gotten Newton’s First Law of Motion wrong all these years. Why not visit Null Island, which lives up to its name. De-extincting the Tasmanian tiger. Pink Floyd fans can attend a listening party at which they can have their brainwaves monitored, for some reason. Who would have thought that buying the Brady Bunch house would be “the worst investment ever”? Apparently breakfast cereal is on the way out. Shake Shack is hiring a “Chief Avocado Officer.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Commercial Printing Establishments—2010–2021

Published September 15, 2023

According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 15,592 establishments in NAICS 323111 (Commercial Printing except Screen and Books). This represents a decline of 26% since 2010. In macro news, inflation is alas up.

Around the Web: Clever Cardboard. Perishing Periodicals. Nonprofit Newspaper. Madeleine’s Mystery. Roadlining Revelry. Continental Craziness. Marine Mystery.  Cat Catcher. Web Warning. Dolly Days.

Published September 15, 2023

A new design enables easy conversion of large, used corrugated boxes into smaller e-commerce boxes. Amazon kills its Kindle Periodicals program. The Colorado Sun is going non-profit. A search for the cover artist of a beloved book. 3D-printed IBM Selectric typeballs. A tribute to the art of “roadlining.” All about the “lost continent” of Lemuria. That weird object dredged up from the Gulf of Mexico: egg or sponge? Why you shouldn’t put fake spider webs on your bushes. Dolly Parton and Duncan Hines again team up to offer holiday sugar cookies. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

August Printing Production Employment Basically Flat

Published September 8, 2023

Overall printing employment in August 2023 was down 0.2% from July. Production employment was down 0.3% while non-production employment was up 0.2%.

Around the Web: Learning Letterpress. Movie Minimalism. Cement Stamp. Pothole Panacea. Mystery Museum. Privacy Peril. Smashing Spaghetti. Food Photographer.

Published September 8, 2023

“For a designer, learning to set metal and wood type is as essential as learning to drive a car.”  Very simple, modernist posters for popular movies. Popular movies rendered as old book covers. Swiss Post honors “concrete in architecture” with concrete-infused stamp. Paper drinking straws are more likely to contain PFAs than plastic ones. Graphene aims to solve the problem of potholes. Mozilla: today’s cars are a “privacy nightmare.” Why aren’t there more roadway roundabouts in the US? Smashing dried pasta in a variety of creative ways. States ranked by how easy it is to nibble them out of graham crackers. Yelp! is hiring a food photographer. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Printing Establishments—2010–2021

Published September 1, 2023

According to the latest, just-released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 21,521 establishments in NAICS 32311 (Printing). This represents a decline of 20% since 2010. In macro news, Q2 GDP revised downward.  

Around the Web: Kerning Confab. Paint Praise. Tube Type. Freaky Fresheners. Winged Warning. Big Bovine. Dirigible Dining.

Published September 1, 2023

An upcoming virtual “kernference” for type lovers. A new book collects photos of hand-painted signs from around L.A. A typeface based on London Underground arrival boards. Custom-printed car air fresheners. Apollo is said to be the “iPhone of robots.” A mechanical canary that keels over when the air quality is poor and pops back up when it has improved. A giant bull travels by sedan. A history of the Mellotron. “Subway in the Sky” offers blimp rides for Subway patrons. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Foundry Fraternity. Monochrome Mania. Air Aid. TV Trend. Lego Learning. Faux Fromage. Silly Straw.

Published August 25, 2023

Monotype launches a creative community for independent foundries and type designers. Is the design world getting less colorful? How the paper airplane has historically aided and is still informing knowledge about the mechanics of flight. “Linear TV” (broadcast and cable) drops below 50% of total TV usage. The inventor of the game “Operation” couldn’t afford a real one. Are farmers ready for “electric horticulture”? Lego blocks with Braille help blind and partially sighted children learn to read. Microchipped “smart labels” help thwart parmesan cheese counterfeiting, which is apparently thing. Oscar Mayer introduces a “hot dog straw,” upsettingly. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

June Shipments: Up, Up, and Away

Published August 25, 2023

In a year that continues to surprise, June 2023 printing shipments came in at $7.38 billion, up from May’s $7.26 billion.

Printing Establishments—2010–2021

Published August 18, 2023

According to the latest, just-released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2021 there were 22,580 establishments in NAICS 323 (Printing and Related Support Activities). This represents a decline of 22% since 2010. In macro news, July retail sales came in above expectations.

Around the Web: ’Zine Zone. Conference Carousels. Voice Verse. CAPTCHA Conclusion. Deadly Dishes. Calculator Collection. Brick Brainwaves. Potent Potables. Bottle Brouhaha.

Published August 18, 2023

"Print" magazine’s list cool independent print magazines. What company presentations were like before PowerPoint. Telepoem booths are popping up in the Southwest. A wearable mouse. The robots have cracked CAPTCHA. AI-based recipe bot creates toxic meals. Greg Maletic’s collection of vintage calculators. Scientists have reconstructed Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall” by analyzing people’s brainwaves. The James Webb Space telescope zooms in on the most distant detectable star. Dunkin’ introduces boozy iced teas and coffees. Pro tip: don’t age wine at the bottom of the ocean. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Language Loss. Menu Maven. Bogus Books. Translation Tool. Freakish Photos. Animal Armor. Door Dilemma. Tuba Terror. Taco Trademark. Menacing Melons.

Published August 11, 2023

Typefaces can play a role in keeping old languages alive. Henry Voigt is the premier collector of historical American menus. Author discovers AI-generated fake books listed in her name on Amazon. A 3D-printed heart ventricle beats on its own. Toppan’s VoiceBiz UC (Universal Communication) Display is a real-time translation device. Spend time perusing and being horrified by “Terrible Real Estate Photographs.” 3D-printed graphene-enhanced ballistic armor for service animals. Door handles “semantically designed to be clear about the direction the door should be opened.” A chainsaw-powered, flame-throwing tuba will liven up any marching band. Taco John’s relinquishes “Taco Tuesday” trademark, in a win for alliteration. Watch out for foaming, exploding watermelons. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

What's Up with WhatTheyThink Magazine Issue 4—The Leadership Issue

Published August 10, 2023

Join Eric Vessels, Richard Romano, and Jessica Taylor as they have a jam session on the latest magazine issue (Issue 4—Leadership). The crew talks about all the great content in the mag as well as the far out cover design that was inspired by our interview with Francis McMahon in this issue. Thanks to Canon Solutions America for being the Issue Sponsor this time around. We appreciate their support of the work we do!

Welcome to the Leadership Issue

Published August 7, 2023

This week, we are publishing the content from Issue 4, the Leadership Issue. In this article, a preview of the week’s content.

All Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2020

Published August 4, 2023

According to County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 360 establishments in NAICS 322299 (All Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of -22% since 2010. In macro news, Q2 GDP is up.

Around the Web: Type Tracking. Tome Tech. Paper Presentation. Clever Clicker. LiFi Love? Auto Annoyance. Missed Molding. Wool War. Killer Kreme.

Published August 4, 2023

Interactive WaPo story tests font legibility. AI will not disrupt books. “Possibilities of Paper” is an art installation featuring creative uses of paper. A tribute to the Zenith Space Command remote control. There is such a thing as “LiFi,” light-based wireless communication. VW is reintroducing its “magic bus”—and it’s electric. Car owners are frustrated by the proliferation of technology in cars. Dang, we missed the National Week of Injection Molding. The James Webb Space Telescope spots a giant cosmic question mark. Why not participate in the annual Sheep to Shawl Competition? In “dip hop,” rappers lay down rhymes in sign language. Krispy Kreme has filled doughnuts with M&Ms, for some reason. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

May Shipments Take an Unexpected—But Welcome—Turn

Published July 28, 2023

May 2023 printing shipments came in at $7.26 billion, unexpectedly up from April’s $7.01 billion.

Around the Web: Prop Printer. Postal Pop. Comic Coding. Edgy Eraser. Geographic Geometry. Borax Bane. Cap’n Correction.

Published July 28, 2023

The Earl Hays Press has provided virtually all printed props for the film industry since 1915. A typewriter made out of drums. A musical PSA from 1967 explaining the ZIP code. A useful, less egregious version of Comic Sans. “An innovative eraser with 5 edge sizes in one implement!” What are the world’s most rectangular or roundest countries?  Two words: cocaine sharks. A new TikTok fad involves consuming or bathing in borax, for some reason. ExxonMobil invests in carbon capture. Quaker Oats finally fixes Cap’n Crunch’s uniform. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Fresh Font. Colonial Currency. Timeless Textiles. Cool Calendar. Food Fossils. Mennonite Machines. Hammock Hanger. Scream Search. Movie Mashup. Cake Crash.

Published July 21, 2023

Microsoft 365 has a new default typeface. Benjamin Franklin vs. counterfeiters. A Japanese textiles company still uses 40-year-old software. A wall-mounted E Ink-based calendar that syncs with Google Calendar. A new museum exhibit focuses on “food archaeology.” Electric bikes are popular among…the Amish? A fast-deploying portable hammock. The original “Wilhelm scream” has been found. Opening today: “Barbenheimer.” Hostess introduces the Ding Dongs x Twinkies Mashup. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2020

Published July 21, 2023

According to County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 123 establishments in NAICS 322291 (Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of -13% since 2010. In macro news, new business applications continue to rise.

Access Direct's Lori Messina at thINK 2023

Published July 20, 2023

Lori Messina, President of Access Direct, and President of the Board for thINK talks about this year’s thINK Ahead program. Lori talks about the importance of sharing knowledges and discussing common challenges with peers. thINK is an independent community of Canon production inkjet customers that provides a forum for networking and education.

Canon USA’s Matthew Poliniak at the Canon Solutions Summit

Published July 19, 2023

Julie Shaffer talks with Matthew Poliniak, Sr. Manager, Product Management, for Canon USA, about the Canon Summit 2023, held recently in Nashville, and Canon’s recent product announcements and releases.

Around the Web: Keyboard Carousing. Perishing Paper. Hammer Happiness. Album Art. Calming Canines. Automotive Aviation. Fungus Funeral. Auteur Adventure. Condiment Collection.

Published July 14, 2023

Milwaukee’s inaugural QWERTYFEST celebrates the invention of the typewriter. The world’s oldest national newspaper has produced its final print edition after 320 years. “People are paying to break printers with sledgehammers in smash rooms.” Graphene-based “e-skin.” Aqualamb brings back album art in the age of streaming. Noise-canceling headphones for dogs. The flying car is almost here! Italian automotive hackers create the lowest drivable car, for some reason. Mushroom-based coffins for the burgeoning “green burial” trend. Enter “Tim Burton’s Labyrinth.” Burger King’s “real cheeseburger.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

June Printing Production Employment Up Slightly, Non-Production Down

Published July 14, 2023

Overall printing employment in June 2023 was down -0.2% from March. Production employment was up 0.4% while non-production employment was down -0.6%.

Canon USA’s Karin Harrington at the Canon Solutions Summit

Published July 13, 2023

Julie Shaffer talks with Karin Harrington, Senior Director of Field Sales for Canon USA, about the Canon Summit 2023, held recently in Nashville, which brought together a combination of the sales and service organizations that sell and support Canon solutions.

Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2020

Published June 30, 2023

According to County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 483 establishments in NAICS 32229 (Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of -20% since 2010. In macro news, BEA revises Q1 GDP up.   

Around the Web: Clever Katherine. Magazine Massacre. Cool Curtains. Lens Literature. Lawn Loathing. Canine Conflagration. Barbie Buildings. Beverage Bling.

Published June 30, 2023

The only woman’s name that appears on the Declaration of Independence. National Geographic lays off its last remaining staff writers. Turn your walls or windows into huge, animated Lite-Brites. The Sol Reader is essentially a Kindle embedded in a pair of glasses. Making “smart paper” with liquid metal. A graphene-based wearable and wireless patch that detects signs of liver inflammation. A design firm’s war against…lawns. The new face of terror: a robotic dog with a flamethrower attached to its back. Barbie’s Dream House in each state. Is a 2,000-year-old Pompeiian fresco the oldest depiction of a pizza? 7-Eleven introduces Slurpee-themed jewelry, for some reason. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

April Shipments Maintain Seasonality—Just as We Feared

Published June 23, 2023

April 2023 printing shipments came in at $7.00 billion, down from March’s $7.58 billion and in line with annual seasonality—although it is a bit below the previous two Aprils.

Around the Web: Bewildering Bots. Commemorating Kafka. Mac Merch. Paper Peeping. Analog Attraction. Freed Feline. Netflix Noshing. Planet Pondering. Tamer Tippling.

Published June 23, 2023

A “public service videogame” that invites players to verify images incorrectly to confuse bots. Type designer and typographer Oded Ezer’s unique “The Samsa Enigma” project for the 140th anniversary of Franz Kafka’s birth. A knitted blanket based on the original Mac OS desktop. Behind the scenes at Seven Days, a Vermont-based weekly newspaper. The continuing resurgence of non-digital technologies. A kitten is rescued from a packaging recycling container. Converting a pickup truck into a giant dot matrix printer. Could life exist on Venus, of all places? When out at the bar, be sure to adjust for drinkflation.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

EFI Launches End-To-End Digital Printing Workflow for Textiles with Focus on Sustainable Production at ITMA 2023

Published June 20, 2023

Debbie McKeegan, CEO at Texintel and WhatTheyThink contributor, talks to Micol Gamba, Product Marketing Manager at EFI, about EFI Reggiani fabric printing solutions. At ITMA 2023 EFI launched new hardware and software solutions that provide end-to-end digital printing workflows for sustainable textile production.

Epson Provides Range of Digital Textile Printers, Showcases Printing Metallic Effects at ITMA 2023

Published June 20, 2023

Debbie McKeegan, CEO at Texintel and WhatTheyThink contributor, talks to Paolo Crespi, DTF Sales & Marketing Director, at EPSON Italia about EPSON’s range of digital textile printers. At ITMA 2023 EPSON showcased the ability to print special effects including gold and other metallics on its Monna Lisa digital textile printer.

Digital Textile Production Goes Mainstream with Kornit Digital at ITMA 2023

Published June 20, 2023

Debbie McKeegan, CEO at Texintel and WhatTheyThink contributor, talks to Danny Gazit, Chief Product Officer at Kornit Digital, about the company’s direct-to-garmut and direct-to-fabric digital textile print technologies. At ITMA 2023 Kornit unveiled new platforms to enable more sustainable textile printing and supply-chain management.

First Look at the Kyocera FOREARTH Digital Textile Printer

Published June 20, 2023

Debbie McKeegan, CEO at Texintel and WhatTheyThink contributor, talks to Sho Taniguchi, Kyocera’s Deputy General Manager, Digital Printing Business Development about the Kyocera FOREARTH Digital Textile Printer launched at ITMA 2023.

Mimaki Focuses on sustainability and circularity at ITMA 2023

Published June 20, 2023

Debbie McKeegan, CEO at Texintel and WhatTheyThink contributor, talks to Arjen Evertse, General Manager Sales EMEA at Mimaki, about Mimaki’s approach to bringing sustainability and circularity to textile printing. Mimaki used ITMA 2023 to showcase new digital textile printers and new concepts for de-inking polyester textiles.

Stationery Product Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2020

Published June 16, 2023

According to County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 324 establishments in NAICS 32223 (Stationery Product Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of -35% since 2010. In macro news, the US birth rate increased insignificantly in 2022—the latest in a worrying demographic trend.

Around the Web: Robust Reference. Antiquated AI. Funny Features. Nose Knowing. Minstrel Manuscript. Diamond Dwarf. Rising Robot. Cheese Chasing. Toy Trouble. Peanut Party.

Published June 16, 2023

The World Book is the last remaining printed encyclopedia. ChatGPT running on 1980s era computer technology. Satirical UI features in popular apps. “At no point is the child’s nose actually removed from the child’s face. [citation needed]” Graphene-based eco-denim. An ancient manuscript is actually a medieval stand-up comedy routine. A star is turning into a giant diamond. A robot vacuum that can climb stairs. Entering a robot dog in dog show. A woman is knocked unconscious while chasing a giant cheese down a hill. Supreme Court shoots down parody products. The Planters NUTmobile to become “the Nuttiest Dive Bar.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Product Strategy: Kornit Apollo Direct-to-Garment Platform

Published June 15, 2023

Danny Gazit, Chief Product Officer at Kornit Digital, talks about the Kornit Apollo platform unveiled at ITMA 2023 in Milan. Apollo can decorate up to 400 garments per hour and features automation for loading and unloading.

Product Strategy: FUJIFILM Ink Solutions Group at ITMA 2023

Published June 13, 2023

Rachel Li, Segment Marketing Manager at FUJIFILM Ink Solutions Group, talks about the advantages of RxD aqueous pigment dispersions from FUJIFILM. RxD aqueous pigment dispersions have a higher pigment concentration to provide higher color strength for fashion, direct-to-garment, home décor, and other textile applications.

What’s Up Chat with EFI CEO Frank Pennisi

Published June 12, 2023

Frank Pennisi, CEO of EFI, talks with WhatTheyThink’s Eric Vessels about landing his dream job when he became CEO this past January. Frank is a seasoned industrial technology leader. Prior to joining EFI Frank was on the leadership team for EFI customer Orora Packaging Solutions. In this broad ranging informal discussion, we learn about Frank’s background, leadership style, and his vision for the future of EFI.

Printing Pulse: Embellishment Edition

Published June 9, 2023

This edition of our Friday data series offers a preliminary “sneak peek” at the results of the Taktiful and WhatTheyThink 2023 Specialty Digital Ink and Toner Embellishment Study. This study takes a deep dive into how current users of digital ink and toner embellishment technologies are utilizing them, what the response from customers has been, how satisfied print providers have been with the sales and profitability of these jobs, where the challenges lie, and their general feelings about the future of digital ink and toner embellishment technologies.

Around the Web: Ledger Lines. Typewriter Tunes. Graphene Garments. Pink Paucity. Plate Problem. Sadistic Subscriptions. Block Clock. Panel Panic. Baneful Bot.

Published June 9, 2023

A look at how they used to print ledger books. The Boston Typewriter Orchestra performs on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert. Absolut is introducing lightweight paper-based bottles for its vodka. Another leap forward for graphene-based wearable textiles. The “Barbie” movie caused a shortage of pink paint. Some Maryland license plates contain a link to a Philippine gambling site. Thanks to the “aaS” model, we don’t really own anything anymore. A solar-powered mechanical LEGO clock that will keep time for a billion years. The time has come to address the imminent deluge of discarded solar panels. Can experts really judge wine? A pop-up Cheez-It filling station in Joshua Tree National Park. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Paperboard Container Shipments Back up to Pandemic Levels  

Published June 2, 2023

In March 2023, the value of shipments of paperboard containers was $6.361 billion, the highest it has been since August 2022.

Around the Web: Creative Contents. Letterpress Love. Pedestrian Pals. Creepy Closure. Lighthouse Living. Graphene Gaming. Skin Solution. Winging Weight. Hellish Hammer.

Published June 2, 2023

Experimental tables of contents. 105-year-old Bay View Printing still prints on century-old letterpress equipment. LA’s “crosswalk vigilantes” help improve pedestrian safety. “Séance AI” for one last chat with the departed. The US Government is auctioning off lighthouses—some for free. Artificial “e-skin” can communicate with the brain. An Indian food inspector drains a reservoir to retrieve his phone. New Zealand Air to start weighing passengers for “data collection purposes.” The “Hammer Fist” is a bizarre tool. Plastic wine bottles are on their way. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

FESPA Awards 2023: Look Company’s FIFA World Cup 2022 Soft Signage

Published May 30, 2023

FESPA’s Graeme Richardson-Locke talks to Jacab Burke, President at the Look Company, about winning the Sustainability Award in the FESPA Awards 2023. The Look Company’s entry consisted of printed fabrics for the FIFA World Cup 2022. Sustainability was a key component of the FIFA World Cup 2022 project.

FESPA Awards 2023: Léa Saint-Jeveint “Young Star Award”

Published May 30, 2023

FESPA Textiles Ambassador Debbie McKeegan talks to Léa Saint-Jeveint, student at SEPR in France, about winning the “Young Star Award” in the FESPA Awards 2023. Saint-Jeveint won the award for her entry “Lueur abyssale”.

FESPA Awards 2023: Imageco Ltd for “ANTALIS SUSTAINABILITY STREET”

Published May 30, 2023

FESPA Textiles Ambassador Debbie McKeegan talks to Edward Hillam, Operations Manager at Imageco in the UK, about the “ANTALIS SUSTAINABILITY STREET” project which won a FESPA Awards 2023.

EFI at FESPA 2023

Published May 26, 2023

Ken Hanulec, Vice President of Marketing at EFI, provides an update on EFI’s product portfolio and what the company is showcasing at FESPA 2023. EFI is previewing the Nozomi Single-pass Inkjet Printer for Sign and Display Graphics, and announced LED thermoformable inks.

Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2020

Published May 26, 2023

According to County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 723 establishments in NAICS 32222 (Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of -12% since 2010. In macro news, the Architecture Billings Index suggests a recovery from the slowdown in the construction industry.

Around the Web: Hefty Hitchhikers. Code Cooling. Dot Displays. Wedding Wear. Graphene Griddle. New Nova. Ring Removal. Cat Commerce. Custom Ketchup.

Published May 26, 2023

A special print edition of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy five-book trilogy is on the way. QR codes just aren’t cool any more, a least in restaurants. William A. Lavalette, an obscure 19th-century Black inventor, received two printing press-related patents. Louisville, Ky.’s American Printing House for the Blind museum expands and is reimaged as The Dot Experience. A biodegradable wedding dress made from the roots of wheatgrass. The first graphene-based kitchen appliance. A star in Ursa Major just went supernova. New research suggests that Saturn’s rings won’t last forever. CatVana is Carvana—but for cats. Heinz has a new mixer for customized ketchup. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

swissQprint at FESPA 2023

Published May 24, 2023

Carmen Eicher, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at swissQprint, provides an update on swissQprint’s product strategy and what the company is showcasing at FESPA 2023.

Durst’s Christian Harder Talks Automation Strategy at FESPA 2023

Published May 23, 2023

Christian Harder, Vice President Sales, at Durst talks about the evolution of Durst product portfolio and the infusion of hardware and software automation into its products. Durst is embracing automation to increase productivity and reduce manual touchpoints.

Around the Web: Writing Racket. Typewriter Tour. Dutch Design. Automated Arms. Digital Dog. Swarm Struggle. Radio Removal. Prince Pavement. New Nova? Truffle Trouble.

Published May 19, 2023

A self-digitizing pen…you have to subscribe to. A realistic animated tour inside a mechanical typewriter. A conductive elastic ink that can 3D print more flexible wearable devices. When in Amsterdam, be sure to get a Rembrandt tattoo. Researchers have developed wearable robot arms. Spin Master’s Bitzee hopes to be the next Tamagotchi. A swarm of bees prevented a Delta flight from taking off. AM radios are disappearing from cars. Prince is getting a Minnesota highway named after him. Is Betelgeuse about to go nova? Oscar Mayer’s “Wienermobile” is now the “Frankmobile,” and you can see the jokes coming a mile away. Mac and cheese truffles. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

April Printing Production Employment Down Slightly, Non-Production Up

Published May 19, 2023

Overall printing employment in April 2023 was down -0.2% from March. Production employment was down -0.8% while non-production employment was up 1.1%.

Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2020

Published May 12, 2023

According to County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 278 establishments in NAICS 322219 (Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease in establishments of -20% since 2010. In macro news, inflation is slowing but still high.

Around the Web: Palm Pic. Meta Morality. Paintbox Party. Copier Conductor. Booth Boon. Wired Water. Pasta Pile. Spaghetti Surge. Chip Choices.

Published May 12, 2023

Is the future of computing an AI-based wearable that projects its display in your hand? The Metaverse is no more, assuming it ever was. Quantel celebrates its revolutionary Paintbox. The Chicago Tribune press room sold to Bally’s to become a casino. Graphene nanotubes combine conductivity and durability in polyimide films used in copiers and printers. Shanghai is installing high-tech phone booths. A 3D-printed garden hose-to-HDMI adapter. “Regular internet use may be linked to lower dementia risk in older adults.” Hundreds of pounds of pasta mysteriously found by a New Jersey creek. Italy calls crisis meeting over surging pasta prices. Author of a book on grief is arrested for killing her husband. Lay’s is offering the BLT Sandwich chip. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

March Shipments Maintain Seasonality—Make of That What You Will

Published May 5, 2023

March 2023 printing shipments came in at $7.18 billion, up from February’s $6.46 billion and in line with annual seasonality—even if it is below the previous two Marches.

Around the Web: Font Fest. Map Maven. Type Tasting. Picket Power. Button Boon. Fail Factory. Piece Puzzles. Befuddled Beltane. Titanic Tippling.

Published May 5, 2023

“36 Days of Type” wraps up. The David Rumsey Map Collection is an online database of more than 120,000 downloadable maps. Using a restaurant menu’s typography to anticipate food quality. Striking writers’ picket signs. Automakers are mercifully starting to replace touch screens with tactile controls. The Museum of Failure comes to Brooklyn. A graphene-based engine oil additive is said to improve fuel economy, power, and performance. How did chess pieces get their names? The origin of Beltane. A Titantic-themed distillery in Belfast is now open. Kit Kat breakfast cereal is now a thing. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2020

Published April 28, 2023

According to County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 546 establishments in NAICS 322212 (Folded Paperboard Box Manufacturing). This category saw a net increase in establishments of 11% since 2010. In macro news, Q1 2023 GDP shows third straight quarter of growth.

Around the Web: Paper Peril. Calendar Craze. Mayan Mystery. Ill-Advised Interview. Book Bits. Epson Enhancement. Powered Pawn. Gull Gig. Morphing Mallows.

Published April 28, 2023

A small local newspaper’s print swan song. A 90-year-old high school newspaper wrestles with paper prices. “The world’s most beautiful calendar.” Scientists have finally cracked the code of the Mayan calendar. A German magazine publishes a fake AI-generated interview with Michael Schumacher, for some reason. A shredded book designed to be read. Xerox donates the Palo Alto Research Center to SRI International. Seiko Epson invests in a company that develops brain-to-computer interfaces. The Light-Up Chess Set features pieces that are illuminated. England’s Blackpool Zoo is hiring a “seagull deterrent”—bird costume required. Color-changing marshmallows. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Perishing Publishing. Garment Graphics. Edo Education. Tagging Tech. Canine Companion. Film Fest. Glorious Gate. Cosmic Consolidation. Colossal Candy. Soothing Signage.

Published April 21, 2023

The last two computer magazines stop publishing. A typeface designed for knitting. A new bioink for 3D organ printing. Library of Congress hosts a workshop on rare Japanese books. A robot designed to paint graffiti, for some reason. An AI-based robotic dogsitter. A graphene-based cardiac pacemaker. 16-millimeter fil turns 100 years old. The world’s greatest gate. The James Webb Space Telescope captures two galaxies merging. Russell Stover’s 5,000-pound box of chocolates. The therapeutic effect of power-washing street signs. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

February Printing Employment Essentially Flat

Published April 21, 2023

Overall printing employment in February 2023 was up 0.3% from January. Production employment was up 0.1% while non-production employment was up 0.7%.

Neil Felton CEO of FESPA Previews Munich Event

Published April 20, 2023

WhatTheyThink’s Eric Vessels talks to Neil Felton, CEO of FESPA, about what can be expected at this year’s event in Munich, Germany. They discuss the history of the event as well as the unique positioning of this event in the industry. Neil also highlights why he thinks it important for those from North America to plan to attend.

Around the Web: Popping Publications. Handle Hoard. Dickens Drawings. Cleaner Cans. Computer Cookies. Coronation Conundrum. Noun Nomenclature. Container Crash. Fold Fanatic. Can Camping.

Published April 14, 2023

A pop-up book exhibit at Chicago’s Newberry Library. A 1,100-page pictorial showcase of door handles from around the world. A complete online collection of illustrations from Dickens’ novels. Making craft beer cans more recyclable. AI is now writing fortune cookie fortunes. Pending coronation, King Charles declines a Burger King crown. Where did colorful terms for collective nouns (like a gaggle of geese or a murder of crows) come from? The James Webb Space Telescope looks at the remains of a supernova. Tupperware’s days may be numbered. Mad magazine’s Al Jaffee dies at 102. This summer, camp in a national park in a giant can of beans. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Cool Keyboard. Meat Medley. Cuttlefish Camo. Logo Loathing.  Logo Listening. Waffle Work. Telekinetic Tech. Peanut Predicament. Diminutive Dryer. Sweet Sweater.

Published March 31, 2023

A transparent keyboard with mag-lev keys. Mathematicians have just identified a 13-sided shape that had only existed in theory. Researchers and a printing company form a consortium to develop 3D-bioprinted meat. Scientists use recovered DNA from an extinct species to cultivate a “mammoth meatball.” “Human cells hacked to act like squid skin cells could unlock key to camouflage.” An iconic logo was redesigned and (surprise) the Internet was not happy. The Wikimedia Foundation’s new sound logo is “the sound of all knowledge.” A painting called “Starry Waffles” combines Van Gogh and the Waffle House. Graphene-based brain–machine interfaces let you control things with your mind (bwa-ha-ha!). Peanut butter is apparently a liquid? A new Pop-Tart flavor—and tie-in sweater. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2020

Published March 31, 2023

According to County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 1,086 establishments in NAICS 322211 (Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease of 20% since 2010. In macro news, Q4 GDP was revised down.

Kicking Off 2023: Best Shipments Since 2020

Published March 24, 2023

January 2023 printing shipments came in at $6.67 billion, the best start to a year since 2020.

Around the Web: Period Pause. Element Etymology. Dessert Deposition. Musical Manhole. Garrulous Graphene. Chatbot Chatter. Carbon Carats. Rodent Rack. Arthur Anew. Toy Trouble.

Published March 24, 2023

On Monday, March 20, we started a 10-day run of palindrome dates. Who killed the period in the New York Times nameplate? How did the chemical elements get their names? A new printer for 3D-printing chocolate. Scientists 3D-print cheesecake. In Hannover, Germany, a musical manhole cover. A graphene-based artificial throat helps the voice-disabled speak. Two AI chatbots are now citing each other and the results are not positive. Using captured carbon to make diamonds. Scientists grow antlers on mice, for some reason. A new production of  “Camelot,” with a book written by Aaron Sorkin. Can you tell the difference between a whiskey bottle and a dog toy? All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web—Folio Fest. Doom Display. Russet Wrap. Graphene Gear. Brick Boon. Face Folly. Enzyme Energy. Goat Gardening. Marenghi Mania. Noodle Napping. Ranch Revulsion.

Published March 17, 2023

The 400th anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare’s First Folio. San Francisco’s new “Museum of the Future AI Apocalypse.” Compostable, potato waste-based cling film. Graphene-based sportswear from Umbro. Slack adds ChatGPT because why not? The world’s most disturbing videoconferencing display. Scientists discover how bacteria convert atmospheric hydrogen to energy—a potential new, clean power source. Goats are the secret to combatting California’s wildfires. Celebrating “Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace.” Four words that should never be used together: Hidden Valley Ranch Ice Cream. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Paperboard Container Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2020

Published March 17, 2023

According to County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 1,910 establishments in NAICS 32221 (Paperboard Container Manufacturing). This category saw a net decrease of 13% since 2010. In macro news,inflation is sort of moving sideways.

Douglas Gibson on Parametric Design For Packaging

Published March 16, 2023

Douglas Gibson, President of Infigo, talks about building parametric design tools for packaging. WhatTheyThink interviewed Douglas at the CCE International in Munich.

EFI's Evandro Matteucci Talks about Inkjet for Corrugated Packaging

Published March 15, 2023

WhatTheyThink spoke with Evandro Matteucci, VP/GM, Building Materials & Packaging, at EFI at the CCE International show in Munich. Evandro shares his perspective on the opportunities for inkjet printing on corrugated packaging.

Marco Boer on Corrugated Inkjet Industry Trends and Outlook

Published March 14, 2023

WhatTheyThink caught up with Marco Boer of IT Strategies after the EFI press conference during the CCE International expo in Munich. Marco was a guest speaker at the press conference which focused on the EFI Nozomi and EFI’s announcement of the 50th Nozomi installation at DS Smith. This video capture the highlights from his corrugated inkjet industry trends and outlook presentation.

Around the Web: Mail Magazine. Lame Logo. Typing Tome Two. Mining Microbes. Edible NDAs. Tofu Trouble. Kinetic Cake. Rex Renting. Cool Carpet.

Published March 10, 2023

Subscription-based digital magazine company Air Mail plans a print edition. The controversy over Nokia’s new logo. More online fun c/o the new book “Shift Happens.”  A highly usable E Ink typewriter. Bacteria can absorb rare earth metals, making recovery quick and easy. Edible graphene health monitors. NDAs in pill form that can be ingested after use. A Maine vegan runs into trouble with a misinterpreted license plate. An animated “caketrope.” Rent a dinosaur for your next party. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

January Production Employment Down

Published March 10, 2023

Overall printing employment in January 2023 was down -1.7% from December, due entirely to a -4.2% drop in production employment, as non-production employment was up +4.1%.

The Target Report Interview: SupremeX Acquisition of Vista Graphic Communications (Part 2)

Published March 8, 2023

In this second video interview, Stewart Emerson, President and CEO of SupremeX, discusses the company's recent acquisition of Vista Graphic Communications with Rod Bristol, a Director with Graphic Arts Advisors. Stewart shares the WHY behind using an advisor in any buy/sell transaction. He also discusses the process, how all parties can benefit and get the deal done.

Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portal Establishments—2010–2020

Published March 3, 2023

According to County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 8,947 establishments in NAICS 51913 (Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals). This category saw a net increase of 66% since 2010. In macro news, early forecasts of Q1 GDP are running slightly bearish to slightly bullish.

Around the Web: Defogging Dickens. Device Disorientation. Volcano Volume. Silly Spectacles. Denim Defense. Snow Sobriquet. Fruit Fiasco. Vicious Vehicle. Deafening Duet.

Published March 3, 2023

A new London exhibition looks at Charles Dickens’ relationship with fog. Antibacterial graphene-infused socks. Digital natives can have trouble operating office equipment. “The singular natural event that caused the loudest sound in the world.” A history of “Groucho Glasses.” “Air bag jeans” for motorcyclists. The winners of Madison, Wis.’s snowplow naming contest. An airline’s “vegan meal” consists of a single banana. Starbucks is adding olive oil to coffee, for some reason. Ford’s patent for a “repossession system computer” is the dystopian future of driving we don’t need. A duet for piano and car alarm. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly AI-free miscellany.

WhatTheyThink Remembers O.Mike Fichera

Published February 27, 2023

Orazio “O.Mike” Fichera, founder of Dealer Communicator, passed away on January 17, 2023, at 91. WhatTheyThink contributors remember O.Mike.

Next Level Automation at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2023

Published February 27, 2023

Stefan Hunkeler kicks off the Hunkeler Innovationdays 2023 event happening this week in Lucerne, Switzerland. Hunkeler Innovationdays is the place to see “next level automation” from over 100 exhibitors covering digital printing, software, finishing and related processes.

Daniel Erni on the Future of Hunkeler

Published February 27, 2023

Daniel Erni talks about his new role as CEO of Hunkeler and the company's vision for future innovation.

Hooray! 2022 Shipments Outpaced 2021

Published February 24, 2023

December 2022 printing shipments came in at $6.97 billion, down from November’s $7.10 billion. But January-to-December shipments for 2022 came in at $83.47 billion, an improvement over 2021’s $82.05 billion.

Around the Web: Font Finale. Wide-Format Whiskey. BBall Boon. Fold Fashion. AI Attorneys. Turntable Tech. Obsolete Objects. Disquieting Design. Disturbing Drones. Peep Pop.

Published February 24, 2023

Adobe has officially ended support for Type 1 fonts. Order a Jameson Whiskey “Desk Decoy” for St. Patrick’s Day. Wilson creates a 3D-printed basketball that doesn’t need inflating. Uyen Nguyen creates “origami fashion.” London law firm uses AI to answer questions about the law, draft documents, and draft messages to clients. Graphene is used to make turntables. Smithsonian magazine traces the origins of the term “OK.” Consumer items that have become obsolete since the beginning of the 2000s. Deliberately annoying examples of bad industrial design. The Smithsonian and MTV team up for an artist reality competition program, for some reason. Using taxidermied birds as drones. Pepsi and Peeps partner to make Peeps-flavored cola. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Assorted Publishing Establishments—2010–2020

Published February 17, 2023

According to County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 557 establishments in NAICS 511199 (All Other Publishing). This category saw a net decrease of 39% since 2010, , although we’re not talking about a tremendous number of establishments. In macro news, inflation appears to have peaked.

Around the Web: Bing Bungling. Digital Decemberists. Design Deets. Blueprint Bop. Taxi Trial. Arm Addition. Milk Machine. Goat Gala. Air Ale.

Published February 17, 2023

Bing’s AI chatbot amuses and terrifies. Band frontman Colin Meloy has ChatGPT write a Decemberists song. Trends in experiential design. A metallic print that maps the history of jazz in the style of a circuit diagram of a 1950s phonograph. Graphene-based water purification. Stay off the sidewalks: robotaxis now approved for on-street use in California. Bill Watterson of Calvin & Hobbes fame has a new project coming out. Researchers are working on giving humans a robotic third arm that can be controlled by the brain. A countertop device for making vegan milk. A Valentine’s Day “goat fashion show” in San Francisco. A San Diego brewery uses the airport’s air conditioner condensation to make beer. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Typing Tome. Typographic Talking. Dated Doodling. E Etiquette. Kayak Composite. Faux Phoning. Dodo De-Extincting. Fatal Philodendron. Carb Crazy.

Published February 10, 2023

A comprehensive book about keyboards. “Type empathy.” Researchers explore ancient book doodles. What are the new rules of etiquette, online and off? Graphene is used to make stronger and lighter kayaks. iPhones and “smart” watches are inundating 911 with mistaken emergencies. A company called Colossal Biosciences aims to bring back the dodo à la “Jurassic Park.” A machete-wielding plant. Move over, pastini: three new pasta shapes now available! All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly non-balloon-centric miscellany.

Graphic Arts Employment Flat or Declining in December

Published February 3, 2023

Overall printing employment was essentially flat in December 2022, being down -0.1% from November, and essentially unchanged from December 2021. Production employment was up +0.4%  while non-production employment was down -1.1% from November.

Around the Web: Type Tropes. Found Font. Box Boom. Synthetic Sermon. Moon Minutes. Time Trouble. Sinkhole Signage. Dip Dissed. Fowl Felon.

Published February 3, 2023

Monotype released its 2023 Type Trends Report. The mystery of Frank Herbert’s “Dune” typography revealed. The growth in demand for…newspaper boxes? A rabbi delivers a sermon written by ChatGPT. A visual game in which you are shown a photograph and have to identify what year it’s from. What time is it on the Moon? Rolex is suing a maker of children’s clocks. You might want to pay attention to “Road Closed” signs. Trader Joe’s announces its (controversial) Customer Choice Awards. A former Chicago area school district official allegedly stole more than $1 million worth of chicken wings. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

CalPoly Student Kendra Roberson Talks About the Graphic Communication Program

Published February 2, 2023

APTech’s Julie Shaffer talks to Kendra Roberson, a second-year student in CalPoly’s Graphic Communication program, who is attending her first-ever industry conference at EPS Connect. The demographics of the program are changing and Kendra estimates that the CalPoly program is about 75-80% female this year.

Around the Web: Map Mania. Wrapped Ride. Bot Bill. Nullifying Knitwear. Calamity Clock. Core Conundrum. Scent Sensors. Wall Wings. Phishing Fish. Soda Sauce.

Published January 27, 2023

Sales of paper maps are soaring. Snoop Dogg’s adventures in vehicle wrapping. Massachusetts legislators use ChatGPT to write a bill…regulating ChatGPT. Wearing an ugly sweater can make you invisible to AI, if no one else. Scientists change the Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight. If it’s not one thing it’s another: now the Earth’s core has stopped spinning. Graphene-based sensors function like “electronic noses.” A Reddit embroidery forum 2022 award goes to embroidered chicken wing wall art. A bunch of aquarium fish pull off a credit card scam (not The Onion). Mountain Dew releases a hot sauce. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Greeting Card Publishing Establishments—2010–2020

Published January 27, 2023

According to County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 107 establishments in NAICS 511191 (Greeting Card Publishing). Although this represents a net increase of 4% since 2010, it has been a category that has ebbed and flowed over the course of the decade, although we’re not talking about a tremendous number of establishments. In macro news, real GDP increased 2.9% annualized in Q4.

November 2022 Shipments Drop—But That’s Normal!

Published January 20, 2023

November 2022 shipments came in at $7.16 billion, down from the year’s high of $7.48 billion in October. This should not be cause for concern, as business always drops in November and December as things slow down for the holidays.

Around the Web: Pilfering Probe. Font Feud. Retailer Renaissance. Obsolete Offices. Flame Fighting. Credit Credibility. Cool Container. Romantic Russets.

Published January 20, 2023

Here we go: there is now a “plagiarism checker and AI detector.” The State Department changes its internal document font and war breaks out. Barnes & Noble has had a remarkable comeback—how? A Colorado library closes to clean up meth contamination. Zillow CEO writes that “traditional offices are as outdated as typewriters.” Graphene-enhanced gear can help protect firefighters. Celebrate Burns Night next Wednesday. FEMA attempts to translate typhoon aid instructions into indigenous languages—with surreal results. A new startup aims to make carbon credits credible. A new fridge container has a built-in dial to indicate when it was stored. This Valentine’s Day, send your beloved an “Idaho potato bouquet.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s non-AI-generated weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Computer Creatives. Sign Stickers. Dystopian Devices. Carbon Cousin. Loco Logo. Rodent Research. Webb World. Butter Battle. Pasta Problem.

Published January 13, 2023

How worried should creative professionals be about artificial intelligence? A Florence, Italy, street artist who applies whimsical stickers to traffic signs. CNet looks at some dubious introductions at last week’s CES. The FTC has proposed banning companies from requiring that employees sign noncompete agreements. Researchers have found a “cousin” to graphene, which they have dubbed “graphullerene.” Kia’s new logo is illegible. New Wordle-esque game lets you guess the list prices of houses for sale. Good news for mice this week—researchers are prolonging their lives and improving their memories. The James Webb Space Telescope finds its first exoplanet. A fire in a Wisconsin daily causes melted butter to flood nearby streams. Ronzoni discontinues its Pastina and the Internet sees stars. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Other Publishing Establishments—2010–2020

Published January 13, 2023

According to County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 664 establishments in NAICS 51119 (Other Publishing). This represents a decrease of 35% since 2010. In macro news, what’s behind the employee shortages?

Winning in 2023 Is a Team Effort

Published January 12, 2023

We present a virtual roundtable of Dscoop and HP Industrial Executives. They discuss the upcoming event in St. Louis, the value of the global Dscoop community, and the close connection between HP and its users as they transform the digital print industry in 2023 and beyond.

Graphic Arts Employment Essentially Flat in November

Published January 6, 2023

In November 2022, all printing employment was up +0.1% from October. Production employment was up +0.7% and non-production employment was down -1.2%.

Around the Web: Marketing Muster. Creating Crayons. Joe’s Journalism. Going Graphene. Feather Photography. Car Colors. Checking Chuckling. Fish Fiasco.

Published January 6, 2023

Marketing Brew rounds up the most overhyped and overlooked marketing trends of 2022. A new book looks at the history of the crayon. Our own Dr. Joe presents a four-part radio documentary about newspapers in old radio dramas. Graphene is poised to replace silicon as the basis or all electronics. Smart elevators look to take us for a ride. Facial recognition for birds via a “smart feeder.” BMW’s E Ink-wrapped car can display millions of colors for quite the road show. Printed electronics for therapeutic wearables. The cool upgrade on Brava’s smart countertop oven is a…glass window. The “LOL Verifier” is a device that will only let a user type LOL when they are actually laughing out loud. A huge aquarium in a Berlin hotel bursts. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Clumsy Cat. Welding Wishes. Beautiful Books. Book Binge. Wednesday Website. Color Can Conundrum. TENG Tech. Fusion Feat. PEARLS Peering. Sculpture Saviors. Cheese Cheer. Large Loop.

Published December 16, 2022

The winners of the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. This Christmas, give the gift of welding classes. How to gift wrap a dog. “The 60 Most Beautiful Books of 2022.” An exhibition called “Building the Book from the Ancient World to the Present Day.” Find out if it’s Wednesday. Seeing red in an image that has no red pixels. Artist and activist Stuart Semple rebels against the color of the year. Graphene-enhanced power sources for flexible electronic devices. What the “fusion experiment” at the National Ignition Facility actually accomplished. Police break into an art gallery to rescue what turned out to be a statue. Dictionary.com weighs in with its word of the year. Adorn your home with the “Cheese Wreath.” Supersize your breakfast with the Big Fruit Loop. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s pre-holiday miscellany.

Have a Little Holiday Cheer/October Shipments the Highest All Year

Published December 16, 2022

October 2022 shipments came in at $7.48 billion, up from September’s $7.32 billion—the best month of the year for the industry.  

JohnHenri Ruggieri Talks Marketing His Digital Embellishment Capabilities

Published December 14, 2022

Sundance MD JohnHenry Ruggieri looks back and dissects what he would have done differently in marketing his digital embellishment capabilities to his clients.

Directory and Mailing List Publishing Establishments—2010–2020

Published December 9, 2022

According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 594 establishments in NAICS 51114 (Directory and Mailing List Publishers). This represents a decrease of 64% since 2010. In macro news, estimates for Q4 GDP are in the +1.4%–3.4% range.

Around the Web: Word Weirdness. Search Stats. Print Patron. Tidying Tome. Light Love. Purple Panic. Graphene Guns. Wind Wonder. Moon Mania. Lager Lighting.

Published December 9, 2022

The OED’s word of the year is…something. Google’s search of the year. GE buys all the ads in the New York Times. A barcode tattoo that can be scanned by a store checkout. A 504-page photobook of people cleaning things. The Northern Lights Photographer of the Year’s 25 best aurora photos. Why are city streetlights turning purple? A graphene-based artificial muscle that is 17 times more powerful than human muscle. Is Grawindy the “next generation of wind technology”? Reusable elastic lids to replace plastic wrap. Artemis I is on its way back from the Moon. “Busch Light Bush Lights” let you drape “electric glowing cans” across the greenery in your yard, for some reason. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Winning Word. Paper Perfume. Terminal Typewriter. Crazy Cards. Tarot Tech. Horse Hobby. Moon Material. Canine Console. Cosmic Collision. Bambi Butchery. Pasta Pajamas.

Published December 2, 2022

Meriam-Webster’s Word of the Year is “gaslighting.” The latest perfume that smells like old books. What Siri might have been like in the 1970s. The creepy world of Victorian Christmas Cards. E Ink-based playing cards in search of a game. A father photoshops the real world to resemble his child’s drawings. Graphene is going to be tested on the moon. “Apple Health, but for dogs.” In the 16th century, you could sue animals. The James Webb Space Telescope watches galaxies collide. Coming soon to a theater near you: “Bambi: the Reckoning.” Olive Garden’s matching family pajamas. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

September Printing Shipments—The High Before the Holidays

Published December 2, 2022

September 2022 shipments came in at $7.20 billion, up a little from August’s $7.17 billion—reflecting a return to the industry’s regular seasonality. Could we be back to normal?

Product Strategy: GEW’s Gary Doman on UV Ink Curing for Sheetfed Offset

Published December 1, 2022

GEW’s Gary Doman discusses trends in sheetfed offset and how UV curing can address these trends.

Stefan Hunkeler Talks About the Upcoming Hunkeler Innovationdays 2023

Published November 29, 2022

Stefan Hunkeler spoke with David Zwang about the Hunkeler Innovationdays 2023 event happening early next year in Lucerne, Switzerland. Hunkeler Innovationdays is the place to see “next level automation” from over 100 exhibitors covering digital printing, software, finishing and related processes.

Product Strategy: Chris Hogge on Harris & Bruno's Coating Solutions for Continuous Feed Inkjet

Published November 28, 2022

Chris Hogge from Harris & Bruno International talks about inline coating and finishing trends in continuous feed inkjet and how Harris & Bruno is developing inline coating solutions that integrate directly inline with the production inkjet device to reduce touchpoints.

Book Publishing Establishments—2010–2020

Published November 18, 2022

According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 2,357 establishments in NAICS 51113 (Book Publishing). This represents a decrease of 21% since 2010. In macro news, October retail sales were up.

Around the Web: PRINT Props. Typography Tutorial. Site Slaughter. Swift Seat. Wandering Walls. Car Copy. Galactic Graphene. Star Start. Cold Color.

Published November 18, 2022

The 2023 PRINT Awards are now open. Friedrich Nietzsche’s Malling-Hansen Writing Ball. A branding expert talks about creative a bespoke typeface. A website that “deteriorates” every time someone visits it. Volkswagen’s motorized office chair can cruise up to 12 mph. A cubicle with motorized walls that can follow you around. Get a Hot Wheels version of your own car. A portmanteau word generator. Graphene is going into space. The James Webb Space telescope captures a protostar. Coors has developed nail polish that changes color when its temperature drops to a level acceptable for drinking a Coors Light. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: First-Place Fromage. Lice Language. Gorey Gala. Graphene Garments. “Fast Furniture.” Redaction Recreation. Computer Cuisine. Breakaway Baubles.

Published November 11, 2022

What won Best Cheese for 2022? The oldest sentence in Canaanite has been found. Entries from this year’s Edward Gorey House All-Ages Envelope Art Contest. A 3D-printed clay humidifier made from industrial waste. A new line of graphene-enhanced activewear that keeps the wearer warm. Cheap, more or less disposable furniture is the next environmental scourge. “Redactle”: a daily game in which the user tries to determine the subject of a random redacted Wikipedia article. Can AI create original, edible recipes? Also: Scientists increasingly can’t explain how AI works. A hacked drone can find the location of every WiFi-connected device in your house. Vlasic has created a scented candle that looks and smells like a jar of pickles. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly post-election miscellany.

Printing Outlook 2023 Sneak Peek: Business Conditions Slipped in 2022

Published November 11, 2022

Our preliminary Fall Print Business Survey results are in and our Business Conditions Index dropped slightly from 2021. Last year marked a rebound from the plummeting conditions in 2020, and 2022 likely represents a move toward stability.

Around the Web: Polling Problems. Deconstructing Designer. Malleable Mouse. Color Combat. Heat Help. Vinyl Vise. Height Horrors. Skin Souvenir. Convenience Crocs. Puppy Potable.  

Published November 4, 2022

We may be getting close to the death of telephone polling. Scott Albrecht is a designer and artist who “deconstructs letterforms with the intent to reconsider the relationship between message and viewer.” A foldable “origami travel mouse.” More skirmishes in the Adobe/Pantone color war. New cellphone line uses graphene-based heat dissipation.  Audio-Technica brings back its Mister Disc portable record player. Saving the tattoos of deceased loved ones. Avocado prices are the lowest they’ve been in five years. Crocs and 7-Eleven are collaborating on footwear design, for some reason. Busch has introduced turkey-flavored “beer” for dogs. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Periodical Publishing Establishments—2010–2020

Published November 4, 2022

According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 4,519 establishments in NAICS 51112 (Periodical Publishing). This represents a decrease of 37% since 2010. In macro news, actual Q3 GDP was strong.

Graphic Arts Employment Down Slightly in September

Published October 28, 2022

In September 2022, all printing employment was down -1.3% from August. Production employment was down -1.9% and non-production employment was down -0.1%.

Around the Web: Roland Revelry. Key Kit. Distraction Dismisser. Plate Poster. Pumpkin Palooza. Speech Signing. Silly Simulator. Galaxy Growth. Aldi Advent. Beer Beheading. Plastic Pourers.

Published October 28, 2022

Roland Corporation turns 50, celebrating their history in pianos with a new model. A working (sort of) Lego typewriter. A distraction-free word processing device lets you write in peace. A Twitter account that posts denied California vanity license plates. Check out Transylvania University’s creepy display of hundreds of jack o’lanterns. Graphene sensors translate sign language to speech. A flight simulator that simulates the experience of being a passenger on a cramped commercial flight, for some reason. The James Webb Space Telescope watches galaxies form around a red quasar. Aldi’s new Advent calendars for this year include a hot sauce calendar. A device that chops the tops off beer cans. Bacardi is eliminating pourers from its bottles to reduce plastic waste. It’s almost time to break out the woolen nose warmers. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Newspaper Publishing Establishments—2010–2020

Published October 21, 2022

According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 6,567 establishments in NAICS 51111 (Newspaper Publishing). This represents a decrease of 16% since 2010. In macro news, early estimates of Q3 GDP getting more bullish.

Around the Web: Freaky Photos. Sign Standards. Silence Solution. COVID Conqueror. Knotty Knitting. Mollusk Monument. Auto Aviation. Star Spectacular. Clam Condiment.  

Published October 21, 2022

AI restores and animates 19th-century photos. a pictorial feature on Paris, France’s “graphic standards manuals” from 1893. An important part of environmental graphics can be noise reduction. A new font “uses dots instead of letters,” for some reason. Graphene vs. COVID. A tool for color-matching yarn. A life-size sculpture of a giant squid that washed up in Newfoundland. A flying car now exists…sort of. The James Webb Space Telescope revisits the “Pillars of Creation.” Kellogg’s is teaming with Sugarlands Distilling Co. to develop “Eggo Nog” cream liqueur. “Clam-O-Naise.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

WhatTheyThink Talks with HP’s Haim Levit

Published October 19, 2022

In this article, sponsored by HP, WhatTheyThink talks to Haim Levit, Senior Vice President & General Manager, HP Industrial Print, about the major dynamics impacting the industry and how HP is responding to them.

Frank Heads to PRINTING United

Published October 18, 2022

Frank has saved every trade show directory since 1967. He uses the shelf of them to implore printers to attend the PRINTING United show in Las Vegas, October 19-21. Every major supplier to the industry is introducing new technology. Printers need the automation as well as the ability to move into new markets. Frank thinks it is worth the trip.

Around the Web: Plate Pixels. Index In-Depth. Kooky Keyboard. Better Battery. Redirection Revisited. Couch Crying. Hand Holding. COVID Candles. Webb Wolf. Prawn Pillow.

Published October 14, 2022

Digital license plates are now legal in California. A new book looks at the history of the index. Google Japan introduces a very long, single-row keyboard. Remembering Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer. A graphene-enhanced “SuperBattery.” NASA’s DART mission to repel an asteroid was a success! A “TikTok influencer” buys a accidentally buys a $100,000 couch “as a joke”; immediately regrets it. “Martha Stewart partners with Liquid Death to release ‘Dismembered Moments’ Candle.” Tracking COVID surges using bad Yankee Candle reviews. The James Webb Space Telescope captures a binary star’s “dust shells.” The Bettli Shrimp Meat U Shaped Neck Pillow. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

August August Printing Shipments  

Published October 14, 2022

August 2022 shipments came in at $7.16 billion, up quite a bit from July’s $6.67 billion—august business conditions indeed, and reflecting a return to the industry’s regular seasonality.

Around the Web: Perilous Pictures. Trusted Trademarks. Orbiting OOH. Clever Concrete. Toast Time. Clock Creator. Spit Savior. Sustainable Sneakers. Mars Mania. Ranch Redecoration.

Published October 7, 2022

Ugh: malware can hide in images. What are the most trusted brands in the US? Do we really need billboards in space? Graphene-enhanced “smart concrete.” Clever spring clip pin is a thumbtack without the tack bit. China’s “incense clocks.” David Mills, the Internet’s “Father Time,” is retiring. Wax worm saliva can readily degrade plastic. The James Webb Space Telescope takes a close look at Mars. Hidden Valley’s “Ranch Home Collection,” for some reason. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Publishing Establishments—2010–2020

Published October 7, 2022

According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 29,900 establishments in NAICS 511 (Publishing Industries [except Internet]). This represents an increase of 6% since 2010 and increase of 9% since 2016. In macro news, job openings were down 1.1 million in August while hires and separations (quits, dismissals, and layoffs) were generally unchanged.

Q2 Printing Profits: An End to the Tale of Two Cities?

Published September 30, 2022

Printing industry profits plunged during the pandemic peak but rebounded strongly afterward. But after hitting a peak in Q3 of last year, we’re on a downward trend, with annualized profits for Q2 2022 coming in at $3.92 billion, down a tad from $4.68 billion in Q1 2022.

Around the Web: Mammoth Manga. Number Nests. Royal Remaking. Virtual Voiceovers. Railway Redesign. Robot Rehab. Mouse Microbots. Averting Armageddon.

Published September 30, 2022

The longest book in existence is not designed to be read. House numbers that double as birdhouses. The arduous task of replacing Queen’s Elizabeth’s image on money, stamps, and products. An AI-powered speech engine for voiceovers. The complex design history of the London Unground map. BiaBrazil to integrate Graphene-Wear technology into women and men’s activewear. RIT researcher develops a humanoid robot that can teach humans tai chi. Swimming microbots clear pneumonia microbes from mice’s lungs. The James Webb Space Telescope captures details of spiral galaxy IC 5332. No need for Bruce Willis: NASA crashed a spacecraft into an asteroid to alter its orbit. A $10,000 first pumpkin spice latte engagement ring. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Count Conundrum. Lighting Leech. Floppy Fever. “Armor All”? Stick Solution. Carbon Kicks. Fruity Fashion. Hole Hoard. Ring Revelation.

Published September 23, 2022

How long should an article be? “Parasitic signage.” The floppy disk is, improbably, still in great demand. Graphene-based waxes and polishes for car detailing. A hand-crafted book about embroidery that was itself embroidered. Solving the problem of disposable chopsticks. New sneakers made from carbon emissions. A non-Pantone Color of the Year: Apricot Crush. An alternative to the skyscraper. An extensive online catalog of manhole covers from around the world. The Webb Telescope takes new pictures of Neptune. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Pre- and Postpress Establishments—2010–2020

Published September 23, 2022

According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 1,168 establishments in NAICS 32312 (Support Activities for Printing). This represents a decrease of 44% since 2010. In macro news, AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) indicates that demand for design services accelerated in August, boding well for commercial real estate construction and thus signage projects.

Printing Shipments: July Takes a Tumble

Published September 16, 2022

July 2022 shipments came in at $6.68 billion, down from June’s $6.98 billion, as the dog days of summer kicked in.

Around the Web: Blueprint Buddy. Better Bags. Tone Test. Plural Panoply. AI Art. Dead Dialogue. Insect Info. Finger Fun. Noodle Napping.

Published September 16, 2022

HP’s SitePrint robot for construction site printing. Graphene-enhanced bags for food storage offer greater strength and less weight and thickness. X-Rite’s quick online color IQ test. Why does English have so many different ways of pluralizing nouns? AI fails at reproducing classic works of art. Creepy AI grandma talks from the dead. Oh, NASA, we beg you not to crowdsource the name of the new Uranus Probe. Telling Queen Elizabeth’s bees about her passing. Lenovo’s new “virtual monitor” glasses. The James Webb Telescope captures a stellar nursery in the Tarantula Nebula. Creating wooden claws that fit over your fingers. A “blanket” based on udon noodles. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Book Printing Establishments—2010–2020

Published September 9, 2022

According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 379 establishments in NAICS 323117 (Books Printing). This represents a decrease of 29% since 2010. In macro news, highlights from the most recent Federal Reserve “Beige Book.”

Around the Web: Graphene Glut. Contested Contest. Printed Python. Color Commentary. Solar Solution. Tide Tidying. Eyeing Exoplanets. Cup Clarity.

Published September 9, 2022

New IDTechEx study finds the global supply of graphene exceeds demand—for now. An art contest winner used AI—fair play or cheating? Flashing back to a terrifying bus wrap from 2010. How did the colors get their names? Why is Dante the father of the Italian language—or William Caxton the father of English? “Solar trees” for EV charging. A “floating waste collector” drone for cleaning up the ocean. The James Webb Space Telescope took its first photo of a planet outside the solar system. A design for an easier-to-read measuring cup. Oscar Mayer has introduced a combination hot dog/popsicle, for reasons passing understanding. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Graphic Arts Employment Up Slightly in July

Published September 2, 2022

In July 2022, all printing employment was up +0.7% from June. Production employment was up 0.2% and non-production employment was up 1.8%.

Around the Web: Problematic Print. Mail Merch. Code Complaints. Display Developments. Textile Tech. Meteorology Melee. Cream Confusion. Galaxy Gazing. Table Tournament. Gravy Grappling.

Published September 2, 2022

What is a print-based physical disability? Play the USPS’s new Great American Mail Race board game. What is the future of QR code menus? The Bigme InkNote Color brings E Ink devices closer to competing with LED-based tablets. AI illustrates lyric music videos. New graphene-based “smart textiles” hit the market. Hungary punishes inaccurate meteorologists. No, New York State has not banned selling whipped cream to minors. The James Webb Space Telescope does a Cartwheel. “Competitive table setting.” Gravy wrestling is back! All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Digital Print Solutions at the Americas Print Show

Published September 1, 2022

Adam Silk, President & CEO of Digital Print Solutions, talks about the Americas Print Show, as well as how, as a provider of equipment to the commercial print industry, DPS has been helping its customers navigate the current supply challenges and take advantage of new opportunities in embellishments.

Victor Envelope Adjusts to Current Supply Chain Issues

Published August 30, 2022

Asif Sheikh, Victor Envelope Company, talks to Kelley Holmes about the company and shows some samples. Located outside Chicago and founded in 1959, Victor Envelope specializes in short-run and custom envelope projects. During the current supply chain crisis, Victor has been able to adjust their model to improvise as the market dictates.

Scodix’s Jason Rollo on the State of Digital Embellishments

Published August 29, 2022

Scodix’s Jason Rollo provides an update on Scodix’s mission to digitize, and become the leader in, print embellishment and decoration for the packaging and print markets.

Screen Printing Establishments—2010–2020

Published August 26, 2022

According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 5,563 establishments in NAICS 323113 (Commercial Screen Printing). This represents an increase of 25% since 2010. In macro news, 2Q GDP revised up to -0.6%.

Around the Web: Preserving Painting. Brand Bios. Denim Dyeing. Golden Graphene. Drought Displays. Phone Fun. Rainless Rides. Mill Meal. Hair Hoopla. Spicy Smooching.

Published August 26, 2022

Keeping the art of traditional sign painting alive. A comprehensive book on the history of brand logos. A new, more sustainable approach to blue jeans production. “Graphene turns rubbish into gold, literally.” Record droughts are revealing all sorts of hitherto hidden relics in the world’s bodies of water. An interactive site where you can design the next iPhone. “Would you eat a windmill?” NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope captures new detailed images of Jupiter. The USA Mullet Championship, for some reason. “The practical utility of equipping cats with laser beams.” Applebee’s new chicken wing sauce flavored lip gloss. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Mail Volumes Grow for Quantum Group

Published August 25, 2022

Quantum Group’s Cheryl Kahanek talks with Kelley Holmes about the company’s evolution from a commercial printer into more of a direct mail company. Based in Morton Grove, Ill., Quantum Group celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, and as it continues to grow its digital platform, it recently acquired a Canon ProStream.

Bobst’s Doug Herr on Folding Carton Production Trends

Published August 24, 2022

Bobst’s Doug Herr talks with Kelley Holmes about some of the recent trends in the folding carton market, and areas where Bobst has been seeing growth.

From "Narc" to Queen of Weed Packaging

Published August 23, 2022

Kary Radestock of Hippo Premium Packaging talks with Kelley Holmes about building a print and packaging business serving the growing cannabis industry.

Jon Buddington on the Challenges of Expanding the Focus of a Print Business

Published August 22, 2022

Jon Buddington of More Vang talks about the challenges he encountered as he expanded his business beyond print to offering creative services and software development.

Printing Shipments: The Best June Since the Before Times

Published August 19, 2022

June 2022 shipments came in at $6.98 billion, up a tad from May’s $6.96 billion. This is the best June the industry has had since 2019—although it’s well below that month’s $7.54 billion.

Around the Web: Paper Properties. Sign Slight. Tape Trick. Choice Charging. Dog Design. Bubble Ballad. Termite Taste. Pumpkin Palate. Candle Cuisine. Mollusk Minder.

Published August 19, 2022

Zapping a Gutenberg Bible with X-rays to see if Gutenberg learned about printing from Korea. Magnetic signage helps Mexican street food vendors circumvent new sign prohibitions. Converting Scotch tape packaging into a tape dispenser. Dell’s graphene-enhanced wireless charging clip. A typeface in which each letter is a dog. A music box that plays music by popping Bubble Wrap. Will 100,000 termites eat fast food? Taste test Trader Joes autumn food products and earn $1,000. Ultrarealistic candles that look like food. Immobilize your toddler with Walmart’s octopus baby outfit. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Taylor Corp.’s Nick Gawrulek on Cultivating Printing’s Next Generation

Published August 18, 2022

Taylor Corp.’s Nick Gawrulek talks to Kelley Holmes talks about his entry into the printing industry. He is a strong advocate for bringing young people into the industry and discusses his efforts in attracting the next generation of workers, and the responsibility of the industry to mentor that next generation.

NextPage Leverages Customer Data for Clients

Published August 16, 2022

Gina Danner of NextPage talks to Kelley Holmes about NextPage’s data analysis services. NextPage is a high-volume direct mail provider based in Kansas City, Mo., that helps brands use their customers’ data to enhance their relationships with those customers.

Jon Buddington Talks About Expanding Print Business to Include Software and Apps

Published August 15, 2022

Jon Buddington of More Vang talks to Kelley Holmes about transitioning his printing business over the past 30 years to include a creative agency, software development, and marketing automation apps.

Around the Web: Test Test. Silly Stickers. Perilous Plants. Cola Cartridge. Raincoat Reservoir. Parasol Power. Better Buds. Spider Sleep. Dog Dudes.

Published August 12, 2022

Your expired COVID tests may have been given an extension. An epidemic of really bad forged car inspection stickers. When in the UK, visit The Poison Garden—but carefully. The Cana is a countertop “beverage printer” that can replicate many different flavors using a single cartridge. “Celebrate rainy days” with a rainwater harvesting coat. A solar-powered umbrella that can be networked. Graphene-enhanced earbuds. New evidence that spiders may dream. The World Dog Surfing Championships. Another roadside attraction…or two. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Commercial Printing Establishments—2010–2020

Published August 12, 2022

According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 16,283 establishments in NAICS 323111 (Commercial Printing except Screen and Books). This represents a decline of 26% since 2010. In macro news, inflation is flat!

Ecofoil: Fully Recyclable, OEM-Certified Metallized Media Optimized for Digital Printing

Published August 11, 2022

Mark Kempster of Ecofoil/Crystal Press, talks with Kelley Holmes about Ecofoil, the world’s first, fully recyclable, OEM-certified metallized board media optimized for digital printing. It has been certified for HP Indigo, Ricoh, and Xerox.

June Graphic Arts Employment—The Production/Non-Production See Saw This Month Favors Non-Production Workers

Published August 5, 2022

In June 2022, all printing employment was up +0.2% from May. This time, it was production employment that was down (-0.8%) and non-production employment that was up (+2.3%).

Around the Web: Rapid Rotation. Sheep Shipping. Recommended Reading. Keeping Calendars. Casino Clock. Clever Key. Hometown Heroes. Car Cluster. Faux Fax. Balloon Bistro. Velveeta Vodka.

Published August 5, 2022

The Earth is spinning faster than ever—and no one knows why. New Bubble Wool packing material made from discarded wool. “Recommendmeabook.com” lets you try out first pages of books. Graphene foam-based sensors for better prosthetics and robotics. New site tells you in what year you can reuse a calendar. A 3D-printed flip clock that uses playing cards to display the time. A redesigned door key that makes it easier to orient. Interactive map lets you find famous people from your hometown. A flock of self-driving cars mysteriously show up at the same corner and idle…ominously. Remember when urban legends and conspiracy theories spread by fax? The first hot air balloon-based restaurant. “La Dolce Velveeta” heads to happy hour with the “Veltini.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Get On the Same Page (Audio)

Published July 29, 2022

Most salespeople agree that advance prep for important prospect meetings is a precursor for successful call outcomes. However, based on my observations from working with hundreds of salespeople over the years, many continue to just "wing it." Sales call after sales call, they leave the entire outcome to chance.

Teleporting Print Into The Metaverse (Audio)

Published July 29, 2022

When you incorporate physical, interactive print into the buying journey, not only are you driving prospects to their online destination, you’re creating a subconscious memory of that experience (and brand) – simply by adding the power of touch. Triggering interactivity, like an augmented reality (AR) experience, increases conversion volume - and profit margins – further positioning interactive print into a necessary communication channel.

Ai In The Produce Section

Published July 29, 2022

Increasing Print Business With Augmented Reality (Audio)

Published July 29, 2022

It’s finally happened. Print and marketing firms are incorporating augmented reality (AR) into their marketing tool kits. Not just for fan engagement and brand building, but as a business problem-solving and revenue-driving solution. Far from AR competing with print, it’s driving it.

Shipments: It’s The Time Of The Season (Audio)

Published July 29, 2022

4Over Demonstrates Continued Growth With A Broad Services Portfolio (Audio)

Published July 29, 2022

4Over is the largest trade-only printer in the United States with 10 locations and close to one million square feet of production space and 1,100 employees. The company offers offset, digital and wide-format printing, covering a wide range of customer applications. In this discussion, CEO Shaheen Javadizadeh, who joined the company in 2020 from the enterprise software industry, shares company updates and industry insights.

Interactive Signage: An immersive discussion (Audio)

Published July 29, 2022

Interactive signage is changing from simply providing information to creating immersive experiences. At the same time, the actual mechanism by which a user interacts with a display is changing from simple physical interaction to electronic interaction.

Signarama Downtown Louisville wins "Best in Show" at Signarama Sign Awards (Audio)

Published July 29, 2022

This year’s "Best in Show" award went to Signarama Downtown Louisville (Ky.) for a project that involved designing, constructing and wrapping a giant KFC bucket for Louisville-born rapper Jack Harlow (https://www.jackharlow.us). The bucket, which also served as a giant loudspeaker, was created to accompany Harlow on the local leg of his concert tour. KFC signed on as a sponsor of Harlow’s tour, and one of the Louisville shows was intended as a launch event for the sponsorship.

Spoonflower: One Year Later (Audio)

Published July 29, 2022

Shutterfly acquired Spoonflower one year ago. Now it's time to check in.

Americas Print Show 2022 Preview (Audio)

Published July 29, 2022

The Americas Print Show 2022 (APS22), Aug. 17-19 in Columbus, Ohio, is an opportunity for commercial printing professionals to once again gather in person after a long pandemic hiatus. Its location in the heart of the country makes it easy to access and in driving range for a large number of printing companies.

AMPLIFY Print Minneapolis (Audio)

Published July 29, 2022

There was a lot of anticipation for AMPLIFY—a first-of-its-kind event presented by Association for Print Technologies (APTECH) and the Foil and Specialty Effects Association (FSEA). The event centered around the topic of value-added print finishing and embellishment, and boasted the latest and greatest in technology, equipment, materials, inspiration and thought leadership.

Johnson's World: Sounding Like a Dry Martini (Audio)

Published July 29, 2022

Countless scientific studies have unanimously concluded that online reading results in inferior comprehension and minimal retention. In-depth on-screen reading is also uncomfortable on my eyes.

Inkjet Integration: Flexible and Sustainable (Audio)

Published July 29, 2022

Inkjet technology is creating and transforming many disparate applications, and it has the potential to do it sustainably. Increasingly, people and organizations are looking at new forms of print and industrial applications to meet sustainability demands.

A Matter Of Responsibility: Know why you're checking in on your clients (Audio)

Published July 29, 2022

A Matter Of Responsibility: Know why you're checking in on your clients (Audio)

Published July 29, 2022

Modern VDP – What, Why, How, and What’s Next (Audio)

Published July 29, 2022

Harnessing the Power of Proactive Maintenance (Audio)

Published July 29, 2022

As digitization leads the way forward for print manufacturing, print service providers (PSPs) now can use machine learning and data analytics to shape processes and guide important decisions. Both capabilities are integral to Industry 4.0. They provide PSPs with the power to proactively optimize the management, conservation and ROI of their printing equipment as well as achieve higher levels of operational productivity and efficiency.

Opening to the Realities of a Remote Workforce (Audio)

Published July 29, 2022

Around the Web: Box Boon. Art Action. Robot Roughness. Phone Photos. Substitute Sentences. Winging Winnebago. Fork Feasting. Spud Spoons. Bird Buddy. Creepy Claw.

Published July 29, 2022

A new packaging system that automatically creates the smallest possible box that uses the least amount of material. Posable action figures derived from fine art. A chess-playing robot breaks its six-year-old opponent’s finger. An online Pay Phone Museum. A sentence rephraser. Graphene-based medical diagnostic systems that can provide results within a few minutes. Winnebago’s “flying camper” from the 70s. Edible utensils for the ultimate in waste reduction. Heinz’s “spoon fries.” The Adventures of Chef and Emu. Upping the creepiness factor with the new field of “necrobotics.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Printing Establishments—2010–2020

Published July 29, 2022

According to the latest, just-released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 22,225 establishments in NAICS 32311 (Printing). This represents a decline of 18% since 2010. In macro news, Q2 GDP declined -0.9%.

Around the Web: Graphene Graphics. Bogus Beats. Newspaper Niche. Billboard Beast. Tome Travelers. Umlaut Understanding. Ball Bot. Blood Bet. Bug Betrayal. Toilet Tech.

Published July 22, 2022

A graphene-based ink. A suspicious biometric in a smartwatch ad. A newspaper for a single retirement community has a higher circulation than a lot of metro dailies. A magazine we’d like to see. 3D billboards get more extreme. A gallery of the objects that librarians have found in returned library books. Kentucky’s Depression-era “horseback librarians.” Why do metal bands love umlauts? Is baseball ready for robo umpires? A dead mosquito provides crucial evidence in a burglary case. “AI litter boxes”—hopefully for cats. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly monkeypox miscellany.

Printing Shipments: The Best May Since the Before Times

Published July 22, 2022

May 2022 shipments came in at $6.77 billion, up from April’s $6.73 billion. This is the best May the industry has had since 2019—although it’s well below that month’s $7.92 billion.

Trish Witkowski Talks About Her New MarketWise Academy

Published July 21, 2022

Trish Witkowski talks to Kelley Holmes about a new partnership with Daniel Dejan and Vicki Strull called MarketWise Academy, a training program for businesses to learn about print and digital marketing—where each one works in the customer journey. The first fruit of this endeavor is a day-long in-person masterclass, with some hybrid in-person/virtual events in the works, as well.

The Evolution of VITS International

Published July 21, 2022

Deirdre Ryder of VITS International talks to Kelley Holmes at the Amplify Print event. VITS International started as an inline finishing equipment company specializing in sheeters, and the company has evolved to produce a full range of finishing equipment, as well as customized bespoke solutions for customers.

FSEA’s Jeff Petersen on the Amplify Print Event

Published July 20, 2022

Jeff Petersen, executive director of the Foil and Specialty Effects Association (FSEA), talks with Kelley Holmes about FSEA’s partnership with APTech that led to the Amplify Print event highlighting the latest trends and technologies in embellishments and other finishing effects.

Sugar Print Helps Brands Design for Embellishments

Published July 19, 2022

Darren Kenning of Sugar Print talks to Kelley Holmes at the Amplify Print event. Founded three years ago, Sugar Print specializes in adding embellishments to printed materials, working with agencies and brand owners to design materials for embellishments.

Rollem Changes with the Times

Published July 18, 2022

Doug Sherwood, National Sales Manager for Rollem, talks to Kelley Holmes at the Amplify Print event about how the 60+-year-old finishing equipment manufacturer has changed, evolved, and adapted over the years.

Around the Web: Media Memorial. Creative Cursing. Bottle Bother. Battery Breakthrough. Dead Dialogue. RIP Recipes. Taco Tech. Kitty COVID. Spirit Saloon. Launcher Love. Cereal Scents.

Published July 15, 2022

An heirloom app ensures your digital presence outlasts you. A “Reddit chart of compound pejoratives.” Carlsberg’s dubious attempt at a wooden bottle. Upcycling discarded EV batteries to harvest graphene. Alexa goes full Black Mirror. The growing trend of “gravestone recipes.” Taco Bell’s new human-less drive-through. The first cat-to-human COVID transmission. A “giant, nuclear-powered ‘hotel airplane’” stays aloft for years. Buy a haunted bat for $250K. Three words: “Nerf rocket launcher.” General Mills’ new “cereal-inspired candles.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Printing Establishments—2010–2020

Published July 15, 2022

According to the latest, just-released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 23,393 establishments in NAICS 323 (Printing and Related Support Activities). This represents a decline of 20% since 2010. In macro news, Q2 GDP estimates are bearish—but that may not be cause for concern.

Trish Witkowski Reports on Amplify Print

Published July 14, 2022

Foldfactory’s Trish Witkowski talks about her impressions of last month’s Amplify Print event, including educational sessions, highlights from the show floor, conversations with show attendees and exhibitors, and many examples of how to take advantage of all the benefits of print.

Ellen Manning on Cold Foiling

Published July 12, 2022

Eagle Systems' Ellen Manning talks to Kelley Holmes at last month's Amplify event about the company’s inline cold foiling equipment and its capabilities for adding "pizzazz and glitz" to labels and packaging.

Printing Profits: Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Published July 1, 2022

Despite COVID, printing industry profits have been pretty good, with annualized profits for Q1 2022 coming in at $4.55 billion, down from $4.79 billion in Q4 2021.

Around the Web: Coupon Collapse. Creative Communication. Leaf Leather. Curse Collection. Graphene Grant. Training Tunes. Shoe Show. Burger Bugaboo. Ketchup Cooler.

Published July 1, 2022

Clipping printed coupons is on the decline. Core77 Visual Communications Design Award winners. Making leather from pineapple leaves. A cursed object trifecta: books, a phone number, and a Kleenex ad. A grant to develop graphene-based sustainable housing construction materials. Air New Zealand is adding beds to its economy class. The keys to an effective workout playlist. Designing Saucony’s Endorphin sneaker launch event. What the optimal number of times you should flip a hamburger? French’s introduced a mercifully short-lived ketchup pop. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Harris & Bruno’s Chris Hogge on the Transition to Digital Finishing

Published June 30, 2022

Chris Hogge from Harris & Bruno talks to Kelley Homes at last week’s Amplify event about how, as printing has transitioned from offset to digital, finishing equipment—especially the coating equipment Harrison & Bruno manufactures—has had to make the transition as well.

Duplo’s Rick Salinas on Cannabis Packaging Embellishment

Published June 29, 2022

Duplo’s Rick Salinas talks with Kelley Holmes at last week’s Amplify event about Duplo’s offerings for finishing and embellishment. Their solutions have proven especially popular for short-run packaging, particularly for the cannabis industry.

Parkland Direct’s Envelope Embellishments

Published June 28, 2022

Clint Seckman talks to Kelley Holmes at the Amplify Print event about Parkland Direct. The company started 40 years ago as a litho printer, began producing envelopes 15 years ago, and for the last five years has completely focused on envelopes, adding embellishments and other effects to increase open and response rates.

David Ashkenaz on Software Investment Fears

Published June 27, 2022

Kelley Holmes talks with David Ashkenaz, independent software consultant for the printing industry, about the fears printers have of investing in software to help run their businesses more efficiently.

Around the Web: Paper Passion. Skin Sensor. Browser Bier. Future Furniture. Global Glee. Tub Trouble. Finger Fromage.

Published June 24, 2022

Welsh artist Polly Verity folds paper into “into elegantly suggestive sculptures.” A graphene-based e-tattoo measures blood pressure. Just-discontinued Internet Explorer gets a gravestone. Ikea has a new AR app to delete your furniture and replace it with Ikea’s. How to laugh online in 26 languages. The short-changed designer who created Nike’s Swoosh. Hacking into a “smart Jacuzzis.” A British photographer captured a transit of the ISS across the Sun. Velveeta launches cheese-scented nail polish, for some reason. A guitar made out of French fries. Kate Bush’s welcome return to the charts. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Support Activities for Printing Annual Payroll—2010–2019

Published June 24, 2022

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, US establishments in NAICS 32312 had an annual payroll of $1.4 billion. Payrolls declined steadily over the course of the 2010s, closing out the decade at $1.0 billion in 2019. However adjusting for inflation, payrolls declined by -38% over the course of the decade. In macro news: AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) indicates that demand for design services remains strong, boding well for commercial real estate construction and thus signage projects.

April Shipments: Returning to Regular Seasonality

Published June 17, 2022

April 2022 shipments came in at $6.67 billion, down from March’s $7.03 billion. The general trend in all but two of the last seven years has been for April shipments to decline from March’s. That’s not really good news but suggests we’re at least getting back to normal.

Around the Web: Tome Tok. Joyce Joy. Paper ’Puter. Lionfish Leather. Robust Rugs. Solar Satellites. Wonder Worms. Gas Goof. Seat Suffering. Canine Comfort.

Published June 17, 2022

BookTok has caused a “print book revolution.” Modern online brands reinterpreted as their old-school forebears. Yesterday was Bloomsday—and the 100th anniversary of the publication of “Ulysses.” A prototype of a laptop that uses an e-paper-based display. Florida’s invasive lionfish is an excellent source of “fish leather.” Graphene makes wigs more durable. Adding robotic insect legs to household objects. One step closer to space-based solar energy-collecting satellites. Polystyrene-eating beetle larvae could hold the clues to dealing with plastic waste. Fired gas station manager accidentally charges 69¢ a gallon for gas; may become local folk hero. A new airplane seat design looks horrifying. A dog bed for humans. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Amplify Opens in Minneapolis

Published June 15, 2022

Kelley Holmes talks to APTech President Thayer Long at the inaugural Amplify event, presented in conjunction with the FSEA, a show dedicated to finishing and embellishment technology.

Strategic Factory Is the WhatTheyThink/Printing News Top Small Commercial Printer for 2022

Published June 13, 2022

Kelley Holmes visits Strategic Factory’s Owings Mills, Md., facility to talk with president and CEO Keith Miller about the company’s second straight win as Top Small Commercial Printer—and help celebrate its 22nd anniversary.

Book Printing Annual Payroll—2010–2019

Published June 10, 2022

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, US establishments in NAICS 323117 had an annual payroll of $1.1 billion. Payrolls declined over the first half of the 2010s, at least on a current dollar basis, but started to rise again, closing out the decade at $993 million in 2019. However adjusting for inflation, payrolls declined by -25% over the course of the decade. In macro news: what’s going on with the real estate market?

Around the Web: Eschewed Entries. Password Parting. Loony Logos. Get Graphene Gear! Dog Detection. Big Birds. Canny Cane. Taking Tokens. Steak Saga.

Published June 10, 2022

What are the least-read articles in Wikipedia? With any luck passkeys will replace passwords. When AI tries to recreate famous brand logos. WearGraphene’s graphene-enhanced jacket is now available. COVID-sniffing dogs may be more accurate than PCR tests. Proto-chickens and giant demon ducks. “DRM wheelchairs.” A high-tech cane for the elderly. Bored Ape Yacht Club avatars are getting stolen with monotonous regularity. The fascinating history of Salisbury steak. A giant giraffe sculpted out of chocolate. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

swissQPrint Showcases Its Neon Inks

Published June 9, 2022

Kelley Holmes talks to Carmen Eicher of swissQPrint about the company’s wide-format printer portfolio. The ISA Sign Expo was the first showing of the company’s recent product releases, including a set of neon inks and its Generation 4 printers, including the Nyala 4, which features new printheads and smaller drop sizes.

Mutoh Shows Off Its New Products at the ISA Sign Expo

Published June 8, 2022

Kelley Holmes talks to Brian Phipps, President and GM of Mutoh America, about the company’s return to industry events, and some new product launches, including the new eco-solvent XpertJet Pro line with a new printhead and 25% faster speed, and the XpertJet 661, a 24x19-inch flatbed UV printer.

Jim Raffel Geeks Out with Caldera’s Joey Phillips

Published June 7, 2022

Resident Print Geek Jim Raffel talks with Caldera’s Joey Phillips about the latest updates to Caldera’s software. Version 15 of CalderaRIP will see improvements to the cutting algorithm, new drivers, and updates to existing drivers, amongst other new and upgraded features. PrimeCenter, Caldera’s prepress software, also gets a major upgrade to Version 2.

April Graphic Arts Employment—Print Production Up from March, Non-Production Down Slightly

Published June 3, 2022

In March 2022, all printing employment was up +0.6% from March. This time, it was production employment that was up (+1.6%) and non-production employment that was down (-0.9%).

Around the Web: Wallpaper Warming. Painting Pastried. Grim Game. Daily Disruption. Mechanical Maids. Robot Roommate. Hamster Horror. Font Feeling. Bee Befuddlement.

Published June 3, 2022

Graphene-based, self-heating wallpaper. The Mona Lisa is attacked with cake, for some reason. A hyper-realistic first-person writer video game in which you try selling short stories to magazines. Morningstar’s latest update on “supply chain disruptions.” Is there any point to recycling plastic? Dyson is closer than ever to robot housekeepers. NY State program distributes robots to the elderly to combat social isolation. A hamster genetic engineering project goes awry. Monotype studies how typefaces affect emotions. 3D printing a human ear from the patient’s own cells. Bees are now fish, at least in California. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Canon Prisma: What's New

Published June 2, 2022

WhatTheyThink contributors Pat McGrew and Ryan McAbee dug deep into Canon Prisma in a recent WhatTheyThink Product Spotlight. In this video, Bob Barbera, Canon USA Marketing Director, hits the high points on Prisma, its value to a production operation, and the new tools the company has added.

How to add value – and profitability – to ink on paper (Audio)

Published May 31, 2022

New technologies, like digital embellishment, allows printers to embrace the power of touch by creating enhanced, desirable, memorable and valuable brand experiences. And when there is perceived value, there is a willingness to pay a premium.

Press On & Rock On (Audio)

Published May 31, 2022

RMGT’s rock-n-roll themed “Commit to Print” World Tour, celebrating heavy metal and sheetfed-offset printing, kicked off earlier this month.

Farmers and Mechanics (Audio)

Published May 28, 2022

What do farmers and mechanics have in common? The reason I’m asking is that I drove past the Farmers and Mechanics Bank last week. It struck me as a strange combination, but then I started thinking about the way the term “farmer” is used to describe salespeople. In that context, the sales universe is made up of hunters and farmers, but now I’m thinking there’s a role for mechanics as well.

Top 100 Small Commercial Printers (Audio)

Published May 28, 2022

Each year, WhatTheyThink | Printing News invites small commercial print business owners to participate in our Top 100 Shops Survey. The key word is “small.” The upper limit for participation at $25 million in annual revenues.

Technology Outlook: Labels and Packaging (Audio)

Published May 28, 2022

Labels and packaging went through the pandemic strong, and came out of it even stronger. Some of that growth was a movement from analog to digital production to address the shifting consumer purchasing behaviors, including an increase in product segmentation, mass customization and personalization.

Technology Outlook: Software & Workflow (Audio)

Published May 28, 2022

The Art and Science of Data in a Workflow

Technology Outlook: Digital Printing (Audio)

Published May 28, 2022

Overcoming challenges through efficiency

Technology Outlook: Wide-Format & Signage and Textiles & Apparel (Audio)

Published May 28, 2022

In our annual Technology Outlook, we tend to group wide-format and signage, and textiles and apparel together, as there is a bit of overlap—maybe not in terms of end users, but certainly in terms of equipment and manufacturers. Soft signage is perhaps the best example of where the two segments overlap, but companies like Mimaki, EFI, Durst and others are active in both wide-format and textiles.

Raspberry Creek Fabrics Patents Unique Process for Digital Textile Printing (Audio)

Published May 28, 2022

In July 2020, in the heart of the pandemic, we wrote about how Utah-based Raspberry Creek Fabrics implemented automation into its fabric printing process to streamline operations and increase profitability. Now the company has gone a step further, receiving a patent for a unique web-to-print software for roll-to-roll fabric printing. This automates the step-and-repeat process in a way that creates the smallest possible file, speeding the printing process for a company that prints thousands of step-and-repeat designs on more than 30 different fabric types with orders ranging from a half a yard to more than 100 yards.

Don’t Gift the Business (Audio)

Published May 28, 2022

There are many pitfalls in transitioning ownership of a small business to the next generation. I know. I’ve seen many owners over the past 30 years deal with just that. Probably the biggest misconception is that the business should be gifted. It shouldn’t. It should be sold. Here’s why.

Future Workforce (Audio)

Published May 28, 2022

Supply chain issues abound. While the immediate focus is on the paper shortage, the other crisis is the labor supply chain.

Technology Outlook: Finishing (Audio)

Published May 28, 2022

There’s something pretty fascinating going on in the finishing category. For the (many) years that I’ve been following advancements in the industry, this is the year that I’ve seen finishing automation really hit its stride in a new way.

Is there an easy button for digital embellishment design? (Audio)

Published May 28, 2022

Emotion. When you are adding embellishments to print, there is only one goal in mind, and that is creating emotion. Whether it be through a tactile raised effect that makes the bark on the tree you just printed feel like a real tree, a hypnotizing foil effect that mesmerizes, or a metallic or fluorescent toner that is artfully woven into a design for maximum visual impact, the idea is the same: to make you feel something more than just CMYK.

First Graduates Of The Mariano Rivera Foundation Printing Vocational Training Program (Audio)

Published May 28, 2022

The first graduates of the Mariano Rivera Foundation Printing Vocational Training Program are ready.

Grow Your Own (Audio)

Published May 28, 2022

Get creative to find new talent.

Bringing a Dream to Life: SpeedPro Project of the Year (Audio)

Published May 28, 2022

SpeedPro partnered with St. Jude Children’s Hospital and Arena Partners on the immersive "Dream Chicago" event, which raised more than $1.7 million for the cause and landed SpeedPro Chicago Loop the highly-coveted title of "Project of the Year" in first place out of 122 SpeedPro locations.

Association Insights - FTA - Flexographic Technical Association

Published May 28, 2022

Since 1958, Flexographic Technical Association (FTA) has been enabling flexographers to grow their skills, connect with likeminded individuals, expand their reachable markets and drive flexography to package printing dominance.

Around the Web: Robot Retailers. Clothing Commerce. Cutting-Edge Car. Crossword Computer. Bye-Bye, Booths. Equine Email. Crater Critters. Asteroid Antics. Sacred Seltzer. Fiction Flames.

Published May 27, 2022

Yelp and Chasing Paper introduce wallpaper supporting small local businesses. Robotic “stores on wheels” can chase you around public spaces. Amazon opens a physical clothing store. A graphene-enhanced supercar. AI wins the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. NYC’s last phone booth is removed. Have an Icelandic horse respond to your email. A volcano…full of sharks. A “potentially hazardous” asteroid passes by Earth tonight. Hard seltzer made with real holy water. Go out in style (if that’s the word to use) in the Kiss Kasket. Margaret Atwood takes a flamethrower to an unburnable copy of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Commercial Screen Printing Annual Payroll—2010–2019

Published May 27, 2022

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, US establishments in NAICS 323113 had an annual payroll of $1.8 billion. Payrolls were generally unaffected by the Great Recession and rose over the course of the 2010s, at least on a current dollar basis, finishing out the decade at $2.3 billion in 2019. However adjusting for inflation, payrolls declined by -10% over the course of the decade. In macro news: Q1 GDP revised down.

Xanté Keeps Pushing the Envelope

Published May 24, 2022

Kelley Holmes talks to Robert Ross, President and CEO of Xanté about the future of print. The traditional commercial printer still has a role to play in helping customers grow their own businesses, regardless of what physical print products are involved. Xanté also specializes in envelope printing equipment, and has been seeing that segment grow strongly.

March Shipments: It’s Déjà Vu All Over Again

Published May 20, 2022

March 2022 shipments came in at $6.91 billion, up from February’s $6.14 billion. So far, it looks like 2022 is closely mirroring 2021—which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Around the Web: Martian Mirage. Product Placement. Solving Superhydrophobicity. Robot Ramble. Bonding Burritos. Erased Entries. Painter Play. Cliffside Convenience. Machine Mirth.

Published May 20, 2022

Did the Curiosity rover photograph a doorway on Mars? Product placement is set to go to the next level. Self-shading windows. Researchers accidentally discover graphene-based water-repellent coatings. A delivery robot goes for a leisurely stroll in the woods. Edible tape for securing burritos and other wraps. Deleted Wikipedia articles live on in the Deletionpedia. Artle, a fine art-based version of Wordle. The world’s most inconvenient convenience store. “Strollers as a service.” Google’s AI can now get jokes. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Zünd America’s Beatrice Drury on Cutting and Finishing

Published May 18, 2022

Zünd America’s Beatrice Drury talks with Kelley Holmes about Zünd’s participation in the ISA Sign Expo, the markets the company is involved in, and the kinds of cutting and finishing equipment Zünd manufactures. She also shares some examples of the specialized cutting Zünd equipment can produce.

Onyx’s Jonathan Rogers Talks About Automation

Published May 17, 2022

Onyx Software’s Jonathan Rogers talks about the forthcoming major ONYX software release, the primary focus of which will be a simplified user experience and easy-to-use tools for everyday automation.

Rick Salinas on Duplo at the ISA Sign Expo

Published May 16, 2022

Duplo’s new president Rick Salinas talks to Kelley Holmes talks about Duplo’s first time exhibiting at the International Sign Association (ISA) Sign Expo. He notes that the big growth areas in the industry are signage, POP, and packaging, and Duplo is moving to pursue those areas.

Commercial Printing Annual Payroll—2010–2019

Published May 13, 2022

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, US establishments in NAICS 323111 had an annual payroll of $15.9 billion. Payrolls dipped during and in the aftermath of the Great Recession and then rose, at least on a current dollar basis, over the latter half of the decade before dropping in 2019, finishing out the decade at $16.3 billion in 2019. However adjusting for inflation, payrolls declined by -12% over the course of the decade. In macro news: inflation is starting to slow ever so slightly.

Around the Web: Sand Solution. Plastic Problems. Conquering Corrosion. Stapler Substitute. Drone Deluge. Fromage Finder. Cremation Cannon. Pod Parting.

Published May 13, 2022

Print Against War shows how the global printing industry is standing with Ukraine. Turning discarded glass containers back into sand to help combat coastal erosion. Devastating report finds that plastic recycling simply is not working. Graphene-based anti-corrosion paint for automotive applications. A “staple-less stapler.” A revised 3D-printed cap for the iconic Kikkoman soy sauce bottle. Now you can be chased through a forest by a drone swarm without fearing they’ll crash. A new app is Shazam for cheese. Hurl your dearly departed into the afterlife with the Loved one Launcher. RIP Apple iPod. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Cris Pollnow Talks About IntoPrint Technologies

Published May 12, 2022

Kelley Holmes talks to IntoPrint’s Cris Pollnow. IntoPrint sells its own branded equipment for signage, label, and envelope printing, and serves as a dealer channel for other equipment vendors, as well. EFI is their flagship vendor. IntoPrint also has a strong service team.

Jim Raffel Geeks Out with Mark Heimerl

Published May 11, 2022

Resident Print Geek Jim Raffel talks with Serigaph’s Mark Heimerl at last week’s ISA Sign Expo about the new product and application areas Serigraph is moving into, how they are adapting with the times and with new demands from customers, and the new equipment they are acquiring to implement those changes.

March Graphic Arts Employment—Print Production Drops from February, Non-Production Up a Bit

Published May 6, 2022

In March 2022, all printing employment was up +0.2% from February. Non-production printing employment was up +2.7%, but production employment was down -0.9%.

Around the Web: Plastic Problems. Library Love. Perilous Packaging. Glasses Galore. Fowl Fashion. Dear Deere. Scarce Sand. Butcher Bots.

Published May 6, 2022

Using recovered plastic to 3D print on-demand retail items. The Brooklyn Public Library is offering free digital library cards. “Wrap rage” is real. Three approaches to eyeglasses-based displays. “Chicken eyeglasses.” Graphene helps turn discarded facemasks into concrete. Bricking stolen farm equipment. The world’s impending sand crisis. New technology is coming to a restaurant near you. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

ISA President Lori Anderson Opens Sign Expo 2022

Published May 5, 2022

International Sign Association (ISA) President and CEO Lori Anderson welcomes sign and display graphics professionals to Atlanta, where the first Sign Expo in three years kicked off yesterday.

Printing Annual Payroll—2010–2019

Published April 29, 2022

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, US establishments in NAICS 32311 had an annual payroll of $18.8 billion. Payrolls dipped during and in the aftermath of the Great Recession and then rose, at least on a current dollar basis, over the latter half of the decade, coming in at $19.6 billion in 2019. However adjusting for inflation, payrolls declined by -11% over the course of the decade. In macro news: GDP decreased by 1.4% in Q1 2022.

Around the Web: Tropicana Trouble. Problematic Packaging. Ceiling Selling. Time Transformation. Following Felines. Candy Commemoration. Soap Story. Cookie Conundrum.  

Published April 29, 2022

When rebrands go wrong. The latest color ereaders from E Ink. Specialized tools to open troublesome packaging. The Sistine Chapel ceiling—1:1 scale and published in a massive, three-volume book. Graphene for automotive interiors. Scientists are working on a new, improved second. The Netflix opening animation…using yarn. Does sleeping where a cat sleeps improve human sleep? The gummy bear turns 100. What happens to used hotel soap? MIT researchers invent an Oreometer to study cookie physics. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Joris Bosch on Digital Printing and Finishing

Published April 28, 2022

Joris Bosch from Holland-based Wihabo talks about digital printing and finishing. Wihabo offers commercial and packaging printing. Five years ago, they added an HP Indigo 10000, which was a game changer for the company. They have added digital die-cutting and recently added Highcon and Scodix machines to add even more value to printed materials.

Will We See You in Minneapolis in June for Amplify?

Published April 28, 2022

This unique event is focused on finishing, with a large dash of embellishment. In this video discussion, you'll hear from APTech about the event, and gain the perspective of both an attendee and an exhibitor about why the show is important and what you might gain from attending or exhibiting!

Adam Sidrane on Digital Labels and Packaging

Published April 27, 2022

Adam Sidrane from K. Sidrane talks about digital labels and packaging. The company was founded by his grandfather in 1948 as a medical device packaging converter, transitioned to a flexo label shop, and most recently a digital label shop. The company specializes in digitally printed labels, folding cartons, shrink sleeves, and flexible packaging. Its three HP presses have helped it serve the gamut of the digital label market.

Empowering Women in the Printing Industry Through Mentorship

Published April 26, 2022

Blooming Color’s Rosemarie Breske Garvey and MagnetStreet’s Brenda Baird share some highlights of a “women in print” panel discussion at last month’s Dscoop on International Women’s Day. One key takeaway from the panel was to focus on mentorship to empower young women in the printing industry.

Cober Solutions’ Jeff Sider on Attending Dscoop

Published April 25, 2022

Jeff Sider, Senior Development Manager for Cober Solutions 106-year old technology company that does a little bit of everything—from sheetfed print to digital printing and wide-format. The company currently has five HP Indigo presses, with two more being installed.

February Shipments: OK, About What We Expected

Published April 22, 2022

February 2022 shipments came in at $6.53 billion, down from January’s $6.67 billion. As we remarked last month we’re starting the year better than we did 2021 and reverting back to our normal seasonality trends.

Around the Web: Mug Mania. Chip Change. Ad Archive. Fantasy Food. Sound Storehouse. Deadline Diner. Galactic Graphene. Cool Colander. Charged Chopsticks.

Published April 22, 2022

Reusable glass packaging. Subcutaneous chip payments. An archive of newspaper ads from the 1980s. Two juxtaposed front page stories accidentally help nab a thief. Using AI to generate pictures of food that doesn’t exist. The Museum of Endangered Sounds preserves the noises of old technologies. A café for writers that won’t let them leave until they’ve met their deadlines. Graphene goes into space! Produce stickers are the bane of composters. Two words: “electric chopsticks.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

FASTSIGNS Franchisee Talks Diversity and Inclusion

Published April 21, 2022

Carmen Ruiz, a FASTSIGNS franchisee from Holly Hill, Fla., talks to Kelley Holmes about giving a panel discussion at the annual FASTSIGNS convention about inclusion and diversity. They also talk about an interesting project her business worked on that brought diversity and inclusion to life in her community.

Making the Leap to Becoming a FASTSIGNS Franchisee

Published April 19, 2022

Dan Stutzman, a FASTSIGNS franchisee from Erie, Pa., talks about the history of his company and how he converted to a FASTSIGNS business. Dan also talks about the support his business gets from the corporate side of the franchise business.

Kurt Michalak of Fortis Solutions Group Talks Growth

Published April 19, 2022

Kurt Michalak, Fortis Solutions Group’s Director of Manufacturing for the Central Region, talks about how the company has grown from five plants to 15 in five years. The company specializes in everything from pressure-sensitive labels to flexible packaging, with a press mix that is 70% flexo, 25% digital, and just under 5% offset. They have also acquired a fleet of HP Indigo presses, expanding from four to 25 in those five years.

Printing Industry Annual Payroll—2010–2019

Published April 8, 2022

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, US establishments in NAICS 323 had an annual payroll of $20.2 billion. Payrolls dipped during and in the aftermath of the Great Recession. They rose, at least on a current dollar basis, over the latter half of the decade, coming in at $20.7 billion in 2019. However adjusting for inflation, payrolls declined by -13% over the course of the decade. In macro news: forecasters are not expecting a happy Q1 GDP report.

Around the Web: Caption Cursing. DALL-E Drawing. Dash Delight. Poem Pageant. Shape Shifting. Disease Detective. Dull Day. Speaking Spores.

Published April 8, 2022

Automatic speech recognition systems add age-inappropriate captions to children’s YouTube videos. An AI technology that will let you create digital images by describing what you want to see. In praise of the em dash. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land.” Improving the recyclability of flexible plastic packaging. Graphene may save lives. Required reading: “The Price of Nails Since 1695.” What was statistically the most boring day in history? Mushrooms speak! A mobile phone umbrella, for some reason. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s dead serious weekly miscellany.

Graphco Holds Open House at EZ Mailing in Indianapolis

Published April 5, 2022

Graphco President Chris Manley is joined by EZ Mailing Owner Kevin Bennet on the final day of a two-day open house dubbed "The Unfair Advantage" by Graphco. They discuss the company's beginnings as a mail only shop to a full service printer and mailer now with offset, digital, and wide-format capabilities.

CustomXM’s Paul Strack on How the Pandemic Changed His Company

Published April 4, 2022

Sometimes a major crisis like a global pandemic helps a business focus, change, and better prepare itself for the future. Paul Strack, President of CustomXM, shares how this happened with his print business.

Catching Up With a FASTSIGNS Master Franchisor from Puerto Rico

Published April 4, 2022

José Corujo, FASTSIGNS Franchise Partner from Puerto Rico, talks to Kelley Holmes about his three centers there and 10 years of experience as a franchisee. José also discusses selling a center in the Dominican Republic as a Master Franchisor, as well as what it means to be a part of the FASTSIGNS franchise network.

Around the Web: Linedock Lamp. Circular Storybooks. Cornea Cleverness. Creative Cancelling. Brain Boosting. Poster Panoply. Coin Cuisine. Block Battle.

Published April 1, 2022

A Ukrainian designed lamp to benefit Ukraine. CAD-designed 360-degree pop-up books. A contact lens-based display. Delivering medications via (different) contact lenses. Using carbon monoxide to synthesize high-quality graphene. Dyson introduces combination noise-cancelling headphones/particulate-cancelling air purifier. Turns out no one really wants IQ-enhancing brain implants. However, a brain implant helps a “locked in” ALS patient communicate. A special exhibition of Krautrock concert posters. A new documentary featuring Mel Brooks pays tribute to the automat. A vacuum that sucks and sorts LEGOs. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s dead serious weekly miscellany.

Now it Can be Told: Why Printing Shipments Declined! (April Fools 2022 Edition)

Published April 1, 2022

In this exclusive report, we found a modest positive relationship between the decline in average consumption of margarine and the value of printing shipments.

Shroud of Turin (Audio)

Published March 31, 2022

When IT Drives Operational Decisions (Audio)

Published March 31, 2022

Needed: Quick-Turn Labels

Published March 31, 2022

A trio of OEMs share what to expect in label printing trends.

Print Franchise Review 2022

Published March 31, 2022

Print franchise networks struggled, like many businesses, in 2020. But most of them have bounced back almost to 2019 levels and are seeing good growth going into 2022.

Print Franchise Review 2022

Published March 31, 2022

Print franchise networks struggled, like many businesses, in 2020. But most of them have bounced back almost to 2019 levels and are seeing good growth going into 2022.

Your Package Has Been Delivered

Published March 31, 2022

Look outside your front door and the chances are that there is at least one, if not multiple cartons stacked up. They are not just stacked up by your front door. it is a growing global phenomenon.

ISA Sign Expo Preview

Published March 31, 2022

Innovative Fibers Are Set To Improve Textile Sustainability.

Published March 31, 2022

It is estimated that some 60% of apparel is made of petroleum-based polyester or polyester blends. As the world moves to diminish its reliance on petroleum, polyester fabrics are an attractive target.

Pre-Call Prep Leads To Better Prospect Meetings

Published March 31, 2022

Most salespeople agree that advance prep for important prospect meetings is a precursor for successful call outcomes. However, based on my observations from working with hundreds of salespeople over the years, many continue to just "wing it." Sales call after sales call, they leave the entire outcome to chance.

HP Indigo Brings New Products, New Energy to DSCOOP 2022

Published March 31, 2022

HP Indigo delivered strong performance in 2021, and the team headed out to Colorado for DSCOOP 2022 armed with enthusiasm and lots of news. In this sponsored interview created from written answers provided by HP Indigo, Senior Vice President and General Manager, HP Indigo and Industrial Go To Market, Haim Levit, shares an update and a look ahead.

The Cat and Mouse Game (Audio)

Published March 31, 2022

A Marketing Lesson from Walter the Cat

The Advantages of Being a FASTSIGNS Co-Brand Location

Published March 28, 2022

Chuck Lobaugh, a FASTSIGNS franchise owner from Hilton Head Island, S.C., talks to WhatTheyThink's Kelley Holmes about his long history in the printing industry, why he became a co-branded FASTSIGNS location, and the advantages it gives him as a small business owner in challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Outdoor Advertising Employees—2010–2019

Published March 25, 2022

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 24,534 employees in NAICS 541850 (Outdoor Advertising). This NAICS actually grew post-Great Recession, with a slight decline mid-decade before climbing back up to 27,620 establishments in 2017. 2018 and 2019 saw a drop in employees. In macro news: AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) indicates that demand for design services continues to grow, boding well for commercial real estate construction and thus signage projects.

Around the Web: Meme Memorial. Clever Cup. Ballpoint Brilliance. Vest Value. Ring Wrangling. Light Longevity. Bone Benefits. Playing Portably.

Published March 25, 2022

RIP Stephen Wilhite, father of the GIF. A recyclable, reusable, lidless, strawless beverage cup. Stunning ballpoint pen art. A special deal on USB graphene heated vests. A map showing the latest sunrise times if DST were made permanent. How to fold plastic shopping bags for easy storage. A two-piece engagement/wedding ring that is assembled during the wedding. The longest-burning lightbulb is in Livermore, Calif. Bones are more complex than we thought. A portable, rollable AI-driven chessboard, and a set of playing cards than can turn into a chess board. A glowing ceramic tardigrade night light. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Kevin Lee Explains Pineapple Payments

Published March 24, 2022

Kelley Holmes interviews Kevin Lee of Pineapple Payments at the NPSOA Owners Conference in San Antonio, Tex. Pineapple Payments is a payment technology company that provides print owners with a simple and secure payment processing system to collect their accounts receivables via credit card payments.

American Litho’s Digital Printing Journey

Published March 24, 2022

At Dscoop, Frank Arostegui, Executive Vice President of American Litho, talks about how the company first went digital in 2017 with an HP 12000. They are now at capacity and are considering a second one. They also acquired a PageWide T240, were able to migrate a lot of work over to it, and 12 months later bought a T250. Both are now at capacity.

Packaging Lab’s Unique Business Model

Published March 21, 2022

Jeff Searson & Dan Niblo, Founders of Packaging Lab, talk about how they are only company that offers flexible packaging in as fast as 24 hours with no minimum quantity. The company relies on automation and HP Indigo digital printing. They went into this year’s Dscoop with specific needs, which were met.

January Shipments: Let’s Get This Year Right

Published March 18, 2022

January 2022 shipments came in at $6.64 billion, down from December’s $7.09 billion. We’re starting the year better than we did 2021 and reverting back to our normal seasonality trends.

Around the Web: Lasting Letraset. Fabulous Fiberboard. Pod Power. Criticizing Classics. Sharing Shaming. Plug Portability. Bee Bricks. Bright Bread. Ear Edibles.

Published March 18, 2022

Remember Letraset? There is now an online store dedicated to dry transfer type. Bullish forecasts for digital textile printing. The history of corrugated cardboard. Stephen Colbert’s NFT heist movie trailer. 3D-printed living pods made from graphene-infused cement. Now-classic 20th-century novels weren’t always well-received when first published. Netflix’s new passive-aggressive crackdown on password sharing. A unique approach to portable electric outlets. Construction options that benefit local pollinators. Yukiko Morita’s handmade Bread Lamps are real bread with LEDs inside. Mike Tyson’s new bitten-ear-shaped cannabis edibles. A human slinky! All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Advantage Color Graphics’ Tom Ling Attends His Sixth Dscoop

Published March 17, 2022

Tom Ling, Founder and Owner of Anaheim, Calif.’s Advantage Color Graphics, attends his sixth Dscoop and talks about the value he gets from collaborating with his peers, and learning what others have been exploring—in this year’s case, flexible packaging.

Tom O’Brien Talks About His 41 Years in the Business

Published March 17, 2022

Tom O’Brien President of Greenville, N.C.’s Acculink and Accuflex Packaging, talks about his history in the industry. He founded Acculink in 1980 and had always been in the digital cut-sheet space. Currently, a strong focus of the company is on e-commerce fulfillment for popular photogift/photocard brands, printing customer photos on items like mugs, neckties, mousepads, and cards.

Smartpress’s Matt Chapman on Attending Dscoop

Published March 15, 2022

Matt Chapman, Vice President of Smartpress, an online printing business founded in 2009 and based outside Minneapolis, talks about the benefits of attending last week’s Dscoop.

Point B Solutions Produces Highly Variable Direct Mail

Published March 15, 2022

Joe Avery, Owner of Point B Solutions, talks about some new initiatives his company is pursuing following the recent acquisition of another company, such as expanding into packaging. Point B Solutions also produces a lot of highly variable direct mail for food clients.

Houston Independent School District: An education in-plant success story

Published March 14, 2022

Chuck Werninger is a well-known name in in-plant circles as a successful in-plant professional and evangelist for print. We had the opportunity to speak with him on a wide range of topics regarding in-plant operations, how he has been able to drive change within the Houston Independent School District, and on the value of print in general.

Sign Manufacturing Employees—2010–2019

Published March 11, 2022

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 70,507 employees in NAICS 33995 (Sign Manufacturing). This NAICS category tumbled in the wake of the Great Recession, ultimately climbing to 76,944 employees in 2019. In macro news: Inflation continues to continue to climb.

Around the Web: Wreck Retrieval. Cover Clairvoyance. Container Questions. Salmon Suits. Battling Baker. Menschy Mirror. Head Heist.

Published March 11, 2022

The wreck of the “Endurance” was found—as was footage of it actually going down. The magazine cover as a contrary indicator. The Gender Pay Gap Bot called out hypocritical companies on IWD. Why do bottles have indented bottoms? And why did bottles used to have rounded bottoms? An excellent webinar on graphene in textiles. Hooking synthesizers to plants, for some reason. Seattle is being sued by fish. A “smart mirror” that actually sounds kind of cool. A box of human heads was stolen from a truck in Denver. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly salvaged miscellany.

Smoothie Shop Leverages FASTSIGNS for Relocation Project

Published March 10, 2022

Joel Miller, Owner of FASTSIGNS of Manchester, CT & FASTSIGNS Newington, CT, talks about his two businesses, their history, and the benefit of being a franchisee of FASTSIGNS. Joel also shares details of an interesting project for a smoothie shop that leveraged financing for his customer through FASTSIGNS enabling them to spend more on the project and achieve better results.

A Creative Journey in Fashion (Audio)

Published March 9, 2022

Lucy Swann has been designing beautiful surface patterns for the fashion industry for many years and has an extensive knowledge of the sector, particularly children’s wear. She is living the dream and doing what she loves. Having recently diversified to launch her own scarf collection, here she shares her inspiring creative journey and what the future holds.

I Call Nonsense: Let's dissect some internet tropes (Audio)

Published March 9, 2022

I’m calling out some nonsense, and what better place to start than the internet? It is home of social media, which is unequalled for nonsense.

How To Use Augmented Reality To Generate Revenue (Audio)

Published March 9, 2022

Augmented reality has hit a milestone. It is no longer a niche technology used primarily for entertainment and brand-building. Thanks to simple games on fast food packaging or the ability to take selfies with virtual celebrities and share them on social media, it has evolved into a true revenue-generating tool. For printers looking for opportunities to build new revenue streams, AR has arrived.

2022 FASTSIGNS/Wide Format & Signage Project of the Year (Audio)

Published March 9, 2022

The winner of this year’s FASTSIGNS/Wide Format & Signage Project of the Year is FASTSIGNS York (Pa.), whose major rebranding of the Shippensburg University football team’s training facility caught the judges’ eyes.

The Book-Of-One Produced On Site (Audio)

Published March 9, 2022

Entering a location, maybe a book shop, and having the book you want printed and bound within a few minutes -- this is the promise of Gutenberg One.

How To Educate The Next Generation In Apparel (Audio)

Published March 9, 2022

The U.S. January jobs report was surprisingly strong, adding 467,000 positions. In addition to the "Great Resignation" phenomenon, it was expected that jobs numbers would be more in the 150,000 range. In addition, average wages rose 5.7%. This has led some pundits describing the trend as "The Great Upgrade" – many employees leaving existing jobs not to stay home, but rather, to find jobs with higher pay and a better work/life balance. But the job growth is not equal across all industry segments. And many in the textiles and apparel industry still struggle to find enough workers. There is a lack of skilled workers in North America due to the outsourcing to Asia and other parts of the world that began in the 1970s.

Did We Learn Anything?

Published March 9, 2022

It's all about quality, not quantity, when it comes to human resources.

Up with Higher Education (Audio)

Published March 9, 2022

Finding signage opportunities in academic applications.

Self-Service Resistance in the Print Industry (Audio)

Published March 9, 2022

If you’ve been paying attention at all, self-service is a critical trend in almost every industry. We are doing things for ourselves that our parents would never have dreamed of. Complex financial transactions, complex real estate dealings, and complex ordering of expensive and custom manufactured items - all online, all in a self-service fashion. It's starting to look like we might only interact with software to procure just about anything.

Printing Outlook 2022: Back to the Future or Groundhog Day? (Audio)

Published March 9, 2022

Digging into the results of our "Business Outlook Survey" for the our annual "Printing Outlook 2022" report, they showed an industry that has largely recovered from 2020, but faces some new challenges and some older challenges now writ large. We’re not exactly back to normal, but we’re closer than we thought possible in a long time.

The Bridge Between Under-Served Students And The Printing Industry Workforce (Audio)

Published March 9, 2022

Founded by Yankees Hall-of-Fame pitcher Mariano Rivera, the Mariano Rivera Foundation provides youth in under-served communities with one-to-one mentorship, vocational training, college preparedness and STEM learning. Its flagship training program, "Print, Design, and Packaging Development," is run out of a church property in Gainesville, Fla.

How To Engage And Educate Tomorrow's Print And Packaging Workforce (Audio)

Published March 9, 2022

For the most part, print and packaging service providers today are busy again. In fact, some of those I have spoken with say they are too busy. Is that a thing? However, they all to seem to have the same two problems; available paper and available personnel. These problems were already gaining some visibility under the surface pre-pandemic, but became severe and more obvious post-pandemic.

What It Means to Be a FASTSIGNS Franchisee

Published March 8, 2022

Kevin Hebert, FASTSIGNS Franchise Owner from St. Charles Parish, La., speaks with WhatTheyThink VP Kelley Holmes at the FASTSIGNS Annual Convention about what it means to be a part of the FASTSIGNS network.

January Graphic Arts Employment—Print Production Drops from December, Non-Production Up Slightly

Published March 4, 2022

In January 2022, all printing employment was down -2.6% from December, with production employment down -4.1%. Non-production printing employment offset that a bit by being up a modest +0.9%.

Around the Web: Language Learning. Smell Search. Creepy Casing. Teutonic Typeface. Nefarious Knockoffs. Graphene Guest. Bionic Basher. Tater Tale. Witchy Ouijas.

Published March 4, 2022

An animated history of the English language. What would Wordle have looked like in the 1980s? Why do new books smell different than old books? The myths and realities of books bound in human skin. The typeface used on German license plates was designed to thwart forgery. Fast-fashion knitwear faces a knockoff problem. Graphene guest stars on an episode of NCIS. VR boots that simulate walking. A drummer with an AI-enabled bionic arm. Heavens-Above tracks the satellites currently orbiting over your location. The origin of the potato chip. When in Salem, Mass., visit the museum dedicated to Ouija Boards. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

The Journey to Becoming a FASTSIGNS Franchisee

Published March 2, 2022

Clint Ehlers, franchise owner from Willow Grove, Pa., discusses how he became a FASTSIGNS franchise and the research he conducted for the decision to start this business. Clint also discusses being elected to the International Franchise Association board.

Around the Web: Wet Wattage. Quit Questions. Pricey Picture. Revising Roboto. Liquid Lenses. Bottle Battle. People Portal. Robot Restaurants Redux. Hellish Hotel. Car Carnage. Cardiac Cod.

Published February 25, 2022

The emerging field of “liquid electronics”—and graphene is there! Redesigning corporate logos with a Medieval theme. The Great ReShuffling: meet the new buzzword, same as the old buzzword. An actual, physical object will be the most expensive photograph, bizarrely. Google introduces Roboto Serif. Self-adjusting water-based eyeglasses—in low- and high-tech versions. Coca-Cola’s tepid approach to its refillable bottle program. Beam a 3D hologram of yourself with PORTL. An update on robot restaurant servers. Also: the first robot hotel. A boat full of luxury cars bursts into flames. A robot fish powered by heart cells.  All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Outdoor Advertising Establishments—2010–2019

Published February 25, 2022

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 2,378 establishments in NAICS 541850 (Outdoor Advertising). This NAICS actually grew post-Great Recession, with a slight decline mid-decade before climbing back up to 2,765 establishments in 2018. 2019 saw a massive drop in establishments. In macro news: Q4 2021 GDP revised up to 7.0%.

WhatTheyThink Member and FASTSIGNS Co-Brand Owner Richard Helmey

Published February 25, 2022

Richard Helmey, a co-branded FASTSIGNS Owner from Houston, Tex., talks about being a member of WhatTheyThink and how he got started as a FASTSIGNS co-brand location. Richard also talks about some of the applications his business has worked on.

Around the Web: Giving Gear. Clever Containers. LEGO Letterpress. Mitigating Microplastics. Gamut Game. Controlled Consumables. Carvana Craziness. Haute Hardware. Potato Perfume.

Published February 18, 2022

What happens to all the T-shirts printed for the team that lost the Super Bowl? A more recyclable approach to beverage containers. Using LEGO for letterpress printing. Samsung is partnering with Patagonia to address the problem of microplastics produced by washing clothes. Test your skills at color matching. Certain types of solvent inks are now regulated as controlled substances by the UK. Graphene-based inks can help with low-power hot water heaters. Carvana’s auto-buying robot buys a seven-year-old car for more than the owner had paid for it. Hardware-as-luxury-jewelry is apparently a thing. A new perfume smells like french fries. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

December Shipments: No Christmas Miracle

Published February 18, 2022

As 2021 drew to a close, December printing shipments came in at $7.00 billion, down from $7.10 billion in November, keeping with the usual seasonality of a slow December. For 2021 overall, we came in at $82.87 billion for the year, just below 2020’s $83.73 billion.

Sign Design UX Dos & Don’ts (Audio)

Published February 17, 2022

Employ a functional graphic approach for positive way-finding user experiences, top designers advise.

Core Publishing Solutions: A Dramatic Shift In Application Mix Enables Ongoing Business Growth (Audio)

Published February 17, 2022

Core Publishing Solutions offers publishers the convenience of seamlessly switching titles between offset and digital runs, and has installed two sheetfed inkjet presses and three wide-format web-fed inkjet presses, having nearly four billion pages on its digital presses.

Sign Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2019

Published February 11, 2022

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 5,824 establishments in NAICS 33995 (Sign Manufacturing). This NAICS category tumbled in the wake of the Great Recession, ultimately climbing back up to 5,865 establishments in 2019. In macro news: Inflation continues to climb.

Around the Web: Meme Manufacturing. Wordle Weary. Decoding Dickens. Privatizing Palettes. Recycled Rubber. Terrific Toaster. Tomato Tale. Snowy Sobriquet. Feather Fracas.

Published February 11, 2022

A “paper engineer” creates printed, pop-up versions of classic memes. More Wordle variants. Better than the DaVinci: the Dickens Code. Privatizing specific hexadecimal colors for NFTs (or something dubious like that). Graphene-based rubber. An award-winning non-electric toaster. Why are tomatoes red? The suspense is over: Minnesota has eight new snowplow names. Spit-take warning: “Pillow fighting could be the next great combat sport.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Catherine Monson on FASTSIGNS’ Terrific 2021

Published February 11, 2022

Kelley Holmes talks with Catherine Monson, CEO of Propelled Brands, at the FASTSIGNS Convention, which opened this week in Grapevine, Tex. FASTSIGNS' parent company Propelled Brands has been putting together a family of business-to-business and service-oriented franchisors with the recent acquisitions of NerdsToGo My Salon Suite. The jewel in the crown is FASTSIGNS, which had a banner year in 2021, expanding to 761 locations in eight countries.

Post-Pandemic Profits on the Upturn

Published February 4, 2022

Shipments have been slowly climbing back from the pandemic recession of 2020, but profits have been on a sharp upturn. However there still remains a bit of a profitability gap between the two major asset class distinctions.

Around the Web: Groundhog Galore. Replacement Rodent. Extra Eyesight. Translation Trouble. Superfluous Sockets. Super Supercapacitors. Timeless Tomes. Pointless Product. Tesla Trouble. Coin Couture.

Published February 4, 2022

All about Groundhog Day. Tetrachromats have an extra photoreceptor that lets them see 100 times as many colors as the rest of us. 7-Eleven is testing touchless “floating holographic displays” for self-checkout. A mistranslated sign inadvertently advertises free alcohol. A gigantic, 60-socket power bank could fully charge 5,000 smartphones with 3,000-mAh batteries. A gallery of “automated furniture.” Enhancing the energy storage capacity of graphene supercapacitors used in solar heating. A search engine that finds full-text public-domain books. Why would anyone program a self-driving car to ignore stop signs? A chainmail cocktail dress made from pennies. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly wintry miscellany.

Throwing Shades - What you need to know about textiles and color management (Audio)

Published February 4, 2022

Color management continues to be a hot topic in commercial print, packaging and display graphics. But what about textiles?

Alon Bar-Shany Q&A – Transformations; the keys to success

Published February 4, 2022

Alon Bar-Shany has been on the front line of this transformation for over 25 years at HP, rising to general manager of HP Indigo, one of the leaders in the transformation to digital printing. Since leaving HP, he has continued his journey in industry transformations, most recently as the Chairman of Highcon, Executive Chairman of Redefine Meat Ltd. and Chairman and CEO of Twine Solutions.

I'm Sorry, Dave: The rise of AI in print and packaging (Audio)

Published February 4, 2022

We have all read about or seen lots of Sci Fi stories in our lifetime. While they are fascinating and capture the imagination, they have always seemed somewhat detached from our day-to-day lives.

Automation Starts with Your Print MIS/ERP (Audio)

Published February 4, 2022

Automation is about finding those recurring patterns and then taking them out of the hands of humans and into the realm of software, so that repetitive tasks can be done programmatically.

Packaging Boom and What it Means for PSP's

Published February 4, 2022

Ceramic Tiles & the Recirculation Revolution (Audio)

Published February 4, 2022

Ceramics tile decoration has become a crucial application for industrial inkjet. A brief retrospective on the market can set the stage for the technology advances that enabled the success in ceramics, particularly with respect to the importance of nozzle-based recirculation in print heads.

Take Out the Laborious Part of Labor with Metrics (Audio)

Published February 4, 2022

How to use observational platforms to keep your business running smoothly.

Arms of Love: New automation options for wide format (Audio)

Published February 4, 2022

It took some time, but automation is gradually creeping into wide-format printing, especially on the flatbed side. Many wide-format printers pride themselves on producing bespoke projects and specialty “one of a kind” applications. And, after all, haven’t us industry pundits and analysts—and vendors—been pushing this kind of approach?

Talent and Culture as a Competitive Advantage (Audio)

Published February 4, 2022

Talent and culture have not been given the deep attention that strategy and capital have historically had. The printing industry is no exception. However, competition grows stiffer with the passage of time. Rapidly changing technology has created a transparent world where any sort of advantage rapidly deteriorates.

Resizing our Carbon Footprint - Is Sustainability in reach for Textiles and Apparel? (Audio)

Published February 4, 2022

Customers Demand Greener Options: A Guide to Eco-Friendly, Sustainable Fabric and Textile Printing—Print Customers Are Increasingly Requesting Greener Materials (Audio)

Published February 4, 2022

Print customers are increasingly requesting and specifying greener materials, helping their supply chains become more sustainable. Large-format printing is no exception; and the industry has responded by providing machines that use less electricity, processes that use less water, curing that utilizes less heating, while also focusing on developing newer, greener substrates and materials.

Scott Schinlever on EFI’s Inkjet Business

Published February 3, 2022

Scott Schinlever, COO of EFI’s Global Inkjet Business provides an update on the EFI inkjet business, encompassing such disparate markets as wide format, textiles, corrugated, and ceramic printing.

All Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing Employment—2010–2019

Published January 28, 2022

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 16,147 employees in 322299 (All Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing establishments). This NAICS category bounced up and down over the course of the 2010s, ending with 15,177 employees in 2019. In macro news: Yesterday was Q4 GDP Day!

Around the Web: Graphene Galore! Blood Book. Sayonara, SATs. Salacious Solving. Bad Bedding. Suspense Sting. Top Tales. Dairy Devices. Compromised Cars. Robot Restaurant. Retro Runners.

Published January 28, 2022

Graphene-Info updates all its graphene market reports. Saddam Hussein’s “Blood Qur’an.” The SATs to go all-digital in 2024. Sweary and lewd versions of Wordle. Due your research before naming bedroom furniture products. Where did the “three notes of suspense” originate? A new book looks at Haruki Murakami’s T-shirt collection. Here we go: “wearables for cows.” A teen hacker gained remote access to Teslas around the world. Inside the Beijing Olympic Village cafeteria. Sneakers designed like old VHS tapes. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

November Shipments: Reversion to the Mean

Published January 21, 2022

November 2021 printing shipments came in at $6.99 billion, down from $7.29 billion in October, and the first month that shipments dropped since early summer. Year to date, January-to-November shipments are $75.56 billion, only a bit off 2020’s January-to-November number of $76.36. If we have a really good December, 2021 could come in slightly above 2020.

Around the Web: Conquering Corrosion. Spent Signage. Talking Tech. Shambling Shelves. Periodic Poetry. Gone Games. Mechanical Masterpieces. Dish Delight.

Published January 21, 2022

Graphene-based anti-corrosion primer applied in the UK. Reverse-engineering Wordle. Las Vegas’s Neon Boneyard is a sign-based history of the city. What technology will invade our lives in 2022? Useful robots are simply self-driving shelves. A periodic table of haiku. What happened to Atari? Mechanical versions of classic paintings make art interactive. A useful feature of Starlink’s satellite dishes has an unforeseen consequence. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s New Year’s miscellany.

Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing Employment—2010–2019

Published January 14, 2022

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 19,221 employees in NAICS 322291 (Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing establishments). This NAICS category bounced up and down over the course of the 2010s, ending with 19,593 employees in 2019. In macro news: CPI increased 0.5% in December.

Around the Web: Toaster Tech. Car Color. Tongue Texting. Dynamic Dumbbells. Pointless Purloining. Malicious Meters. Face Fitbit. Snow Solution. Troubling Tie-In.

Published January 14, 2022

A graphene-based toaster. A BMW covered with E Ink panels can change color at the push of a button. A “smart retainer” for tongue-based text messaging. Alexa-based smart dumbbells can adjust weights via voice command. “The Spine Collector” scams book editors for manuscript copies of forthcoming books, for seemingly no reason whatsoever. QR code-based parking meter scams. An electronic mask can detect leaks. A liquid based bubble clock. How did people clear roads before the snowplow? Walmart’s special “Pain Box” DVD edition of “Dune.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s Wordle-winning miscellany.

Preliminary 2021 Business Conditions: Help Ruin This Chart!

Published January 7, 2022

We are sifting through the preliminary data from our 2021 Print Outlook Survey, and so far we have found that 17% of print businesses reported that revenues in 2021 increased more than 25% over 2020, and a further one-third (32%) saw revenues up 10–25%. But our survey is still open, so here is your chance to wreck this chart.

Around the Web: Public Property. Compelling Covers. Required Reading. Pre-PARC. Lego Lettering. Graphene Galore. Clever Clicker. Tongue TV. Fast Fitness. Visual Visage. Piscine Pilots.

Published January 7, 2022

Winnie the Pooh is ours now! The best book covers of 2021. What was the best book of the past 125 years? A history of the graphical user interface. All the latest textile-based graphene developments. Samsung’s new TV remote can harvest energy from your router’s radio waves. Sony’s new Bravia Cam allows you to control your TV via gestures. A lickable TV screen to sample televised tastes. McDonald’s in China is installing exercise bikes. A display, app, and platform for displaying digital facial expressions on masks. Fish can now drive cars. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s New Year’s miscellany.

October Shipments: Still On the Rise

Published December 17, 2021

October 2021 printing shipments came in at $7.23 billion, up from September’s $6.99 billion. This is the third month in a row in which shipments increased. Year to date, January-to-October shipments are $68.21 billion, a bit off 2020’s January-to-October number of $69.03. Unless November and December are higher than expected, 2021 will come in slightly below 2020.

Around the Web: Locked Letters. Coffee Creativity. Clever Clip. Terrific Toaster. Neat Knife. Graphic Glasses. Lego Largesse? Ornithological Oddballs. Strategic Syrup. Gingerbread Ginmill.

Published December 17, 2021

Mary, Queen of Scots: champion paper folder. “Coffee spill art.” Redesigning the binder clip. The smartest toaster was invented in 1949. An Internet-enabled cutting system for printers. A monocle/eyewear system for display graphics. Is it really better to invest in Lego’s than gold? The future of the swag bag? Birds aren’t real! Taping Canada’s strategic maple syrup reserves. The future of work from home? Miller High Life’s gingerbread dive bar. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing Employment—2010–2019

Published December 10, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 35,368 employees in NAICS 32229  (Other Converted Paper Product Manufacturing establishments). This NAICS category bounced up and down over the course of the 2010s, ending with 34,770 employees in 2019. In macro news: Beige Alert!

Around the Web: Polly’s Paper. Printable Pianos. Toilet Tour. Milk Monitors. Rapid Rejection. Arm Artifice. Perilous Press. Bogus Bomber. Pachyderm Parade. Nutty Nutcracker. Crazy Condiment.

Published December 10, 2021

Meet Polly Verity: paper sculptor. Printing playable, paper-based pianos. An exhibition of artistic toilet paper holders. New technology can detect and warn of bacterial contamination from inside a milk container. Introducing the Journal of Universal Rejection. Graphene-based batteries headed for the EV market. Attempting to use an artificial arm to fake vaccination. William Bullock, the ill-fated inventor of the web rotary press. The FBI suspected the inventor of the Tickle Me Elmo doll of being the Unabomber. How to prove the safety of the Brooklyn Bridge? A terrifying nutcracker powered by an explosive piston. “Terry’s Chocolate Orange Mayonnaise,” for some reason. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

October Graphic Arts Employment—Print Production Up, Non-Production Also Up

Published December 3, 2021

In October 2021, all printing employment was up +1.0% from September, with production employment up +0.9%, and non-production printing employment up +1.2%.

Around the Web: Handy Hemp. Digital Donuts. Tarmac Trouble. Cool Calendars. Punctuation Peril. Sheet Chaise. Printed Peeper. Droid Dante. Robot Reproduction. Barbecue Busking.

Published December 3, 2021

Hempitecture manufactures hemp-based insulation and other construction materials. NFTs jump the latest of many sharks. Graphene helps fill in potholes. A brief history of the Advent calendar. Is the apostrophe on the way out? A chair made of interleaved sheets of paper and held together by friction. The first-ever recipient of a 3D-printed prosthetic eyeball. Robot artist Ai-Da tries her hand at poetry. A rolling piano barbecue that grills food while the keys are struck. The “social distancing zapper.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Stationery Product Manufacturing Employment—2010–2019

Published November 19, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 24,349 employees in NAICS 32223 (Stationery Product Manufacturing establishments). This NAICS category declined slowly over the rest of the decade, ending with 15,678 employees in 2019. Also: following up a BoSacks tweet about newspaper circulation.

Around the Web: Lovin' 'Letters. Follicle Fabrication. Canine Calling. MySpace Memories. Freaky Furby. Bar Bots. Better Batteries. Unspun Unveiled. Plague Planet. Plushie de Pain.

Published November 19, 2021

Newsletters continue to thrive. Making ink from human hair. The “DogPhone,” for some reason. “MySpace nostalgia,” also for some reason. Integrating a Furby into a modular synthesizer. Robot bartenders streamline drink-making. A graphene-based battery charger accelerates charging speed. 3-D weaving can produce one-off pants in 10 minutes. The Human Library aims to promote more empathetic human relations. This week’s animal plagues had a 2020 feel to them. A bread plushie.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s plague-ridden weekly miscellany.

September Shipments: We Got Good News and We Got Bad News

Published November 12, 2021

September 2021 printing shipments came in at $6.93 billion, up from August’s $6.87 billion. It’s not a massive increase, but we’ll take it. Year to date, January-to-September shipments are $60.48 billion, a bit off 2020’s January-to-September number of $60.97. Can we close the gap in Q4?

Around the Web: Better Breathing. Climate Catastrophe. Mrs. Mural. Tome Time. Phone Future. Zillow Zaniness. Tube Trouble. Bear Blending. Dead Doornails. Claus Crisis.

Published November 12, 2021

Robotic textiles that can help you breathe better. Fast fashion’s major manufacturing hubs may soon be under water. A robot painter sows the seeds of marital discord. A clock that displays the time using quotes from books. What will the smartphone of the future look like? The world’s first active heating fabric—thanks to graphene! An Indiana town is luring workers by offering free grandparents. Zillow shuts down doomed AI-based real estate valuation business. A “handheld toothpaste manipulation device” that will put toothpaste back in the tube, for some reason. Photoshopping Paddington Bear into every movie. The origin of the phrase “dead as a doornail.” The labor shortage is now getting real: there is a shortage of Santa Clauses. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Robot Record. Living Lava. Digital Doors. Kooky Kafka. Goofy Glasses. Vaccine Vocab. Meta Misinterpretation. Clever Cards. Arrested Android. Truck Tech. Sustainable Spirit.

Published November 5, 2021

A writer, musician, and AI collaborate on a new album. Seen on Halloween: a human lava lamp. Replacing clear glass cooler doors with dynamic displays, for some reason. A recently unearthed collection of drawings shows a playful side of Franz Kafka. Good grief: are full-face sunglasses becoming a thing? The OED chooses its Word of the Year. Memo to Facebook: “Meta” is similar to the Hebrew word for “death.” MasterCard adds distinctive notches to its credit, debit, and gift cards for the visually impaired. Graphene integrated into trail running shoes. Ai-Da, an “artist robot” detailed in Egypt on suspicion of espionage. Air Vodka: “the world’s most sustainable spirit.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing Employment—2010–2019

Published November 5, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 50,879 employees in NAICS 32222 (Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing establishments). This NAICS category peaked two years later at 54,175, declined slowly over the rest of the decade before shooting back up to 51,811 employees in 2019. In macro news, Q3 GDP growth is up 2.0%.

Around the Web: Blue Blues. Token Tracking. Prince Printing. Diminished Denim. Fridge Flaming. Golden Graphene. Mountain Messaging. Munster Music. Silly Strings. Festive Franks.

Published October 29, 2021

The latest supply chain victim: blue paint. Adobe Photoshop to add “Prepare as NFT” option. 3D printing system maker Stratasys partners with Prince’s Paisley Park. Making denim production more sustainable. Amazon is now a bigger shipper than FedEx. You can now get nasty emails from your refrigerator. Graphene + gold = smart windows. Interesting facts about “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” A lost hiker ignores calls from rescuers. A long lost musical album from The Munsters. Hot dog-flavored candy canes. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

September Graphic Arts Employment—Print Production Up, Non-Production Down

Published October 29, 2021

In September 2021, all printing employment was up +0.8% from August, production employment up +1.1%, and non-production printing employment up +0.3%.

Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing Employment—2010–2019

Published October 22, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2019, there were 18,741 employees in NAICS 322219 (Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing establishments), a drop from 21,954 employees a year earlier, and the lowest ebb for this NAICS category. In macro news, new business formation goes “bezonkers.”

Around the Web: Fruit First. Font Follies. Public Papers. Graphene Gums. Android Artist. Resignation Reality. Pulling Plastic. Citation Silliness. Toy Telephony. Venerable Venue. Spider Sleepwear.

Published October 22, 2021

Fun facts about the word “orange.” A 1909 patent for a font that can be read either from left to right or right to left. How typeface choice can impact learning and comprehension. Public radio may help save newspapers. Graphene’s uses in dental applications. Meet the Flingbot and its approach to abstract art. What’s behind The Great Resignation? An approach to removing ocean plastic that just might work. A traffic camera confuses a T-shirt with a license plate. Fisher Price’s classic Chatter Telephone can now make real calls, terrifyingly. A new book celebrates the Fillmore East. Get comfy in (or terrified by) giant tarantula pillows. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Bob Barbera on Canon’s PRISMAprepare Go

Published October 20, 2021

Kelley Holmes talks to Canon USA’s Bob Barbera about Canon’s PRISMA workflow solutions, the new cloud-based PRISMAprepare Go for remote job submission, and PRISMA Home, a standard platform for users to manage all their PRISMA solutions.

Muller Martini: Full Speed Ahead on Finishing Automation

Published October 19, 2021

Andy Fetherman, Vice President of Sales and Technology at Muller Martini, shares his thoughts about the importance of automation, not only in the bindery, but as an integrated workflow across the entire process. He notes some of the advances the company is making and what we should be looking forward to in the future. He also reports seeing a shift beginning from a preference for near-line finishing to the more efficient and less labor intensive in-line model.

David C. Rice on FSI’s Conversion Program

Published October 18, 2021

Franchise Services’ David C. Rice talks to Kelley Holmes at the Sir Speedy, PIP and Signal Graphics International Vendor Show about Franchise Services’ conversion program for independent printers to become part of a franchise.

August Shipments: Summer Ends on a High Note

Published October 15, 2021

August 2021 printing shipments came in at $6.87 billion, up from July’s $6.47 billion. Year to date, January-to-August shipments are $53.42 billion, not far off 2020’s January-to-August number of $53.68.

Around the Web: Polar Publication. Robotic Writing. Waymo Weirdness. Restaurant Robots. Perilous Punctuation. PURE Processes. Nightmare Nanas. Marvelous Mollusks. Canine Carrier.

Published October 15, 2021

A deluxe print edition of the story that inspired The Thing. A 14-foot long robotic pen. Waymo’s self-driving cars are flocking to a dead-end street in San Francisco—and no one knows why… A Paris restaurant replaces its chef with a robot. The Casa Grande (Ariz.) Neon Sign Park. The lack of an apostrophe in a Facebook rant gets an Australian man sued. Apps that delete words from stories leaving just the punctuation. Graphene-enhanced bed sheets. PrimaLoft improves its manufacturing technology for insulation used in garments. China’s “Grannies from Hell.” Hand-crocheted plush octopuses. “The Schnauzer Chariot of Kazakhstan.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly blasting Shatner into space miscellany.

Automating Digital Production with the Canon C10010VP’s Image Sensing Unit

Published October 12, 2021

In this video sponsored by Canon, learn how the image sensing unit on the Canon imagePRESS C10010VP can automate repetitive tasks, monitoring and adjusting front-to-back registration and color accuracy. The sensing unit measures 32 color patches and 8 registration marks to help maintain consistent results and minimize operator intervention.

Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing Employment—2010–2019

Published October 8, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 30,048 employees in NAICS 322212 (Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing establishments). Employment in this category stayed fairly steady throughout the decade, then spiked in 2019 to 47,980 employees. In macro news, sales of light vehicle sales plummeted in September 2021, even as profits reached record highs.

Around the Web: Facebook Fail. Book Blobs. Rogue Reader. Book Boxes. Wonder Waste. Mask Museums. Chromosome Capers. Composer Cash. Beethoven’s Back! Strava Sketches. Dish Disaster.

Published October 8, 2021

The latest trend in book cover design. A DIY “open source ereader.” A new subscription service for under-appreciated books. “The digital death of the collector.” Turning waste into graphene. Celebrating masks. Biohacking DNA to take over gene sequencing computers. How much would Bach make on Spotify? AI helps Beethoven finish his Tenth Symphony. A gallery of “Strava art.” An ill-advised vending machine for china. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly fat bear miscellany.

FSI’s Richard Lowe on Helping Franchisees Weather the Pandemic

Published October 7, 2021

Kelley Holmes talks with Richard Lowe of Franchise Services Inc. (FSI) at the Franchise Services show in Las Vegas about how FSI helped support its franchisees during the pandemic.

August Graphic Arts Employment—Staying on the Plateau

Published October 1, 2021

In August 2021, all printing employment was up +0.4% from July, production employment up +0.4%, and non-production printing employment also up +0.4%.

Around the Web: Domestic Droid. Drone Deterrents. Crazy Calculator. Graphene Grab. Wet Wires. Tag Tech. Furry Financier. Robotic Recaps. Conference Closets. Jean Genie. Spreadsheet Stage.

Published October 1, 2021

Amazon’s new “household robot.” Raven vs. Drone. A calculator that converts normal units to wacky units, such as llama’s spits or bees. The “wonder material” poses national security issues. A 3D map of all the underwater Internet cables. A robot built to spray graffiti. “The world’s first crypto asset trading hamster.” Using AI to summarize books. Are “Zoom booths” in offices likely to be a thing? (We hope not.) How to reduce the environmental impact of your jeans. “I’m not sure Google Sheets is the best way to experience theater.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Diversity of Offerings Helped Sir Speedy Tampa through the Pandemic

Published September 30, 2021

Kelley Holmes talks to Steve Albritton of Sir Speedy Tampa at the Franchise Services Convention. Sir Speedy Tampa had come in at #36 on the 2020 WhatTheyThink | Printing News Top 100 Small Commercial Printers survey, and Steve talk about how the company managed to thrive during the pandemic year.

High Lifespan Consumables for the HP Indigo V12 Digital Press

Published September 29, 2021

In this video sponsored by HP Indigo, Motti Silberberg's, Series 6 Cold Function Manager, shows how consumable components like the blanket, PIP, and acid drum were designed to accommodate the very high speed of the V12 press.

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing Employment—2010–2019

Published September 24, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 84,136 employees in NAICS 32221 (Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing establishments). Employment in this category dropped abruptly in 2012, then continued to rise over the course of the decade, peaking in 2018 at 88,399 before dropping again in 2019. In macro news, three estimates of Q3 GDP.

Around the Web: Paint Power. Getting GO. Follicle Flora. Luminous Leaves. Simplifying Sneakers. Computer Covers. Peculiar Posters. Card Carriers. Worm Wiki. Avocado Art. Butt Biometrics.

Published September 24, 2021

Scientists have invented a white paint that cools the surface ton which it is applied. Unlocking a mystery of graphene oxide. How to make a living, growing plant-based wig. Scientists create rechargeable light-emitting plants using nanoparticles. Nike develops easy-to-put-on sneakers for people with disabilities. Relive old memories with a gallery of classic 1980s and 90s computer book covers. AI-generated movie posters. Etsy shops now offer a variety of vaccination card holders. A surprisingly extensive list of fictional worms. The impending age of the smart toilet and your—ugh—“analprint.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

EFI’s Ron Teller on PrintSmith Vision

Published September 21, 2021

Kelley Holmes talks with EFI’s Ron Teller at the Sir Speedy, PIP and Signal Graphics International Vendor Show about new integrations and modules for PrintSmith Vision Print Management Software.

July Shipments: Back on the Decline

Published September 17, 2021

July 2021 printing shipments came in at $6.45 billion, down from June’s $6.69 billion. Year to date, January-to-July shipments are $46.44 billion. At this point in 2020, year-to-date shipments were slightly higher at $46.83. The recovery is proving more challenging than the actual pandemic, it seems.

Around the Web: Collaborative Coalition. Faster Fashion. Cool Kicks. Community Cookbooks. Bean Bother. Ape Art. Screw Support. Outside Office. Rowdy Runners. Lego Larceny. Non-Existent Net.

Published September 17, 2021

You’ve heard of “fast fashion,” which is bad? Now there’s “faster fashion,” which is good. Graphene-enhanced sensors allow shoes to diagnose physical and cognitive disorders. E Ink-based displays may be able to play video. Loop helps create reusable packaging. Nebraska’s Morris Press has been printing community cookbooks for decades. A new social media challenge: “beaning.” Bored ape illustration NFTs sell for $24.4 million, for some reason. A new hammer-based screwdriver for getting out corroded screws. A Japanese homebuilder develops home-office sheds for WFHers. A 24-mile NYC road race based on “The Warriors.” A Dutch “toy heist.” The Internet doesn’t exist. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Lemay Sanchez of Plan Prophet Talks About CRM Automation

Published September 16, 2021

Kelley Holmes talks to Lemay Sanchez, Managing Director of Plan Prophet, a Salesforce-based CRM automation engine that integrates directly with Printers Plan and PrintSmith, with support for additional MIS systems soon to be added. The goal is to support as many MIS systems as possible and provide a truly integrated CRM automation experience.

Two Indicators: Retail Sales and Industrial Production

Published September 10, 2021

This week’s Friday data dump looks at two macroeconomic indicators that will give us some sense of how we are bouncing back from the pandemic—Retail sales and the Industrial Production Index. 

Around the Web: Patent Palaver. Lamp Love. Street Smarts. Elastic Enhancement. Smart Specs. Pestering Popups. Verbose Vegetation. Foolish Fowl. Tuneful Typing. Tiffany Tidbits. Good Gander.

Published September 10, 2021

US Patent Office rules that AI cannot patent its own inventions. Restoring the all-important water jug/lamp balance in your life. Graphene is an essential part of “smart digital roads.” Making a dress out of Target bags. Rubber Band 2.0. Good Lord, Facebook is developing smart glasses. A new project documents how awful the web experience has become. Can plants talk? “Ripper,” the duck that repeatedly said “You bloody fool,” apparently. A website that turns keystrokes into jazz piano notes. Virtually perfect Tiffany lamp reproductions…as cookies. Remembering the hospitality of a Canadian town on 9/11. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Foliage Finder. Coal Creativity. Sick Sites. Cosmic Color. Doom Dialing. Forestry Fastener. Vending Vocation. Retro Rock. McDonald’s Mystery.

Published September 3, 2021

Find out where and when the best fall foliage is likely to be. Turning coal ash into fibers. “Websites from Hell.” What is the average color of the universe—and does it have a Pantone number? A graphene-enhanced swimming pool. Creative hacking creates a “DoomPhone.” Turning blocks of wood into Velcro. What were the most important scientific developments of the past 50 years? Using a bowling ball for other sports. An Oregon entrepreneur develops vending machines that dispense arts and crafts. Remembering—against our will—the Pet Rock. What the heck was Grimace? All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly milk crate stacking miscellany.

Paperboard Container Manufacturing Employment—2010–2019

Published September 3, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 142,868 employees in NAICS 32221 (Paperboard Container Manufacturing establishments). Employment in this category dropped abruptly in 2011 and 2012, then continued to rise over the course of the decade, peaking in 2018 at 147,301 before dropping a bit in 2019. In macro news, office and mall vacancy rates are at historic highs, the pandemic having accelerated trends that had been well underway beforehand.

Around the Web: Hell Harp. Musical Material. Graphene Gold. Microplastic Master. Macbeth Mystery. Adult AR. Preying Plants. Fake Flora. Crate Craziness. Square Sustenance.

Published August 27, 2021

A working knitted keyboard. Graphene won another Olympic event. A 12-year-old Irish boy invents a magnet that attracts microplastics. Why is Macbeth such an unsettling play? Scholars found “the” reason. A research report on digital adult content looks, upsettingly, at AR and VR (though not QR, curiously…). A new (real) species of carnivorous plant has been discovered. AI creates 300 (not real) plant species. Why is the “milk crate challenge” a thing? Square foods, for some reason. Figurines of The Young Ones. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly milk crate stacking miscellany.

Around the Web: Padding Pi. Non-Fungible Nonsense. Bio Brewing. Measuring Microparticles. Fungal Footwear. Literary Lexicon. Swag Scheme. Mosquito Manipulating. Mollusk Meal.

Published August 20, 2021

Swiss researchers calculate pi to a new record number of figures. Buy an NFT clipart of a rock for almost $300K, for some reason. Graphene-reinforced concrete. “Biosmocking” is a peek at the future of apparel. AATCC announces the first global standard for measuring fiber fragment release during home laundering. A new sock sneaker featuring mushroom soles and 3D knitted discarded dog hair. Words coined by classic authors. Big brands go direct-to-consumer to gather better data. Genetically altering mosquitoes to make them blind to human hosts. “The Big Sleep” at 75. The firefly squid isn’t just a visual feast. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Converted Paper Product Manufacturing Employment—2010–2018

Published August 20, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 253,464 employees in NAICS 3222 (Converted Paper Product Manufacturing establishments). Employment in this category dropped abruptly in 2012, then remained somewhat stable over the course of the decade and reaching 245,579 in 2018. In macro news, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) monthly Architecture Billings Index (ABI) show increased demand for architectural design services, good news for the signage industry.

June Shipments: A Lateral Move

Published August 13, 2021

June 2021 printing shipments came in at $6.65 billion, unchanged from May. We usually see declines from May to June, but at least the lateral move has halted two months of declining shipments.

Around the Web: Pressure Patch. Grape Graphene. Step Signs. Code Column. Corrugated Construction. Pall Pebbles. Emphasis Enigma. Travel Trauma. Fowl Fabio.

Published August 13, 2021

A new wearable patch can monitor blood pressure. New graphene paper can extend shelf-life of fruits. Calorie-counting stair signage. A first-person essay written by a QR code. The new “packaging real estate boom.” Why is the English language as erratic and haphazard as it is? Turning cremains into decorative pebbles. How fast can you type the alphabet? The 1962 Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic. How much trouble is the travel industry in? Remember that time when a goose collided with Fabio’s face? All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly Delta variant miscellany.

Around the Web: Dining Documents. Felt Foods. Potato Packaging. Graphene Gold. Poster Portal. Microscopic Matter. Ant Aficionado. Neat Knife. Space Server.

Published August 6, 2021

The history of the restaurant menu. A “textile artist” specializes in food. French fry packaging made from discarded potato peels. Does it surprise you that graphene played a role at the Olympics? Changes are coming to Google Drive—consider yourselves warned. Pop Charts sells very cool infographic posters. Cornell researchers capture the highest-resolution image of atoms ever seen. An eight-year-old “entrepreneurial ant dealer.” Ron Popeil passes away. SpaceX is looking for a spaceport bartender. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly Olympic miscellany.

Internet Publishing Employment—2010–2018

Published August 6, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 90,892 employees in NAICS 51913 (Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals). Over the course of the decade, employment in this category grew steadily to reach 275,875 in 2018. In macro news, real GDP increased at an annual rate of 6.5% in Q2 2021.

Around the Web: Creepy Codes. Fast Fashion. Cookie Cache. Running Robot. Crazy Crutches. Tennis Trivia. Zipping Sipping. Pricey Potatoes. Human Hamster.

Published July 30, 2021

Fats Domino toured with Scitex equipment? QR codes could be poised to raise privacy concerns. Graphene goes skiing. Is more expensive clothing necessarily more ethically produced? Keep your Oreo cookies away from your kids by using disguised packaging. How fast can a robot run a 5K? Pogo stick crutches, to make your rehab even more challenging. Philosophical CAPTCHAs to make your logins more challenging. Why are tennis balls yellow? A reusable silicone straw that unzips for easy cleaning. The world’s most expensive French fries. Florida man attempts to run on water from Florida to New York in a giant hamster wheel. Cicada killer wasps! All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly Olympic miscellany.

June Graphic Arts Employment—Continuing to Get a Little Better

Published July 30, 2021

In June 2021, all printing employment was up +0.1% from May, production employment up +0.7%, and non-production printing employment down -1.2%.

Assorted Publishing Employment—2010–2018

Published July 23, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 10,166 employees in NAICS 511199 (All Other Publishers). Over the course of the decade, employment in this category steadily declined to bottom out at 4,999 in 2018. In macro news, last year’s “official” COVID recession lasted only two months, according to the NBER.

Around the Web: Reading Rollercoaster. Popular Pen. Author Avatar. Sentimental Software. Will’s Words. Car Cologne. Nerdy Neckwear. Beefheart Beer. The Martin Luther Insult Generator.

Published July 23, 2021

Book sales may keep increasing…or not. A quill-like pen is a Kickstarter hit. A scholarly paper was co-authored by a dead friend in a dream. Do you remember The Print Shop pre-Mac design application? How many words did Shakespeare invent? Batteries need help…graphene to the rescue! A gasoline-scented cologne. A woman uses signage to accuse her cat of robbery. The Bow TIE: the geeky accessory you know you want. Two words: meth trout. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly space-bound miscellany.

Q&A with DG3's Rob Mayerson

Published July 22, 2021

Diversified Global Graphics Group (DG3) was founded as Cunningham Graphics International Inc. (CGI) to provide time-sensitive investment research printing and worldwide distribution in response to customer needs not being met efficiently by other firms. Over time, the company has diversified its client base and its product and service mix to become a leading provider of end-to-end communications solutions to financial, life sciences, and other industries. DG3 has trusted HP technology to provide their customers with the best printing quality in the industry with the latest enhancement to their fleet being the HP PageWide Web Press T250 HD with Brilliant Ink.

Around the Web: Paper Pigments. Athletic Air. Graphene Growth. Modern Medicines. Stamp Cipher. Tape Technology. Music Mural. Cover Catastrophes. Reflective Reindeer. Distasteful Dessert. Taco Trade.

Published July 16, 2021

Electronic paper can now have as many colors as an LCD display. The US Olympic Team will sport wearable air conditioners. What will be in the medicine cabinet of 2030? Decode the latest Forever Stamp. A roll of tape featuring programmable QR-like codes. A repository of horrible sci-fi book covers. Painting reindeer antlers with reflective paint to prevent traffic collisions. A treadmill for hamsters. Mac and cheese ice cream, for some reason. McCormick is hiring a “Director of Taco Relations.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Shipments: An Evening Out

Published July 16, 2021

May 2021 printing shipments came in at $6.59 billion, a slight downturn from April’s $6.87 billion, and the second consecutive month of decline, but is consistent with the pattern we have been tracking over the past five years.

Greeting Card Publishers—2010–2018

Published July 2, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 10,258 employees in NAICS 511191 (Greeting Card Publishers). Over the course of the decade, employment has been up and down, reaching 13,690 in 2018. In sort of macro news, Las Vegas tourism traffic rose substantially in May 2021, as conventions were poised to reopen.

Around the Web: Paper Press. Tricky Typography. Excellent Electrode. Problematic Poultry. Silk Sensors. Augmented Art. Bottle Boards. Fireworks Fail.

Published July 2, 2021

A meticulously detailed paper model of a Heidelberg letterpress. “Algorithmic typography.” Graphene’s latest triumph. Birds aren’t real!! A new approach to wearable tech. An outdoor art installation is all AR-based. Cutting boards made from upcycled bottlecaps. A candy-pushing robot will stalk you in supermarkets. A model of Jabba the Hutt’s internal anatomy, for some reason. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

The Digital Label Factory

Published June 30, 2021

In this video sponsored by HP Indigo, Gershon Alon, Head of PrintOS, talks about leveraging advanced technologies on the HP Indigo V12 to streamline the digital label production workflow and maximize overall efficiency. The goal is for the HP Indigo V12 to be able to replace two flexo presses,

May Graphic Arts Employment—Getting a Little Better

Published June 25, 2021

In May 2021, all printing employment was up +0.7% from February, production employment up +1.4%, and non-production printing employment down -0.8%.

Around the Web: Cardiac Capture. Color-Coded COVID. Marvelous Mapping. Talented Titler. Cinematic Spectacles. Games Galore. Munching Mona. Thwarting Thieves. Crater Cuisine.

Published June 25, 2021

Graphene gets to the heart of the matter. Colored bracelets for wary shoppers. Data visualization studio turns street maps into watercolors. A look at Saul Bass and how he changed movie titles. New smart glasses designed as portable movie screens. A new archive of game show memorabilia to open in Rochester. A petition for Jeff Bezos to buy and eat the Mona Lisa. An app to help catch art thieves. A round up the latest fad: volcano-based cooking. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Directory and Mailing List Publishers—2010–2018

Published June 18, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 41,489 employees in NAICS 51114 (Directory and Mailing List Publishing). Over the course of the decade, employment had plummeted to a low of 14,379. In macro news, new business creation has been at record highs.

Around the Web: Plexiglas Problems. Hat History. Dream Disturbance. Magnificent Material. Peace Portal. Hungry Humpback. Cocoon Calculator. Food Follies. Silly Slippers.

Published June 18, 2021

What is to be done with all those Plexiglas barriers when they come down? The history of the dunce cap. In-dream advertising? Graphene sensors can quickly detect COVID-19. A lobsterman is nearly eaten by a whale. Facemasks made of bread. When will you reach the Brimley/Cocoon Line (if you haven’t already)? An umbrella that converts into a poncho. Dyson’s new laser vacuum cleaner. The history of processed foods. Monty Python Dead Parrot slippers. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

The Year of Frank: Many Happy Returns

Published June 18, 2021

We interrupt Frank’s weekly video to bring these birthday wishes from the team at WhatTheyThink and Inkjet Insight. Happy 80th, Frank!

Meet This Year's #1 Small Commercial Printer: Strategic Factory

Published June 16, 2021

Each year, WhatTheyThink | Printing News invites small commercial print business owners to participate in our Top 100 Shops Survey, and respondents are then ranked according to their 2020 revenues. This year's #1 Top Shop is Owings Mills, Md's Strategic Factory. Keith Miller, President and CEO of Strategic Factory, talks about how the company coped with the COVID-19 crisis and what its plans are for 2021.

Around the Web: Outage Outrage. Toy Typing. Entomological Eating. Martian Melons. Sonar Strolling. Safe Strolling. HOV Hack. Sponge Songs. Regular Rejoycing.

Published June 11, 2021

Who was responsible for Tuesday’s Internet outage? LEGO launches a working model typewriter. Restaurant prevented from locally sourcing cicadas. The NYT reports that watermelons were found on Mars. Anyone can learn echolocation. An inventor creates a third eye for mobile phone addicts. The finalists in this year’s UK Shed of the Year Competition. The laziest carpool lane violator. Sponges that look like old cassettes. Three short videos by The Residents. Next Wednesday is Bloomsday. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly cicada-eatin' miscellany.

Shipments: A New Season?

Published June 11, 2021

April 2021 printing shipments came in at $6.80 billion, a slight downturn from March’s $6.98 billion, but is consistent with the pattern we have been tracking over the past five years.

Making a Sustainable Impact for Print

Published June 10, 2021

HP’s corporate citizenship values go back to the founding of the company, and HP has been recognized as one the world’s most responsible and sustainable companies. The company has more than 100 staff worldwide dedicated to HP’s Sustainable Impact programs—including product stewards assigned to every product line to work hand-in hand-with product development and support functions to guide sustainability and compliance activities. HP recently announced bold 2030 Sustainable Impact goals that will move the company towards becoming the world’s most just and sustainable technology company. What are some of those goals, and what initiatives is HP pursuing to achieve them? What role is digital printing playing in transitioning commercial, industrial, and packaging printing to the circular economy? Sustainability is central to the value proposition of HP PageWide presses—how does that help HP’s direct mail customers, in turn, become more sustainable businesses?

Around the Web: Service Signage. Infrastructure Imperative. Guardian Goofs. Transparent Tree. Faux Forest. Kafka Collection. Auto Aggravation. Cow Concerto. Cereal Cyborg.

Published June 4, 2021

The park ranger who designed the iconic National Park signage. A report on the need for apparel recycling infrastructure. The Guardian looks back at its best typos. Making transparent wood. 3D printed wood. Franz Kafka’s letters, sketches, and other materials are now online. Coming soon: in-car advertising. Danish cellists play for cattle. Kellogg’s develops a cereal-making robot, for some reason. FDA warns about eating cicadas. Jell-O mold lamps. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s Brood X weekly miscellany.

Book Publishing Employees—2010–2018

Published June 4, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 81,511 employees in NAICS 51113 (Book Publishing). Over the course of the decade, employment had dropped to a low of 64,085, but climbed back up to 73,108 in 2018. In macro news, the Great Rebound is underway.

HP Indigo’s Thermal Offset Transfer Technology

Published June 2, 2021

In this video sponsored by HP Indigo, Alon Gazit, VP of R&D, takes us into the HP Indigo 100K Lab to demonstrate HP’s thermal offset transfer technology, which allows the HP Indigo digital press to maintain an offset look and feel, as well as the advantages of offset printing.

Around the Web: Growing Graphene. AR Aroma. Captcha Carnage. Literary Lycanthrope. Functional Footwear. Jittery Jeans. Snitching Stilton. Towel Tribute.

Published May 28, 2021

Watching graphene grow. Smell-O-Vision comes to virtual reality. Doom-inspired Captcha. John Steinbeck wrote a werewolf novel. Google is opening a physical store. Telescoping high heel shoes. “Optical illusion jeans.” A drug dealer is captured thanks to a picture of cheese. Last Tuesday was “Towel Day.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s super blood moon weekly miscellany.

Two Macroeconomic Indicators

Published May 28, 2021

This week’s Friday data dump looks at two macroeconomic indicators that will give us some sense of how we are bouncing back from the pandemic—the Industrial Production Index, and Retail Sales.

Predictive Press Care—An AI-Driven Solution to Avert Problems

Published May 26, 2021

Deisy Kapon, WWTS IST Product & Content Dev. Manager, talks about Predictive Press Care on the HP Indigo presses, an artificial intelligence-based system that collects press data as the press is running, analyzes it, anticipates errors, and alerts the operator that an error is about to happen.

Periodical Publishing Employees—2010–2018

Published May 21, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 134,432 employees in NAICS 51112 (Periodical Publishing). By 2018, employees had decreased to 84,424. In macro news, ecommerce as a percent of retail sales has dropped almost back to its pre-pandemic level.

Around the Web: Glorious Graphene. Crafty Captchas. Criminal Cookies. Robotic Writing. Android Art. Entomological Epicure. Bugless Bulbs. Floating Frankfurters. Perilous Pedaling.

Published May 21, 2021

A graphene-enhanced jacket for sailing. Why are Captchas getting harder? A bakery creates essentially a cookie-based wanted poster. AI writes bleak and depressing stories. AI paints “self” portraits, raising all sorts of existential questions. A cicada cookbook, for some reason. LED lightbulbs attract fewer insects than incandescents. Perfect for BBQ season: a levitating hot dog roaster. Learning to ride a penny farthing bicycle. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Process Control for Ultimate Quality on the HP Indigo V12 Digital Press

Published May 19, 2021

Roi Liraz, Indigo V12 Program Manager, demonstrates process control on the HP Indigo V12. Using sensors, smart cameras, algorithms, and other forms of automation, the high-speed press is able to ensure consistent high quality.

Shipments: We Told You

Published May 14, 2021

Last month, we said that “shipments can only get better from here”—and we were right. March shipments roared back from a historical low of $6.39 billion in February to $7.44 billion in March, the second best March in the past five years.

Around the Web: Tax Trouble. Corona Cards. Vampire Vaccination. Graphene Garment. Teflon Textiles. Measuring Micturition. Ephemeral Exhibits. New Notebooks. Wing Worries.

Published May 14, 2021

The IRS’s broken printer problem. A coronavirus-themed pack of Tarot cards. Get vaxxed at Dracula’s castle. Thermally regulated jeans, thanks to graphene. A Teflon coating for textiles. Monitor your hydration with the Pantone Pee Chart. The Museum of Plastic is going to be recycled. A jumpsuit for the “new normal.” The great chiken wing crisis. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly post-vaccination miscellany.

Focus on Innovation: How HP Engineers, Chemists, and Architects Create

Published May 14, 2021

That’s why they’re committed—in every department from engineering to chemistry—to ensure that their solutions grow with their customers over time. So how does HP do it?

Color Calibration on the HP Indigo 100K Digital Press

Published May 12, 2021

Basil Verdene, Color Group Manager for HP Indigo, talks about the advanced color management capabilities of the HP Indigo 100K Digital Press, including its ability to manage color while printing. Learn more about color management on the HP Indigo 100K in this video sponsored by HP Indigo.

Around the Web: Freeway Font. Pollution Printing. G-Man Grammar. Safety Subscription. Car Conference. Novel Noodles. Carp Carrier. Tossing Trousers.

Published May 7, 2021

A new highway sign typeface. A cybersecurity expert’s adventures in book publishing. Air Ink makes ink out of carbon emissions. Are you cheugy? Replacing ads on disused phone booths with art. A subscription-based motorcycle safety vest. The CIA has a grammar stylebook. An Ohio senator in a Zoom meeting tries to hide that he’s driving. The latest in pasta technology can save on packaging waste. An attaché case for live fish. Today is No Pants Day—and for a good cause. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s miscellany.

Printing 2021 Quick Look: Top Investments

Published May 5, 2021

According to data from our recently published Printing Outlook 2021 special report, one-fourth of print businesses have no major investment plans for 2021.

Around the Web: Flammable. Typo Tamer. Documenting Distancing. Pantone Pilsner. Criminal Codes. Terrific Tube. Lying Landscape. Peel Portraits. Tomato Toppling. Demented Documentary.

Published April 30, 2021

Print newspapers will survive—if only to light barbecues. A tribute to forgotten inventor Bette Nesmith. A photographer is documenting COVID signage for posterity. Beer can designs using the Pantone color the beer most closely matches. A man is banned from carrying “loose QR codes.” SVA students design post-pandemic New Yorker magazine covers. A new toothpaste tube lets you extract all the toothpaste. Coming soon: deepfake satellite imagery. Two words: “Banana artist.” Citizen Kane is no longer “100% Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes. When Dr. Demento ruled radio. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s miscellany.

Newspaper Publishing Employees—2010–2018

Published April 30, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 264,833 employees in NAICS 51111 (Newspaper Publishing). By 2018, employees had decreased to 153,060. In macro news, Q1 GDP was up 6.4%.

Enhanced Productivity Mode (EPM) with HP Indigo Explained

Published April 28, 2021

Alon Gazit, VP of R&D at HP Indigo, brings us to the HP Indigo 100K lab to talk about the benefits of using just three colors vs. CMYK when using Enhanced Productivity Mode (EPM) on the HP Indigo 100K Digital Press. EPM can increase productivity by 33% vs. printing in CMYK. Learn more about this approach in this video sponsored by HP Indigo.

Around the Web: Alien Aviation. Selling Snoop. Additive Abode. Lab Lumber. Fashion Fission. ’Ammer Artist. Problematic Placement. Propitious Potable. Fish Feud. McGoohan Mania.

Published April 23, 2021

We flew a helicopter on Mars! Has the pandemic changed book publishing, part the infinity. Now being shown: a 3D-printed house. Could lab-grown wood be the future of furniture? “Could the solution to fashion pollution be…tiny nuclear reactors?” Turning plastic back into oil. An artist who “draws” portraits by smashing glass with a hammer. Digitally adding product placement to classic films. Alton Brown on the history of the gin and tonic. “The crime-ridden global market for eel.” The new number two on our wish list: action figures for the 1967 TV show The Prisoner. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s miscellany.

Shipments: They Can Only Get Better from Here

Published April 23, 2021

We didn’t kick off 2021 very auspiciously, with January printing shipments coming in at $6.57 billion, down from December 2020’s $7.17 billion, and then a further drop in February to $6.34 billion.

Printing 2021 Quick Look: Top Challenges

Published April 21, 2021

According to data from our recently published Printing Outlook 2021 special report, recovering business lost to COVID and national economic conditions dominated printers’ top challenges—but traditional challenges will gain prominence post-COVID.

Golan Landsberg on the New HP Indigo LEPX Architecture

Published April 21, 2021

Golan Landsberg, R&D Director, Future Products Platform at HP Indigo, provides a technical overview of the new HP Indigo LEPX architecture and "why it's possible to print faster with Indigo's LEPX technology" in this tech talk video sponsored by HP.

Publishing Employees—2010–2018

Published April 16, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 907,152 employees in NAICS 511 (Publishing Industries—except Internet). By 2018, employees had increased to 1,015,946. In macro news, retail sales were up 9.8% in March.

Around the Web: Google Gutenberg. Bye-Bye-Broadband? Record Recollection. License Litigation. Quantum Quire. Paraboloid Pringles. Clever Cooling. Runaway Rabbit.

Published April 16, 2021

Google’s Gutenberg Doodle perpetuates a sartorial anachronism. 5G may let you ditch wired broadband. A deluxe, expensive collection of Philip K. Dick stories. Remembering the Columbia Record Club. The contentious free-speech history of license plates. Mind-blowing paper cutting and folding. The mathematics of Pringles chips. Alexa can now share songs. This summer, instead of A/C, try the Sensu Punkah. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s virtual miscellany.

Differentiate With Direct Mail - Appealing to all the Senses

Published April 16, 2021

Thriving in the print industry isn’t just about what you can do, but how you can do it even better. Delivering high-quality prints is a start, but standing out requires going the extra mile. And that means kicking creativity up a notch with enhanced, high-value direct mailers that appeal to consumers on a multi-sensory level. In fact, stimulating consumer senses has been proven to increase response rates, brand awareness and emotional bonds to products

A Tour of the HP Indigo V12 Lab

Published April 14, 2021

Maya Poleg and Roi Liraz from the HP Indigo team take us on a behind the scenes tour of the HP Indigo V12 Digital Press R&D lab in this video sponsored by HP Inc. The first in a series of short videos which bring to light HP Indigo technology advancements, advantages, and an insider’s view from Indigo’s top technology experts.

Profits: Back to the Tale of Two Cities

Published April 9, 2021

We’ve long been calling it “a tale of two cities”—large printers and small/mid-size printers and the profitability gap between them. The pandemic interrupted this ongoing narrative temporarily, but back in Q3 2020, we started to return to normal, at least in terms of industry profits trends, which continued into Q4.

Around the Web: Graphene Gear. Sweater Spectrum. Mad Memories. Mysterious Muons. Flipboard Fans. Vexing Vehicles. Hobby History. Restaurant Replicas. Poultry Pummeling. Ketchup Crisis.

Published April 9, 2021

Graphene-enhanced shoes and concrete—it’s a bad time to be a mob informant. Ralph Lauren aims to make cotton less water-intensive. A chart of every color cardigan worn by Mister Rogers. Soap products whose packaging is itself soap. A wall-mounted E Ink display for newspapers. A video history of Mad Magazine. A Fermilab particle experiment may completely upend our understanding of the universe. Install old-time train station flipboard signage in your home. The electric vehicle charging situation is a nightmare. A Brooklyn steakhouse partners with Madame Tussaud’s to help enforce social distancing. Can you cook a chicken by slapping it? The latest national crisis: a ketchup shortage. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s cinnamon shrimp tail-flavored miscellany.

Sabine Geldermann Previews Next Month’s virtual.drupa

Published April 8, 2021

Kelley Holmes talks to drupa and Messe Düsseldorf’s Sabine Geldermann, about this month’s virtual.drupa, which currently has 180 exhibitors from 28 countries, and several major event partners. Virtual.drupa also features keynote speakers and a robust conference program.

Printing 2021 Quick Look: 2020 Profits

Published April 7, 2021

According to data from our recently published Printing Outlook 2021 special report, print businesses reported a -9.1% decline in profits from 2019 to 2020.

Pre- and Postpress Employees—2010–2018

Published March 26, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 32,906 employees in NAICS 32312 (Support Activities for Printing). By 2018, employees had declined to 22,855. In macro news, Q4 2020 GDP was revised up.

Around the Web: Damaging Deadlines. Sartorial Smarts. Crazy Crypto. Green Gabbing. Turing Tribute. Façade Fissure. Creepy Craft. Star Sewing. New Noodles.

Published March 26, 2021

How outsourcing newspaper printing is helping kill local journalism. Smart clothing is evolving. John Cleese twits the NFT fad. A new study suggests that turning off your camera on a Zoom call may be more environmentally friendly. The UK’s new £50 note will honor Alan Turing. A 3D mural “opens up” a Florence art museum. They Might Be Giants launch hardcover book/CD combo. Realistic handblown glass spiders. Light-up constellation embroidery. Pasta technology evolves. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s cinnamon shrimp tail-flavored miscellany.

The Power of Perseverance - HP's Colorful Road to Brilliant Ink

Published March 25, 2021

HP has spent the past four decades not simply investing in inkjet ink research and development but perfecting it. Its five world-class teams of international chemists have worked to create custom inks for a range of different markets. They’ve partnered closely with hardware and writing systems engineers to develop the best integrated technology for its inkjet devices. In this Tech Talk, HP R&D Chemist Saba Lotfizadeh shares stories of the significant challenges and exciting breakthroughs in ink development that enable printing on a wide range of media.

Printing 2021 Quick Look: Anticipated 2021 Jobs/Orders

Published March 24, 2021

According to data from our recently published Printing Outlook 2021 special report, print businesses expect print industry jobs/orders to rebound +9.0% from 2020 to 2021.

Around the Web: More Fungible Fun. Denim Denial. Guilty Garamond. Zoom Zapper. Tattoo Technology. COVID Concert. Gallbladder Gambling. Culinary Compulsion. Legume Limo.

Published March 19, 2021

Charmin’s (oy) toilet-paper themed NFTPs. The environmental impact of jeans. Will graphene save us from the pandemic? The DC Circuit Court cancels the typeface Garamond. Social and mobile media-themed classic artworks. A new web widget that gives you excuses to exit a Zoom meeting. Light-emitting OLED tattoos. Yo-Yo Ma performs at his vaccination site. Doctors get in trouble for “Guess the weight of this organ” Instagram posts. Precision cutting boards for obsessive chefs. The Planters NUTmobile is looking for drivers. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s unfortunately not canceled miscellany.

Graphic Arts Employment—February 2021

Published March 19, 2021

In February 2021, all printing employment is down -0.5% from January, production employment down -0.4%, and non-production printing employment down -0.8%.

Printing 2021 Quick Look: 2020 Jobs/Orders

Published March 17, 2021

According to data from our recently published Printing Outlook 2021 special report, the average number of jobs decreased -10.8% from 2019 to 2020.

Around the Web: Fungible Fanatics. Cotton Conundrum. Clever Corsets. Screen Surfeit. Capricious Cartography. Tent Trumpeting. Healthy Handle. Trial Terror. Munster Meteorology.

Published March 12, 2021

A JPG file sells for $69 million, for some reason. Cotton and polyester have their environmental downsides—but neither is going away any time soon. A new company converts discarded sneakers into corsets. A new laptop prototype has seven screens. How to fool AI using “typographic attack.” A non-existent town on a map briefly becomes real. A high school band practices in individual tents. A self-disinfecting door handle. A Zoom assault trial reveals that the defendant is actually in the same house as the alleged victim. Grampa Munster once did a real weathercast. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s non-fungible miscellany.

Book Printing Employees—2010–2018

Published March 12, 2021

According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 28,935 employees in NAICS 323117 (Book Printing Establishments). By 2018, employees had declined to 21,976. In macro news, inflation was soft in February.

Printing 2021 Quick Look: Anticipated 2021 Revenues

Published March 10, 2021

According to data from our recently published Printing Outlook 2021 special report, print businesses expect print industry revenues to rebound +9.1% from 2020 to 2021.

January Printing Shipments—They Can Only Get Better from Here

Published March 5, 2021

We kicked off 2021 inauspiciously with January printing shipments coming in at $6.61 billion, down from 2020’s $7.17 billion. It's the worst January in at least the last five years, but already things are boding well for the rest of 2021.

Around the Web: Cephalopod Selfie. Locked Letters. Evolving Expression. Silly Surgeon. Traumatic Toy. Touch Termination. Myopia Mask. Titanic Television. Plush Paintings.

Published March 5, 2021

An octopus’ selfie—but, unfairly, not the octopus—won a photography award. Using X-ray microtomography to read secret letters. Videoconferencing is changing American Sign Language. A plastic surgeon joins a Zoom call—while in the middle of an operation. Fisher Price’s My First Home Office for preschoolers is perhaps a sign of the apocalypse. Holographic keypads for touchless devices. A face mask specifically designed to prevent fogging. A $400K television that folds down into the floor. Classic works of art rendered in fur.  All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s miscellany.

Around the Web: Lockdown Lyrics. Poet Praise. Sneaker Snafu. Tinseltown Typing. Expensive Ephemera. Art Aging. Prying Pixels. Picturephone Promo. Transdermal Transponder. Busy Beaver.

Published February 26, 2021

The musical British family who wittily chronicle lockdown life. Marking the bicentenary of John Keats’ death. Adidas seeks to ditch its acquired Reebok brand. “Hot typewriter action” scenes from top movies. The booming market for “nonfungible tokens”—digital art, ephemera, and media. An oil painter who specializes in lenticular art. The “spy pixels” in email messages that track you. A promotional film for 1964’s pre-Zoom Picturephone, a commercial dud. Why “Zoom fatigue” is a real thing. The aptly named DangerousThings lets you inject chips and sensors into your body, for some reason. A “rescue beaver” is compelled to dam up open spaces—indoors. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s Martian miscellany.

Commercial Screen Printing Employees—2010–2018

Published February 26, 2021

In 2010, there were 57,674 employees working in US screen printing establishments (NAICS 323113). By 2018, that number had increased +12.4% to 64,840. In macro news, seven “recovery indicators” for parts of the economy most acutely impacted by the pandemic.

December Printing Shipments—One Last Unexpected Twist for 2020

Published February 19, 2021

In December 2020, in one last, end-of-the-year rally, printing shipments grew from $7.0 billion to $7.17 billion.  

Around the Web: Mars Meeting. More Monoliths! Wicked Wheels. Safe Socializing. Modular Mask. Vegan Vestments. Ovine Ovation. Carbon Conundra. Textile Traffic. Saloon Sounds. Audio Oracle. King Cat.

Published February 19, 2021

A new monolith appears—briefly—in Congo. A guy replaces his bicycle wheels with giant sawmill blades. The latest in “mask tech”: the egg mask. First, they came for the silkworms—and now…the sheep? Sheep Inc. says one key to carbon sequestration is…wait for it…sheep. Some other potential solutions for dealing with carbon and carbon dioxide. Textile and apparel imports are on the decline. A website lets you simulate the ambiance of your favorite bar. RIP Rupert Neve: the inventor of the mixing console. A housecat joins “Godzilla vs. Kong” and the related carnage. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s carbon-heavy miscellany.

Around the Web: Cat Court. Color Creation. Sustainable Suds. Apt Appliances. ’Acked Aquifer. Manufactured Meat.

Published February 12, 2021

A Texas attorney tries to prove he is not a cat. A brand-new shade of blue is now available for painting. A new business makes sustainable laundry detergent. A handy visual aid to help you determine which appliance is best for which use. A water treatment plant gets hacked—with almost disastrous results. 3D-printed steaks. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s kitten filter miscellany.

Commercial Printing Employees (Less Screen and Books)—2010–2018

Published February 12, 2021

In 2010, there were 380,107 employees working in US establishments in NAICS 323111 (Commercial Printing–Except Screen and Books). By 2018, that number had declined -13.5% to 328,845. In macro news, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased 0.3% in January, or 1.4% over the last 12 months.

EFI’s Jeff Jacobson on the New Way of Doing Business

Published February 9, 2021

Jeff Jacobson, CEO of EFI, talks to Kelley Holmes about some of the bright spots for EFI in 2020, and expands upon his EFI Engage keynote in which he discusses how the pandemic has affected the way EFI engages with its customers, and how the way we do business has changed.

Around the Web: Spamming Spinach. Novel Novel. Glorious Graphene. Sleeping Sacks. Gargoyles Galore. Sawing Celebration. Calculating Carsey. Weird Waking. Amish Auto. Disappearing Doll.

Published February 5, 2021

Spinach can now send emails. A novel only uses the words spoken by Ophelia in Hamlet. More graphene news! Recycling potato chip bags into sleeping bags for the homeless. Colgate introduces new aluminum toothbrush with replaceable heads. The origin of gargoyles. 100 years of the “sawing a woman in half” trick. “A Lego white noise” playlist. A “smart toilet seat” for measuring vital signs. A teen, in a coma since March 1, 2020, is about to wake up to a strange new world. Attaching buggy wheels to a Dodge Challenger, for some reason. Texas issues an Amber Alert for Chucky from “Child’s Play.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s emailing vegetable miscellany.

Q3 2020 Profits—Back on Track…Sort Of

Published February 5, 2021

Annualized printing industry profits for Q3 2020 rose from -$1.92 billion to -$1.19 billion. That’s still really low, but at least it’s headed back toward positive territory.

Behind the Scenes with HP PageWide

Published February 1, 2021

HP has spent the past four decades not simply investing in inkjet research and development but perfecting it. Hear from subject matter experts on timely topics, including a customer spotlight on the new HP PageWide Web Press T250 HD.

Around the Web: Color Quest. STEM Stamps. Cool Codes. Retro Railroad. Clothing Computations. Tea Tints. Sleepless Science. Blade Becalming. Missing Monarchy. Disgusting Dessert. Pasta Passion.

Published January 29, 2021

In search of the original “Apple Beige.” The USPS launches Star Wars stamps to promote STEM learning. How COVID made QR codes cool. A Chinese railroad was derailed when Adobe killed Flash. A man quantifies his wardrobe. Beautiful tea bag art. First Night Effect: why it’s hard to sleep in a strange place. “Chinese Knife Massage.” Gender-neural playing cards. “Everything bagel-flavored ice cream.” Perfect for Valentine’s day: pink, candy-flavored mac and cheese. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s stock shorting miscellany.

Commercial Printing Employees—2010–2018

Published January 29, 2021

In 2010, there were 499,622 employees working in US establishments in NAICS 323. By 2018, that number had declined -12.2% to 438,516. In macro news, real GDP increased at an annual rate of 4.0% in Q4 2020.

Graphic Arts Employment—December 2020

Published January 22, 2021

In December 2020, all printing employment was up +0.7% from November, production employment up +0.1%, and non-production printing employment up +1.9%. So, basically, a holding pattern—although it’s nice that there are no negative numbers…for almost everyone.

Around the Web: Foodie Franklin. Typo Typography. Monospaced Menace. Dense Darkness. Velcro Volume. Visible Vermeer. Tech Toys.

Published January 22, 2021

Ben Franklin introduced tofu to the US. A new font designed to facilitate proofreading. Comic Sans…Monospaced! Inside the blackest room. Inventors develop a quieter Velcro. Journey inside an amazingly high-res scan of a classic painting. Fisher Price’s “new” retro gadget toys. A van-based office pod for the work-from-anywhere crowd. Holographic chocolate. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s winter miscellany.

US Copy Center Establishments—2010–2018

Published January 15, 2021

In 2010, there were 6,026 establishments in NAICS 561439 (Business Service Centers [Including Copy Shops]). By 2018, that number had declined to 5,305. In macro news, weekly initial unemployment claims were at 965,000, an increase of 181,000 from the previous week.

Around the Web: Fungal Fashion. Crustacean Craze. Plague Prescriptions. Can Conundrum. Pharmaceutical Favors. Pig Painting. Nacho Narrative. Mesmerized Mantises.

Published January 15, 2021

2020 was the “year of the mushroom,” apparently—and lobsters, too. A 16th-century doctor’s plague prevention manual is relevant to COVID. The company out to replace plastic packaging with metal. A collection of the weird swag pharmaceutical reps used to give to doctors. Researchers recently unearthed the oldest painting of an animal. Balloon-based pizza delivery. The history of nachos. Praying mantises watch TV. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s New Year’s miscellany.

Around the Web: Picky Preview. Green Gatsby? Correcting Coinage. Programmed Poetry. Programmed Pictures. Cultural Coupon. Satellite Solution. Priapic Programming. Barf Burger. “Chicken Chamber.”

Published January 8, 2021

An honest preview of the year to come. The Great Gatsby is now in the public domain—and there is already clamoring for a Muppets version. A new H.G. commemorative coin has a couple of errors. Google’s Verse By Verse uses AI to help us write a poem. DALL·E uses AI to generate images from text prompts. An oral history of Bed Bath and Beyond’s big blue coupon. The origin of the Pez dispenser. The AR version of the New York Times crossword. An often hysterical mashup of North By Northwest and Star Wars. Denmark’s…bizarre idea for a children’s cartoon. McDonald’s China launched a Spam and Oreo burger, for reasons passing understanding. KFC has a combination game console/chicken warmer. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s New Year’s miscellany.

November Printing Shipments—It Was Nice While It Lasted

Published January 8, 2021

In November 2020, after rising for five straight months, printing shipments plunged from $7.63 billion to $7.0 billion.

Stationery Product Manufacturing Establishments—2012–2018

Published December 18, 2020

In 2010, there were 496 establishments in NAICS 32223 (Stationery Product Manufacturing). By 2018, that number had declined to 359. In macro news, retail sales for November took a dip.

Around the Web: Fashionable Fit. Glorious Graphene! Printed Pollen. Code Creator. Plastic Pets. Quantifying Quotes. Kitten Concert. Machinery Making Modern Music. Festive Fire.

Published December 18, 2020

Amazon launches made-to-measure T-shirts. 3D printing with graphene. 3D printing pollen grains. Checking in with the inventor of the QR code. Are robot pets a solution for COVID-induced loneliness? A “find the fake written language” visual test.” A European map of different forms of quotation marks. The dispute over Cap’n Crunch’s rank. Sax kittens. ELECTRONICOS FANTASTiCOS! Poems based on A Christmas Carol. Replace the Yule Log with this Dumpster fire video. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s blizzard of miscellaneous items.

The New Canon imagePRESS C10010VP Digital Press

Published December 15, 2020

Canon’s Matthew Poliniak talks about the new Canon imagePRESS C10010VP digital press, which features enhanced media handling capabilities. The imagePRESS C10010VP can handle media up to 400 gsm and also supports running on synthetic media, allowing you to offer new and customized applications to customers.

October Printing Shipments—The "Best" October in Five Years?

Published December 11, 2020

In October 2020, printing shipments rose to $7.63 billion—the fifth straight month of increasing shipments, as the industry rebound from the depths of the spring continues.  

Around the Web: Current Color. Word Weary. Jarring Jargon. Curtailed Catalog. Bicycling Bookseller. Expanding Everest.

Published December 11, 2020

Pantone announces its color(s) for 2021. Various dictionaries announce their “words of the year.” A lexicon of annoying marketing buzzwords. Sigh: IKEA discontinues its print catalog. The IOC adds breakdancing to the 2024 Olympic Games. Get books delivered the same day by bicycle (offer only available in Milan). Know your US states—or lack thereof. Mt. Everest gets bigger. The Immortal Bard gets vaccinated. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s continuing to get into the seasonal sprit miscellany.

Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing Establishments—2012–2018

Published December 4, 2020

In 2012, there were 348 establishments in NAICS 322219 (Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing). By 2018, that number had declined to 290. In macro news, highlights (if you want to call them that) from the most recent Federal Reserve “Beige Book.”

Around the Web: Electronic Epidermis. Plunging Profits. Lovely Landscapes. Monolith Mystery. Ersatz Ebenezer. Festively Financial. Simulated Santa. Merry Mask.

Published December 4, 2020

Why get a smartwatch or some other wearable when you can get electronic skin? Global fashion industry profits are expected to plummet precipitously this year. Winners of this year’s International Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards. One word: monolith. Theaters get creative in staging “A Christmas Carol.” Gift ideas for designers and type lovers. A bank turns its building into an Advent calendar. Good grief: Zoom Santa. Get your Santa mask! All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s slowly getting into the seasonal sprit miscellany.

Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2018

Published November 20, 2020

In 2010, there were 825 establishments in NAICS 32222 (Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing). By 2018, that number had declined to 725, despite a spurt of growth in 2012. In macro news, initial unemployment claims were 742,000, an increase of 31,000 from the previous week's revised level. 

Around the Web: Fabric Felony. Cinematic Simoleons. Top Technologies. Glorious Graphene. Foul Fiction. Prescient Painting? Curious Cannonballs. Calligraphic Colognes. Baffling Block. Turkey Toque.

Published November 20, 2020

The knitwear industry is particularly susceptible to money laundering. Movie money looks pretty genuine—but it shouldn’t look too real. Graphene! The annual Bulwer-Lytton Awards. Does a 19th-century Austrian painting depict a smartphone? It’s one of the most iconic war photographs ever—but was it staged? Colognes that smell like ink. Blow your mind with the "Block Universe Theory." All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s wrecking ball miscellany.

Around the Web: Fungal Fashion. Connected Clothing. Fision Fitting. Green Graphics. Maddening Mystery. Eel Economics. Piano Producer. Geyser Gourmets. Marvelous Mammals.

Published November 13, 2020

Two words: mushroom leather. Sustainable wipes. Fashion meets the Internet of Things, for some reason. German e-commerce company acquires body scanning technology developer. Coroplast campaign signs can and should be recycled. The world’s most difficult murder mystery/puzzle—“Cain’s Jawbone”—is solved for only the third time in almost 90 years. The eel as a unit of currency in Medieval Britain. Nannette Streicher, a “mechanical wunderkind,” was an 18th-/19-century piano builder who made Beethoven’s pianos. The world’s most Instagrammed train stations. PSA: don’t cook a chicken in Yellowstone’s hot springs.  All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s raccoon-menaced miscellany.

Graphic Arts Employment—October 2020

Published November 13, 2020

October 2020 employment figures are at least moving in the right direction from September, albeit slowly; overall printing employment in October was up +0.8% from September, with the gains predominantly in production staff continuing to come back. Let’s not look at year-over-year changes in graphic arts employment.

Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2018

Published November 6, 2020

In 2010, there were 491 establishments in NAICS 322212 (Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing). By 2018, that number had declined to 440, despite a spurt of post-recession growth. In macro news, the BEA’s advance estimate of 3Q GDP saw it increasing +33.1%—a climbing out of Q2’s -31.4% hole.

Around the Web: Postal Performance. Fictional Fragrance. Ballpoint Bio. News Negation. Java Jacket. Canvas Cosplay. Cetacean Savior.

Published November 6, 2020

A street-corner performance artist writes and mails “pick-me-up” letters. Powell’s Books is selling the smell of its bookstore. A history of the ballpoint pen, the “smartphone of its era.” The controversy over “unpublishing.” AI-enabled camera mistakes a ref’s head for a soccer ball. New Kickstarter for a coat made from “coffee yarn.” A malfunctioning 3D printer inspires a new form of textile. At “The Bob Ross Experience,” fans can dress up as and paint along with the PBS art instructor. A 3D art “performance” at the Brussels airport. A whale sculpture prevents a train from plummeting to its doom. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s post-electoral miscellany.

Around the Web: Frightening Figurines. Kooky Costumes. Mouse Mastication. Table Talk. Tracing Textiles. Poll Posters. Lunging Leopards.

Published October 30, 2020

Precious Moments figurines repainted for Halloween. A photo gallery of some of weirdest and/or ill-advised Halloween costumes ever. New eco-conscious automotive wiring is eaten by rats. A new app and connected tablecloth tells you what’s on your table, for some reason. A new book traces the history of textiles. RIT opens a digital exhibition of suffrage posters. Classic jazz album cover designs. Some questions about Burger King’s reusable packaging. Never pay for a “full contact experience” with a leopard. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s spooktacular miscellany.

Q2 Profits Unchanged from Q1—But Still Bad

Published October 30, 2020

Given the lag time in the release of quarterly profits, we have to time travel back to Q2, much as it pains us to do so, where we see that annualized profits for Q2 2020 stayed steady at -$4 billion.

EXCLUSIVE: EFI Chief Revenue Officer Frank Mallozzi Provides Details about New Nozomi C18000 PLUS

Published October 27, 2020

EFI launched its digital direct-to-corrugated press, the Nozomi C18000, at drupa 2016. Since that time, the company has placed a number of units, and at least two companies have purchased two units. Now, based on market experience and customer feedback, EFI has launched the second generation, the Nozomi C18000 PLUS, available as a field upgrade. Hear what Frank Mallozzi has to say.

Around the Web: Candy Cruise. Academic Apparel. Novel Notions. Susceptible Satellites. Listing Letters. Sustainable Sandwiches.

Published October 23, 2020

Candy chutes for social-distanced trick or treating. The International Library for Fashion Research set to open in Oslo. Clever but strange inventions from the early 20th century. What would we do without GPS? A new book traces the history of alphabetical order. (No, really.) Burger King tries out reusable packaging. RIP Ed Benguiat. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly track-and-tracing miscellany.

Paperboard Container Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2018

Published October 23, 2020

In 2010, there were 2,205 establishments in NAICS 32221 (Paperboard Container Manufacturing). By 2018, that number had declined -11% to 1,961. In macro news, the American Institute of Architects’ Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score was up in September. This is a leading indicator for the economy in general, but also for the signage market in particular.

Around the Web: Tracking Typefaces. Maximum Multiverse. Paying Paintings. Computerized Comics. Trolley Trade. Tormented Tourist. Cyber Saint. Softer Sparrows.

Published October 16, 2020

A new type specimen project. A typeface for people with poor vision. Tommy Hilfiger helps make fashion more sustainable. The Large Hadron Collider may be about to locate a parallel universe. Large paintings of medical bills are sold to pay those same medical bills. Can robots be funny? Qantas sells off fully stocked drinks carts. A tourist steals “cursed” relics from Pompeii. The “patron saint of the Internet” is a millennial who is on the verge of canonization. San Francisco’s birds got quieter during lockdown. Thirteen centuries of English in two minutes. Two words: fruit ninja. Remembering Dave Chandler. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly autumnal miscellany.

August Printing Shipments—The Rebound Continues

Published October 16, 2020

In August 2020, printing shipments rose to $6.90 billion—the third straight month of increasing shipments—and while it’s still well below August 2019’s $7.52 billion, given where we came from, that ain’t bad.

Converted Paper Product Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2018

Published October 9, 2020

In 2010, there were 4,128 establishments in NAICS 3222 (Converted Paper Product Manufacturing). By 2018, that number had declined -12% to 3,547. In macro news, the unemployment rate drops, but not entirely for the right reasons.

Around the Web: Apt Art. Fish Fashion. Sailing Sweets. Bones’n’Brands. Terrifying Telegram. Faux Font. Rocketing Roof. Biting Bot. Google ’Glyphics. COVID Christmas. Brutal Bugs.

Published October 9, 2020

RIT’s exhibit of early 20th-century political cartoons. Leather made from fish skin.  A zipline candy delivery system for COVID-era trick or treating. Home Depot’s giant skeleton barges its way into other brands’ social media. Send a “Screaming Telegram” to that special someone? New Tarot card decks for the 21st century...and beyond. Don’t use Arial for, you know, real design. Tesla invents the “inadvertent convertible.” A dental training robot goes rogue. Google’s machine learning-based hieroglyph translator. Santa will be social distancing this year. Who is surprised that the murder hornets have a “slaughter phase”? RIP Eddie Van Halen. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly autumnal miscellany.

Q2 Publishing and Advertising Revenues

Published October 2, 2020

From Q1 to Q2, book, periodical, and newspaper publishers, as well as advertising and related markets, saw quarterly revenues drop, some quite abruptly. For some of these markets, the pandemic only accelerated trends that had been long-ongoing.

Around the Web: Waist-Up Wardrobe. Glorious Graphene. Frank Financials. Lovely Letterpress. Missing Manual. Tenacious Trash. Terrifying Tattoos. Yay for Yurts! Periodic Pantone.

Published October 2, 2020

Fashion brands are designing for the Zoom generation. New face mask technology from Georgia Tech. Why Costco’s hot dog and soda combo only costs $1.50. The “United States of Letterpress”—a collection of letterpress samples from across the country. The user manual for the world’s oldest preserved digital computer has finally been found. A national park in Thailand mails trash back to litterers. The most tattooed man in France frightens small children. What may help New York City restaurants get through the winter? Yurts. Geeking out on the number 42. David Mitchell defends a broadband-killing television. Strippers try to get out the vote. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly autumnal miscellany.

Around the Web: Budding Basil. Canadian Crime Wave. Silk Sensors. Postponed Postcards. Fotomat Finishing. Television Trouble. Type Trek. Marvelous Mountain. Squirrel Saloon.  

Published September 25, 2020

Canadian thieves target hot tubs and beef, for some reason. Silk-based ink can be used to create wearable sensors. A Michigan woman receives a postcard mailed in 1920. The rise and fall of the iconic Fotomat. An old TV causes trouble for a Welsh village. The typography of Star Trek. What is the best time zone? The Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle is back! All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly autumnal miscellany.

Direct Mail Advertising—2010–2018

Published September 25, 2020

In 2010, there were 3,088 establishments in NAICS 54186 (Direct Mail Advertising). By 2018, the number of these establishments had dropped to 2,341. In macro news: initial unemployment claims rise again.

Around the Web: Score Statistics. Great Graphene. Wearable Wary. Creative Carpet. Python PPE. Viva Venus? Ludwig Listening. LEGO Listens. Covered Cakes. Perishing Peeps. Depressing Decoration.

Published September 18, 2020

The NFL season begins—and so does Scorigami. New graphene-based apparel. Amazon enters the fitness wearables market. The Simpsons as classic works of art. Public Service Announcement: a live snake is not an acceptable face covering. Is there life on Venus? How Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony changed the way people listen to classical music. The New York Times and Facebook collaborate on AR reporting. Children’s letters inspire LEGO to rethink its packaging. 2020 news would bewilder a time traveler from...2019. A “cake shield” for blowing out birthday candles. A Santa-wearing-a-mask Christmas ornament to enhance seasonal depression. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly pre-apocalyptic miscellany.

Printing Shipments: Summer’s Almost Gone

Published September 18, 2020

Printing shipments continued to rebound in July, coming in at $6.75 billion, up from June’s $6.63 billion. We remain hopeful, but as we have been seeing lately, we are far from out of the woods virus-wise and we may see shipments start to decline again come the fall.

Around the Web: Fashion’s Future. Futuristic Fashion. Luxembourg Library. Senryu Signage. Robot Writer. Ruinous Reveals. Vertiginous Van. Festive Fungi. 

Published September 11, 2020

The San Francisco Bay Area skies match PANTONE 130U. For ideas on how fashion should evolve, look to China. Programmable, 3D-printed textiles. Creative signage for the National Library of Luxembourg. Poetic signage is randomly appearing throughout the US. A robot pens an essay for The Guardian. Tired of cloth masks—how about transparent bubbles? What’s with gender reveal parties? Someone customized a van to drive upside-down and backwards, for some reason. Because it’s 2020 and why not: shiitake mushroom-flavored candy canes. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly gender revealing miscellany.

Outdoor Advertising—2010–2018

Published September 11, 2020

In 2010, there were 2,378 establishments in NAICS 54185 (Outdoor Advertising, although until 2012 this category was referred to as “Display Advertising”). Establishments dipped in the mid-2010s, but hit a new peak in 2018 at 2,765 establishments. In macroeconomic news: unemployment is down, but unemployment claims data paint a dark picture.

Around the Web: Printing Proposal. Talented Typist. Feral Fabric. Interactive Ink. Flight Fantasy. Dying Dining. Transforming Technology. Silly Spectacles.

Published September 4, 2020

A beau proposes to his typography-loving girlfriend at the Museum of Printing. A “typewriter artist.” “Living fabric” that purifies the air around it. Interactive, “clickable” paper that doesn’t require an external power source. A videogame that simulates flying in coach, for some reason. Record chain restaurant bankruptcies. The accelerating adoption rate of new technologies. “Anti-procrastination glasses.” Sensible and silly snacking. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly doomscrolling miscellany.

Retail Sales: A V-Shaped Recovery?

Published September 4, 2020

The Census Bureau recently released its monthly report on retail sales, and after a dramatic plummeting, July retail sales were $536.0 billion, up 1.2% from June (seasonally adjusted), and 2.7% above July 2019. But this may paint a rosier picture of retail than is warranted.

Around the Web: Sunflower Savior. Catalog Characters. Digital Decor. Sumptuous Sewing. Signage Surveillance. Abused Androids. Postal Paintings. Cosmic Comm. Rock Riddle. Foul Fraud.

Published August 28, 2020

The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program comes to the US. IKEA Taiwan adds Animal Crossing characters to its catalog. Also: 70 years of IKEA catalogs are now online. Amazon launches AR-based furniture decorating. A “thread artist” sews realistic embroidered foods. Clear Channel’s new billboards can track your movements. How to combat the growing scourge of robot abuse. A photo essay looks at the US’s New Deal-era post office murals. John Shepherd devoted his life to trying to contact space aliens. Newly discovered research notes describe an attempt to decipher the Rosetta Stone. Two words: vomit fraud. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly virtual miscellany.

PR Agencies—2010–2018

Published August 28, 2020

In 2010, there were 8,219 establishments in NAICS 54182 (Public Relations Agencies). After a slight contraction due to the Great Recession, PR agencies started to grow again, peaking at 8,548 establishments in 2018. In addition, we estimate there were an additional 37,954 freelance or sole proprietor PR agency establishments in 2018. In macro news: Q2 GDP revised up.

Printing Shipments On the Rebound: Will It Last?

Published August 21, 2020

After a dismal April and May, printing shipments rebounded in June to $6.63 billion. It’s a hopeful sign, but the COVID-19 crisis is far from over. It’s going to be a tense fall.

Around the Web: Data Design. Militant Masker. Dairy Ditties. Pixel Papa. Transparent Toilets. Tudor Trickery. Body-Shaming Bistro. Fantastic Flash.

Published August 21, 2020

Stock market data transformed into beautiful landscapes. A “mask gun” shoots face masks onto people’s faces. A deep dip into ice cream truck music. A woman’s driver’s license photo is an empty chair. Russell Kirsch, the inventor of the pixel, passed away at 91. Japan’s public lavatories with see-through walls. A 16th-century deep fake. A look back a the first “interactive TV show”—from 1953. A restaurant in China weighs customers before they order. The making of the great camp classic— 1980’s “Flash Gordon.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly unmasked miscellany.

Advertising Agencies—2010–2018

Published August 14, 2020

In 2010, there were 13,248 establishments in NAICS 54181 (Advertising Agencies). After a slight contraction due to the Great Recession, agencies started to grow again, peaking at 13,737 establishments in 2018. In addition, we estimate there were an additional 60,994 freelance or sole proprietor agency establishments in 2018. In macro news: initial unemployment claims dip below 1 million.

Around the Web: Fashion’s Future. Revised Revenues. Calling Cards. Flaming Photography. Slithering Smartphone. Video Vacation. Manhattan Migration. Mechanical Music. Rim Recording.

Published August 14, 2020

Online retail is the future of fashion. The NYT’s digital revenues surpass print for the first time in 170 years. WTIN is making its must-read Digital Textile eMag available for free. Has the ever-resilient business card finally met its match? A pictorial celebration of the postcard. The making of one of rock's most iconic album covers. A smartphone case with robotic legs allows a phone to crawl to its charging pad, creepily enough. The last remaining Blockbuster Video store is a retro Airbnb. Electrical outlet covers that double as motion-sensitive lights. Retailers are fleeing NYC. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly virtual miscellany.

Around the Web: Missing Mondays. Silly Signage. Adapting Architecture. Foxy Fetishist. Cirrus Sneakers. Crazy Convertible. Pixellated Pack. Circular Sketching.

Published August 7, 2020

There will no longer be a Monday print edition of a newspaper anywhere in Wyoming. Amusing social distancing signage from Down Under.  How will the COVID pandemic affect architecture? Germany’s shoe-stealing fox. 3D-printed sneakers based on clouds. The Boatswagon boat-car hybrid is up for auction. 8Bit Playing Cards simulate 1980s-era computer graphics. A new, limited edition Etch a Sketch lets you draw circles. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly virtual miscellany.

May Printing Shipments—Now It’s Serious

Published August 7, 2020

Printing shipments for May 2020 came in at $6.42 billion, down from $6.51 in April and way down from $7.21 billion back in January. This may be as dire as shipments get, but we don’t expect to break $7 billion again for a long while.

Around the Web: Farewell, Folio:. Goofy Gift. Temporary Tees. Pod Printing. Transformed Telephones. Vanishing Views. Foul Food.

Published July 31, 2020

BoSacks memorializes the late great Folio: magazine. Customized bobbleheads make grea—well, let’s just say they make gifts. A concept for temporary, recyclable promotional items. English communities adopt and reuse iconic red phone boxes. A new book looks at the impending death of local journalism. “Hot Dog Rice Krispies Treats.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly doomscrolling miscellany.

Graphic Design Services—2010–2018

Published July 31, 2020

In 2010, there were 15,390 establishments in NAICS 54143 (Graphic Design Services). After something of a contraction due to the Great Recession, graphic design establishments started to grow again, peaking at 15,776 establishments in 2018. In addition, we estimate there were an additional 119,037 freelance graphic design establishments in 2018. In macro news: GDP falls off the cliff.

Graphic Arts Employment—June 2020

Published July 24, 2020

As the song goes, “getting better all the time (can’t get any worse)”: in June 2020, overall printing employment is up +1.1% from May, although down -15.5% from June 2019. So a lot of the April damage is continuing to reverse itself.

Around the Web: Garrulous Glove. Clever Cups. Zany Zoom. Substitute Searching. Satisfying Screaming. Deserting Diners. Fudged Form. Callipygous Curation. Classical Cobain.

Published July 24, 2020

Engineers have developed a glove that translates sign language into speech. A new reusable silicone mask works as well as an N95 mask. Dixie Cups were the Zoom of the 1918 pandemic. Video imagines if Zoom had existed in 1988. What did we use for Internet searching before Google? A web app lets you scream into the Icelandic wilderness. “Rage Yoga.” For pete’s sake, if you make a restaurant reservation, show up. A faked death certificate done in by a typo. Museum curators are getting to the bottoms of their collections. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” sung in Classical Latin. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly doomscrolling miscellany.

Directory and Mailing List Publishing Establishments—2010–2017

Published July 17, 2020

In 2010, there were 1,641 US directory and mailing list publishing establishments; by 2017, that number had plummeted to 756.

Around the Web: Vegetable Vending. Penny Peril. Cube Reaction. Noise Negation. Deadly Dolphin. Forms Fun.

Published July 17, 2020

Salad bars could be replaced by vegetable vending machines. Will COVID finally kill off the penny? TV shows start using mannequins for sex scenes. A “Rubik’s Cube artist” created a giant portrait of Erno Rubik using 400 of his eponymous cubes. Researchers develop a prototype device for windows that can cancel out outside noise. A terrifying-looking ancient extinct dolphin. Firefighting goats. Librarians use Google Forms to create escape room games. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly masked miscellany.

April Printing Shipments—Here We Go

Published July 10, 2020

As we expected, April 2020 printing shipments took a tumble—falling from $7.18 billion in March down to $6.56 billion. Hmm...what could have caused that?

Around the Web: Digital Dyeing. Hat Hare. Color Conflict. Banning Ban. Bistro Bots. Bringing Back Boomboxes. Conferencing Cleanliness. Crazy Car Concept. Hidden Honda. Larson’s Latest.

Published July 10, 2020

More sustainable options for fabric dyeing. Turn your pets’ fur into knittable yarn. Today’s designers are taking new approaches to working with color. LinkedIn now offers audio support for correct name pronunciation. Berlin public transport bans deodorant to promote mask wearing. A Dutch restaurant uses robot waitstaff to enforce social distancing. “Boombox restoration.” NYC’s canceled Shakespeare in the Park heads to radio and podcasting. A municipal councillor in Spain neglects to turn off video while showering during a Zoom call. BMW to offer auto features on a subscription basis. Words of advice: don’t microwave library books. “The Far Side” is back...sort of. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly masked miscellany.

The PPP Comes to the Aid of the Industry

Published July 8, 2020

The Government has begun releasing details of the recipients of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) aid. In general, the Treasury Department and SBA have issued $7.2 billion to graphic communications industry businesses, retaining 440,609 industry jobs. We break down loan amounts paid out to industry businesses by NAICS code, as well as the number of jobs retained.

Book Publishing Establishments—2010–2017

Published June 26, 2020

In 2010, there were 2,973 US book publishing establishments; by 2017, that number had dropped to 2,440. Book publishers are especially well-represented in Non-Employer Statistics.

Around the Web: Fussy Font. Rotten Restoration. Cheering Chandler. Cool Covers. Fragile Facemask. Telephoning Tenors. Violin Vegetation. Loopy Lexicon. Segway Sayonara.

Published June 26, 2020

Goldman Sachs designs its own typeface—with some important caveats. Art restoration is best done by a professional. Raymond Chandler: king of the opening paragraph. How does a book cover become iconic? French researchers develop a transparent glass facemask. “Opera by phone.” A string quartet performs for an audience of plants. AI-generated fake English words. The Segway is being discontinued; the word “segue” is now safe. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly masked miscellany.

A Tale of Two Cities: The Pandemic Years

Published June 19, 2020

Annualized profits for Q1 2020 took a nosedive from $990 million to -$4 billion. Sure, the pandemic hit in the last three weeks of the quarter, but this is an old story that predates COVID.

Around the Web: Cap Catastrophe. Friendly Fencing. Filmy Facemasks. Missing Money. Palatable Paper. Defiant Devices. Terrifying Tweeting.

Published June 19, 2020

Pepsi’s Philippines marketing plan goes horribly awry. Social distancing fences bring neighbors closer together. Swiss researchers are developing transparent facemasks. Coronavirus consequence: a coin shortage. A Japanese printing company develops edible pads of paper. One man’s battle with an obstinate refrigerator. Why is Cooper Black such a ubiquitous typeface? Twitter is launching audio tweeting, which can only have positive effects. Basecamp launches a new email platform, for some reason. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly Phase 3 reopening miscellany.

Around the Web: COVID Cobbler. Clawed Clothing. Yarn Yeomen. Chiropteran Cacophony. Antiviral Vehicles. Bottle Blunder. Venerating Velázquez. Blacklight Book.

Published June 12, 2020

Shoes designed for social distancing. A Japanese zoo raises money selling lion-mauled jeans. An online yarn store helps its customers and suppliers get through the crisis. An album based on bat songs. What impact will COVID have on car design? A gin distillery also manufacturing hand sanitizer gets its bottles mixed up. Reenactors bring a Velázquez painting to life. An upcoming cmic book will be printed using fluorescent blacklight inks.  All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly slowly reopening miscellany.

Periodical Publishing Establishments—2010–2017

Published June 12, 2020

In 2010, there were 7,221 US periodical publishing establishments; by 2017, that number had dropped to 5,279. Magazines have been struggling in the Internet age, with closures and consolidations, but also have been seeing a shift in what constitutes “periodical publishing.” Also: we’re officially in a recession (surprise).

Around the Web: Wonderful Wodehouse. Addled Addressing. Simplified Cellphone. Correcting Collaboration. Distance Dousing. Coloring Kerrang. Goofy Graduation. Awkward Academia.

Published June 5, 2020

A tribute to P.G. Wodehouse. A simpler, more surreal approach to specifying physical addresses. Replacing the cellphone touchscreen with a dial. How AI can foster workplace collaboration. A water gun designed specifically for the clergy. Metal magazine Kerrang! turns their covers into coloring pages. NYU’s ill-fated “virtual reality” graduation. What will post-pandemic academia look like? All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly slowly reopening miscellany.

Around the Web: Social Sombreros. Fantasy Phone. Elevator Innovator. Germicidal Jetting. Outside Ollies. Rowling Reading. Perishing Painting. Tortured Typing. Loving Letters.

Published May 29, 2020

Behind the iconic NYT Memorial Day front page. Restaurants come up with unique (or silly) ways to enforce social distancing. The Zoom Last Supper. A prototype video chat device—from 1918. A Bangkok shopping mall replaces elevator buttons with foot pedals. Shoot sanitizer from your wrist. Two teens turn their quarantine house into a skatepark. J.K. Rowling serializes free children’s book online. Munch’s “The Scream” is fading. A “web typewriter” doesn’t allow deleting. In Ireland, a letter-writing renaissance. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly social distancing miscellany.

Newspaper Publishing Establishments—2010–2017

Published May 29, 2020

In 2010, there were 7,794 US newspaper publishing establishments; by 2017, that number had dropped to 7,222. The newspaper industry’s woes have been well-documented, but the trouble started well before the Internet era. Also: Q1 GDP revised down.

Around the Web: Problematic Pangrams. Sans Subtitles. Fusion Facemasks. Mindful Mugs. Daffy Distancing. Globe Grief. Stonehenge Solstice Streaming. Fruity Felons.

Published May 22, 2020

Quick brown foxes and lazy dogs aren’t necessarily best for font proofing. Disney+ lets you change the typeface used for captioning. Devo is selling “Energy Dome” face shields. Bad design concepts for social distancing in restaurants. How will COVID-19 change fashion? Shakespeare’s Globe Theater is in financial trouble. The traditional Stonehenge solstice sunrise gathering will now be livestreamed. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly social distancing miscellany. Robbers wearing watermelons rob a convenience store.

March Shipments—Crest of a Wave

Published May 22, 2020

As we kind of expected, at $6.96 billion, March shipments were up from February’s $6.48 billion, and well enough above March 2019’s $6.75 billion.

Lori Anderson on Cancellation of ISA International Sign Expo 2020

Published May 15, 2020

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the International Sign Association Board of Directors met this week and has voted to cancel ISA International Sign Expo 2020 re-scheduled for August 22-25. Lori Anderson, ISA President and CEO of ISA talks about decision to cancel this year's event and the scheduling of next year's Sign Expo to be held in Las Vegas during April 2021.

Around the Web: Slack Sitcom. High-Res Rembrandt. Grime Game. Scrabble Squawking. Sign Simulator. Classic Covers. Colorful Car. Doomsday Digs.

Published May 15, 2020

All 201 episodes of The Office have been recreated in Slack. “The Five Stages of Zoom.” The most detailed online photo of Rembrandt’s Night Watch. New videogame lets you power wash a house. Scrabble fans do not like the new Scrabble Go app. Generate random UK government COVID signage. Generate your own Penguin Classic book cover. A self-censoring typeface for sweary writers. The Plymouth “Paint Chip Barracuda.” The thriving doomsday bunker market. Happy birthday, Ottmar Mergenthaler. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly sheltering in place miscellany.

Prepress and Postpress Services Establishments—2010–2017

Published May 15, 2020

In 2010, there were 2,080 establishments offering prepress and/or postpress services; by 2017, that number had dropped to 1,375. It’s not difficult to understand why the number of these establishments has been dropping: prepress is being absorbed into the printing process itself (especially in digital printing), and more print businesses are acquiring their own finishing capabilities.

Graphic Arts Employment—March 2020

Published May 8, 2020

Another of the Scenes from the Before Times: in March 2020, the overall printing employment was virtually unchanged from February (-0.7%) and on a year-over-year basis is down -3.1%. Obviously, this is the calm before the storm.

Around the Web: Horrible Hornets. Friendless Fish. Lovely Letters. Clothing Cuisine. Tenuous Time. Billboard Rebirth. Virtual Visiting.

Published May 8, 2020

Murder hornets and aggressive chickens. Boy, 2020 has it all! An aquarium wants people to FaceTime lonely eels. A long Twitter thread about an 11-year-old’s love of writing letters. You are what you eat, which is also what you wear. All about chintz. Microsoft Word finally stops the insanity of double wordspacing after a period. Why have we lost all sense of time? Are llamas our pandemic heroes? Take virtual tours of some of the world’s most beautiful libraries. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly social distancing miscellany.

Book Printing Establishments—2010–2017

Published May 1, 2020

According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2017 there were 500 establishments in NAICS 323117 (Book Printing Establishments). This represents an decline of -6.7% since the decade began. In other data news, the BEA released Q1 2020 GDP growth. Click on through, if you dare.

Around the Web: Print Preferred. Vexing Video. Catty Commissioner. Commando Correspondent. P&G’s Paper Packaging. Socializing Suit. Postal Pets. Animal AR. Compelling Clogs.

Published May 1, 2020

FedEx Office offers a new deferred payment printing service. The potential psychological effects of using Zoom. Pro tip for Zoom meetings: don’t throw cats. Pro tip for remote Good Morning America segments: wear pants. P&G is using paper-based packaging for its Old Spice and Secret brands. Reusing discarded plastic fishing nets. A Hazmat-like suit designed for virus-free nightlife. Unusual gift items from the Post Office. Put a tiger in your living room. A popular YouTube channel is nothing but drain-unclogging videos, for some reason. Roger Dean livestreams designing the new Yes album cover. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly self-quarantining miscellany.

Around the Web: New Normal? Rime Readings. Cloistered Cacophony. Tone Tags. Packaging Playhouse. Literary Length. Decor Donations. Remote Rock.

Published April 24, 2020

Textile 4.0 magazine looks at the industry’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. Celebrities read verses from Coleridge’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner. A giant E Ink display features the NYT’s front page. Noise generator simulates the sounds of an office. A project to assign names to all 24-bit colors. Samsung’s TV boxes are designed to be converted into cat houses. The best 500+-page novels of the recent past. Buy wallpaper and support a local restaurant. Running the Boston Marathon...along the Erie Canal. BÖC performs “Godzilla” online. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly self-quarantining miscellany.

February Shipments: Tales from The Before Times

Published April 24, 2020

At $6.48 billion, February shipments were down from January’s $6.94 billion, but well above February 2019’s $6.22 billion—and indeed was the best February we’ve had since 2016. Ah, well...

Around the Web: Copper vs. COVID. Somber Signage. Law Limbo. Green Screen Queen. Puzzle Pressure. Failing Forecasts. Learning Lavatory.

Published April 10, 2020

Copper-infused fabric may protect against COVID-19. Retail signage around a closed NYC reflects the spirit of the city. A courtroom drama shoots a virtual episode over Zoom. The Hamilton cast reunites on Zoom. The Queen wears green-screen green on TV and comedy ensues. Unexpected surge in demand makes both jigsaw puzzle and board game makers fall to pieces. Why have weather forecasts suddenly become less accurate? A new “smart toilet” is trouble waiting to happen. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly social distancing miscellany.

Printing Profits Plunged—Even Before the Crisis

Published April 10, 2020

Annualized profits for Q4 2019 took a nosedive from $720 million to -$170 million in the latest chapter in our “tale of two cities” narrative, this time with the profitability gap between large and small printers narrowing.

From Photolabs to FASTSIGNS

Published April 6, 2020

Todd Fitzgerald, owner of FASTSIGNS Wappingers Falls, N.Y., talks to Kelley Holmes about his journey from running several camera stores/photolabs to the sign industry. When the photo business started to change, he saw the sign business as a natural progression, and took advantage of FASTSIGNS’ Co-Brand program.

Screen Printing Establishments—2010–2017

Published April 3, 2020

According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2017 there were 5,187 establishments in NAICS 323113 (Commercial Screen Printing). This represents an increase of +16% since the decade began.

Around the Web: Design for Doctoring. Fashion Forward. Coffee Table Chemistry. Postal Peril. Album Advice. Kooky Colors. Breakfast Bricks. Drone Dating. Portable Potter.

Published April 3, 2020

Designer Ariel Swedroe designs and sews masks for Miami health care practitioners. Will fashion’s move toward sustainability survive the COVID-19 crisis? A lavish picture book about the chemical elements. Will the Postal Service survive the COVID-19 crisis? Classic album covers redesigned to promote social distancing. “Overly descriptive color palettes.” Is Merino wool an answer to the marine microplastics pollution problem? A “building block waffle maker.” A real-life rom-com for the viral age. Does a USB drive get heavier as you store more files on it? All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly self-quarantined miscellany.

January Shipments: Well, We Started Great

Published March 27, 2020

At $6.94 billion, January shipments were down a little from December’s $6.98 billion, but that was just slightly lower than January 2016’s $6.95 billion—the best January we have had since then. But, elephant in the room...

Around the Web: Medical Masking. Tele Trolling. Mini Marathon. COVID Comedy. Virus Vocabulary. Awful Offices. Weird Webcams. Filter Fail.

Published March 27, 2020

So what are we talking about this week? Textile and apparel companies, among others, are helping provide masks and other protective gear for the COVID-19 crisis. Twitter tales of social distancing. “Zoombombing.” Running a 26-mile marathon on a seven-foot balcony. The evolution of Internet humor via coronavirus memes. New coronavirus-related words and phrases are entering the lexicon at a rapid rate. The grossest home offices ever. Webcams that keep eyes out for UFO, Bigfoot, and ghosts. Another livestream, another camera filter left on. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly self-quarantined miscellany.

FASTSIGNS Vero Beach and ABC Printing Co-Brand to Offer Complete Signage and Commercial Printing Services

Published March 23, 2020

Gordon Sellers, FASTSIGNS Vero Beach, Fla., and & Chris Beals, ABC Printing, talk about the evolution of their partnership. ABC Printing was founded in 1975 as a quick printer. When Gordon opened FASTSIGNS Vero Beach, Chis became a top customer, selling signs to his customers and acquiring them from FASTSIGNS—and Gordon’s customers also needed small-format printing. As their partnership grew, they decided to take advantage of FASTSIGNS’ Co-Branding program.

Around the Web: Social Salutations. Demanding Distance. Lavatorial Leaves. Restaurant Relics. Menschy Macmillan. Mammoth Manse. Plane Panes. Terrific Tablet. Mine Music.

Published March 20, 2020

More alternatives to handshaking. A Chicago restaurant offers free...dinner rolls. “Social distancing enforcement object.” A field guide to local foliage should the TP shortage become acute. Brooklyn restaurateurs uncover a trove of historical materials from a 19th century restaurant. A woman mistakes cheese for soap. Macmillan cancels its plans to deny libraries access to ebooks. An Ice Age house made of mammoth bones. Faux stained glass window clings for airplanes. E Ink’s new tablet could be a hit. The Shaft Bottom Boys play world’s deepest concert. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly self-quarantined miscellany.

Printing Establishments—2010–2017

Published March 20, 2020

According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2017 there were 25,256 establishments in NAICS 323 (Printing and Related Support Activities). This represents a decline of 13% since the decade began.

For Gaby Mullinax & Kaitlyn Mullinax-Fischer, FASTSIGNS is a Family Business

Published March 16, 2020

Gaby Mullinax & Kaitlyn Mullinax-Fischer, Owner & Director of Business Development of FASTSIGNS of Brea and Fullerton, Calif., talk about how their franchise became a family business, and how Gaby jumped off the corporate ladder to run a FASTSIGNS franchise. They encourage young people to get involved in the FASTSIGNS business.

Around the Web: Meddling Microbes. Apple AR. Virtual Vestments. Morphing Malls. Wacky Warrants. Crustacean Causeway.

Published March 13, 2020

A round up of some virus-laden news items. Apple’s Quick Look adds AR to shopping. Virtual fashion makes “fit pics” sustainable. A Dutch shopping mall that doesn’t sell anything. “Geofencing warrants” trace geolocation data to crime scenes. Building a crab infrastructure on Christmas Island. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Graphic Arts Employment—February 2020

Published March 13, 2020

In February 2020, overall printing employment was virtually unchanged from January (-0.1%) and on a year-over-year basis was down -2.0%. Interestingly, production employment was up, albeit infinitesimally.

Stan Gray Benefits from FASTSIGNS Veteran Program

Published March 9, 2020

Stan Gray, owner of FASTSIGNS Torrance and Long Beach, Calif., talks about his military background and how he came to FASTSIGNS via the Veteran & First Responder Franchise Program. Gray also has a background in architecture, and his franchise specializes in ADA signage.

Around the Web: All About CBD. The Death of the Apostrophe? History of the Sticker Museum. Paramedical Tattoos. Hive Heists. The Big Data of Big Hair.

Published March 6, 2020

A close look at what CBD does in the body. Have we killed the apostrophe? Terry Jones’ final project. Beehive theft is now a thing. Which decade had the biggest hair? A history of sneaker design. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Prepress and Postpress Establishments—2017

Published March 6, 2020

According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2017 there were 1,373 establishments in NAICS 32312 (Support Activities for Printing). The majority of these establishments (66%) had fewer than 10 employees.

Around the Web: Hygienic Handshakes. Public Pix. Mobile Museum. Continuing Catalogs. Stop Signage. Face Filter Failure. Funny Fashion. Cuttable Condiment.

Published February 28, 2020

A possible alternative to the handshake. Both the Smithsonian and the Biodiversity Heritage Library have released thousands of images into the public domain. Libraries are ditching overdue fines. Take the Swedish Design Museum home with you. Believe it or not, printed catalogs and the mail order business may be in the process of restoration—if not Restoration. Inside the NY DOT inplant and Stop sign manufacturing. Rough weather for a meteorologist who left an AR filter on his broadcast. Stop-motion animation using pancakes. The best thing since sliced...mayonnaise? All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Retail Sales—January 2020

Published February 28, 2020

Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for January 2020, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $529.8 billion, an increase of +0.3% (±0.4%) from the previous month, and +4.4% (±0.7%) above January 2019. Retail drives a lot of printing and packaging volume, so it’s important to keep an eye on that sector.

Book Printers—2017

Published February 21, 2020

The latest edition of County Business Patterns is out, which updates number of establishments and other data to 2017. In that year, there were 500 establishments in NAICS 323117 (Book Printing). The majority of these establishments (63%) had fewer than 10 employees.

Around the Web: Glowing Garments. Election Ensemble. Lasting Lore. Waning Watches. Blocking Bracelet. Pivot-Table Percussion. Victorian Vehemence. Fowl Footwear.

Published February 21, 2020

An LED light system to add high visibility to safety apparel. Forevernote will preserve your family memories—professional biographer included. The Apple Watch outsold the entire Swiss watch industry. “Bracelet of silence” keeps Alexa from eavesdropping. Weird punctuation in film titles. Turn Microsoft Excel into a drum machine. A Victorian shop manager quits in protest over bar codes. KFC and Crocs team up for...huh? All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Owner of FASTSIGNS Forest Hills. N.Y., Talks About his FASTSIGNS Conversion

Published February 20, 2020

Mohamed Kazi, Owner of FASTSIGNS Forest Hills, N.Y., talks about his recent FASTSIGNS conversion. After coming to the US from India, Kazi started in the sign industry in 1998 and launched his own business in 2007. He recently decided to convert his sign business to a FASTSIGNS as a way to take advantage of the franchise’s marketing and sales training resources to better complement his own technical and production capabilities.

Temple, Tex.’s Paper Graphics Reaps Rewards with FASTSIGNS Co-Brand Program

Published February 19, 2020

Dennis Smith is owner of both FASTSIGNS of Temple, Tex., and Paper Graphics, a commercial print business founded in 1972. Five or six years ago, as the commercial print business started growing stagnant, Smith researched FASTSIGNS’ Co-Brand program. He chose to become a FASTSIGNS franchise rather than add his own wide-format printing equipment in order to take advantage of the franchise’s training and its brand recognition.

December Shipments: Ending 2019 on a High Note

Published February 14, 2020

The value of printing shipments for December 2019 was down from November—as we expected it would be—but not down as much as been the case in recent years. At $6.95 billion, December shipments were down from November’s $7.03 billion, but far above the depths of 2017 and 2018.

Around the Web: Cool Clipart. Book Bot. Artistic Appetizers. Calligraphic Collection. Lotsa Letters. Grotesque Garfield. Jurassic Driver.

Published February 14, 2020

Royalty-free illustrations from old books. A Japanese artist hand-draws every meal he eats. A new book teaches hand-lettering. An Ohio man receives 55,000 copies of the same letter from his daughter’s Student Loan Company. A reimagining (and improvement) of Garfield. Printed greeting cards are still in fashion. Making 3D printing resin from old fryer oil. Why are people getting worse at The Price Is Right? All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Screen Printing Establishments—2017

Published February 7, 2020

The latest edition of County Business Patterns is out, which updates number of establishments and other data to 2017. In that year, there were 5,186 establishments in NAICS 323113 (Commercial Screen Printing). The majority of these establishments (74%) had fewer than 10 employees.

Around the Web: Printing Parkinson’s. Shedding Sheep. Shark Suit. Bartending ’Bots. Scorigami! Publishing Palaces. Canine Cans. Hog Hearses. Daliwood. Mobile Men’s Room. Junk Jam.

Published February 7, 2020

A new typeface raises awareness of, and helps fund a cure for, Parkinson’s Disease. Pineapple wool aims to replace sheep. A shark-proof wetsuit. Dye-sub transfer for non-polyester fibers. Japan experiments with robot bartenders. Private equity tries to acquire .org domain registry. Scorigami tracks rare football scores. Former newspaper headquarters have become luxury apartments. A Florida brewery puts pictures of adoptable rescue dogs on beer cans—and one woman finds her lost dog. Motorcycle hearses for uneasy riders. Salvador Dalí and Walt Disney once collaborated on an animated short film. “Uber for lavatories.” Faking a traffic jam on Google Maps. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

For FASTSIGNS of Maumee & Toledo, OH, Business Is a Family Affair

Published February 5, 2020

Karrie Brock, Owner of FASTSIGNS of Maumee & Toledo, OH, talks with Kelley Holmes about her business, which was converted to a FASTSIGNS franchise 10 years ago. She opened a second location in Maumee four years ago. Her husband Randy joined the team just prior to the conversion, and handles the back-of-the-house production, installation, and fabrication management while Karrie the “front of the house” operations.

Graphic Arts Employment—December 2019

Published January 31, 2020

In December 2019, overall printing employment dropped -0.2% from November, and on a year-over-year basis, it is down -2.4%. Production employment was down -0.5% from November to December (and -4.4% Y/Y) while non-production employment was down -0.1% from November to December—but actually up +1.7% Y/Y.

Around the Web: Sustainable Straws. Mobile Meetings. Floating Fashion. Classic Critique. Latest Lenses. Fractious Footwear. Cleaver Calming,

Published January 31, 2020

The growing market for paper straws. A slow elevator designed for fast meetings. A paperboy helps save a restaurant from fire. A balloon-based fashion collection. A new book collects old airline maps. Another new book collects photographs of famous economists. Which classic novels are the most-loved—and most-hated? Contact lens-based displays. Are new running shoes “technological doping”? Merit badges for—oy—“adulting.” Three words: “meat cleaver massage.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Putting a Professional Face on a Sign Business

Published January 29, 2020

Mathew Feil, Owner of FASTSIGNS Lawton, OK, talks about having converted his five-year-old sign company to a FASTSIGNS franchise and how a more professional face on his business has made it easier to to sell jobs. He also cites the technical, sales, and marketing resources that are available from FASTSIGNS corporate, as well as events such as the FASTSIGNS Conference.

Helping FASTSIGNS Move Into New Geographic Areas

Published January 28, 2020

Greg Carafello, NYC Area Development–FASTSIGNS, talks to Kelley Holmes about his role as a certified franchise executive, and how he helps companies like FASTSIGNS move into new geographies and attract franchise candidates. He also talks about the advantages of converting a print business to a FASTSIGNS franchise.

Commercial Printing Establishments—2017

Published January 24, 2020

The latest edition of County Business Patterns is out, which updates the number of establishments and other data. In 2017, there were 25,256 establishments in NAICS 323 (Printing and Related Support Activities). The majority of these establishments (71%) have fewer than 10 employees.

Around the Web: Lavatory Literature. Modulated Mummy. Ubiquitous Unicorns. Streaming Salvos. Tiny Type. Cranium Confusion. Forensic Flipping. Pigeon Parade.

Published January 24, 2020

“Facility” is a new print magazine all about bathrooms. Giving voice to a 3,000-year-old mummy. Op-eds from the future. The opening salvos in the streaming wars. Stores are compensating for poor packaging design choices. Dante’s Inferno for language pedants. The battle over a cryonically frozen head. A home renovation show that remodels crime scenes. A concerto for orchestra and typewriter. The Nevada Avian Milliner is back. Also: Robopigeon! Hide the statues! All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Paper Handling Solutions Identifies Customer Needs

Published January 21, 2020

Kris Oosterling of Paper Handling Solutions talks to Kelley Holmes about the evolution of the company, from what had been a traditional finishing equipment dealer to a more consultative solutions provider, helping customers navigate changes in the printing landscape.

Get It Now Print Streamlines Its Workflow

Published January 20, 2020

From 20 jobs per day to 100, Get It Now Print has increased production and their customer base with the help of EFI’s Fiery Workflow solution. Simple, efficient, and agile, Fiery automation can help your print business get more work out the door.

November Printing Shipments: Off for the Holidays

Published January 17, 2020

The value of printing shipments for November 2019 was $7.03 billion—a pretty big drop from October’s $7.65 billion, but we kind of expected it, as November and December see business slow down for the holidays.

Around the Web: Fabricating Food. Smart Sweats. Clever Kicks. Receipt Wrap. Slaking Slack. Erroneous Ebooks. Mellotron Music Musing.

Published January 17, 2020

3D-printed candy. Rechargeable workout clothes. Smart sneakers can improve your running form. A knitted scarf based on a CVS receipt. Living concrete. A new, more accurate typewriter font, for some reason. How Slack has ruined work. Library ebook provider Overdrive acquired by private equity firm. Why was there no ebook revolution in the 2010s? “The” most powerful word in the English language. A journey inside the Mellotron, one of the weirdest musical instruments. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Establishment Births/Deaths: Industry Attrition Continues to Slow

Published January 10, 2020

From 2015 to 2016, there had been an increase of 1,586 establishments, but a decrease of -1,881 establishments, for a net loss of -295 establishments. That’s a smaller percentage change than previous years, which reflects somewhat of a deceleration in industry consolidation.

Around the Web: Fur Fracas. Delivery Droid. Seen at CES. Audi’s Interior. Enhanced E Ink. Scrappy Scrabble. Bloody Billboard. Bivalve Boogie. Crazy Cats.

Published January 10, 2020

NYC’s proposed ban on fur (for fashion) causes a kerfuffle. A wearable plant vest that is...er, self-watering. A bipedal delivery robot is now for sale. Japan recycles cardboard to use as beds for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics competitors. A roundup of “highlights” from this week’s Consumer Electronics Show. “Charmin looks to disrupt the toilet experience with new technologies.” An inflatable pub for grown-up parties. At last: a color E Ink display. A deep dive into the history of the board game Scrabble—and the small Vermont town that used to manufacture all the letter tiles. A brilliant billboard advertising the new “Dracula” series. Two words: “disco clam.” Pro tip: don’t see the new “Cats” while tripping on LSD. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

ColorKarma: Making it Easier for Designers and Producers to Communicate

Published January 7, 2020

Shoshana Burgett discusses why she founded ColorKarma: to help improve communications between designers and producers, who often speak different "languages." She also aims to make it easier for designers to connect with producers across a wide range of physical product types.

The Next Chapter in the Printing Profits “Tale of Two Cities”

Published December 20, 2019

Industry profits data for the third quarter of 2019 were down from $3.05 billion in Q2 to $2.65 billion. Large printers continue to be the trouble spot.

Around the Web: Decade Dilemmas. Fiber Fallout. Paper Packing. Tentacle Trouble. Nifty Notebooks. Clever Keyboard. Helping Hive.

Published December 20, 2019

What are technology’s biggest challenges for the next decade? What are the top emerging technologies? Are natural fibers better for the environment than artificial fibers? Paper-based alternative to Bubble Wrap. The eternal struggle: eagle vs. octopus. For sale: Alaskan newspaper. Cost: $0. A teenager installs a 1,500-pound mainframe computer in his parents’ basement. A portable roll-up keyboard for smartphones and tablets. The rebirth of cursive writing? Bees as service animals. Rejoice: Gary Larson’s “The Far Side” is now online! All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

The Smart Factory Comes to Australia’s CMYKhub

Published December 17, 2019

Dayne Nankervis of Australian trade printer CMYKhub talks about the company's automation efforts, and how it is helping address the challenge of finding qualified staff. Ease-of-use allows staff to operate multiple machines, and gain new skills as they move around the company.

Around the Web: Gaga for Graphene! Vexing Valuation. DNA Data. Explaining Ecommerce. Sham Shipping. Stalking Signage. Mysterious Millinery.

Published December 13, 2019

A graphene jacket. A costly typo in Utah. Merriam Webster’s Word of the Year. The DNA of things”—creating materials with built-in memory. Intricate paper sculptures of microorganisms. Free shipping isn’t always free. User-tracking billboards—and with whom they share data. Who is putting hats on Las Vegas pigeons? KFC’s chicken-scented yule log. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

October Printing Shipments: Raise a Glass of Holiday Cheer

Published December 13, 2019

The value of printing shipments for October 2019 was $7.65 billion—a pretty big jump from September’s $7.14 billion. October has become the biggest month of the year, and this is the best October the industry has had since 2016.

The “Orders of One” Industry

Published December 10, 2019

Julian Marsh, Digital Print Expert, talks about the latest challenges facing digital book printers. Customers want highly customized and complex books with faster turnaround than ever—the “Amazon effect.” At the same time, book printers are facing a skills shortage. Enter automation and the smart factory approach to book manufacturing.

Around the Web: Crafty Carlsberg. Couture Clash. Fatal Fashion. Local Losses. Sham Shipments. Brainy Brush. Cuneiform Cookies. Purring Professors.

Published December 6, 2019

Carlsberg Group replaces plastic ring carriers and shrinkwrapping with innovative adhesive dots. The environmental toll of haute couture. A textile-based horror movie. The death of local news. An interactive look at the graphic design and development of New York City’s subway map. An AI system attempts to write about printing shipments. “A fitness tracker for your mouth.” A new look at Marco Polo’s last year in Venice. A Welsh password generator. Cats teaching economics. A $1 hotel room—exhibitionists preferred. A smoke-breathing Godzilla Christmas tree. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly, Baby Yoda-free miscellany.

First Look: Industry Business Conditions 2019

Published December 6, 2019

Preliminary results from our 2019 Business Outlook Survey show that one-fourth (24%) of survey respondents reported that, compared to 2018, revenues for 2019 were up more than 10%. That’s the highest this has been since we started our annual survey in 2015. Elsewhere, though, things are a bit more muted.

Bookmasters Brings the Smart Factory to Book Production

Published December 3, 2019

Brad Sharp, Director of Manufacturing for Bookmasters, talks about the company’s implementation of the “smart factory,” not only in the front end, but also in printing and finishing, leveraging automation to tie together as many work centers as they can for short-run, on-demand book production.

October Jobs: Production Down, Managerial Up

Published November 22, 2019

In October, overall printing employment dropped -0.3% from September. On a year-over-year basis, though, it was down -2.4%. Production employment was down -0.7% from September to October, but year-over-year was down -4.8%. On the other hand, non-production employment was up +0.7% from September to October, and year-over-year was up +2.9%.

Around the Web: Publishers’ Peril? Gargantuan Gannett. Assessing AR. Female Pirate Printer. Festive Footwear. Shirt Supreme. Goofy Gravy.

Published November 22, 2019

What happens when a print publication goes all-digital? Has Apple News Plus cannibalized publications’ own digital efforts? Gannett and GateHouse to merge and create the biggest newspaper publisher in the US. What is in store for AR in 2020? Well, not Apple Glasses. Manhole cover-based art. Painting on Vans loafers. Hacking into pet dishes? A unique way to drug your Thanksgiving guests. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Christine Erna on Intelligent Mail

Published November 20, 2019

Christine Erna of Strategic Postal Advisors provides some updates on the mailing industry, specifically "full-service intelligent mail." Intelligent mail offers mailers many benefits, such as address change services, secure destruction, and informed visibility data, although many mailers may not be aware how to take advantage of it.

Canon’s Versatile imagePRESS Technology

Published November 19, 2019

Canon USA’s Matthew Poliniak talks about the company’s imagePRESS technology—specifically the imagePRESS C10000VP and C910 Color Digital Presses—and the wide range of applications imagePRESS technology can produce, achieving the same high quality on uncoated and coated stock, as well as textured and other specialty substrates.

Xanté Introduces InfoMark, an Alternative to QR Codes

Published November 19, 2019

Robert Ross, CEO of Xanté, introduces InfoMark, a simple four-digit alphanumeric code designed to replace the QR code. InfoMark gives publishers, designers, packagers, and others a simple digital link to quickly access audio, video, PDF, and any other digital content from a printed piece using a desktop computer, smartphone, or tablet.

Software Binds Together All the Elements of an Automated Workflow

Published November 19, 2019

Ray Duval of Ultimate TechnoGraphics talks about the concept of the “smart factory,” how virtually any print process can be automated, and how software is the glue that holds together all the different parts of the automated workflow.

With the Ricoh TF6250, It’s a Whole New Ballgame for MAC Specialties

Published November 18, 2019

Mark Cohen, President of MAC Specialties, talks about the wide-format and specialty printing services his company offers, and explains how they produce custom cellphone stands. MAC Specialties recently installed a Ricoh TF6250 UV LED Flatbed Printer which allows them to print on materials other than flat sheets or boards—such as foam footballs.

Paperboard Container Manufacturing Establishments—2016

Published November 15, 2019

In 2016, there were 1,971 establishments in NAICS 32221 (Paperboard Container Manufacturing). One-half of these establishments have 50 or more employees, and three-fourths have 20 or more employees.

Around the Web: Looming Automation. Tough Lung Love. Fantasy Fabric. Sea Silk. Tangled Tapes. Cochlear Craziness. Olivetti Oddity. Missing Millennials. Canine Conversation.

Published November 15, 2019

An automated digital weaving loom. Hemp cigarettes are apparently a thing. A hat made of silk from mollusks goes up for auction. The Zagat Guide is back in print. Cassette tapes are coming back into fashion, for some reason. Send your ear data to Sony, for some reason. The bizarre tale behind the first desktop computer. Is online advertising the new dot-com bubble? There’s no such thing as a Millennial—or even a Boomer. Salvador Dalí’s Tarot deck. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Teaching Millennial Marketers About Direct Mail

Published November 14, 2019

Jeana Garms, VP of Marketing for SG360°, talks about her experiences as a Millennial working for a direct mail company. Her age cohort tends to think in terms of digital media first, so she finds that marketers who entered the workforce in the last 10 years need a lot of education about print direct mail.

Finishing Automation is Becoming a Critical Investment

Published November 14, 2019

Bob Flinn from Standard Finishing talks about why, with the current labor market, investment in automation within binding and finishing is imperative.

Horizon International Introduces IoT Capabilities in its Finishing System

Published November 13, 2019

Yoshihiro Oe, General Manager at Horizon International Inc., talks about the "ICE Concept" that Horizon International introduced at the Think Smart Factory event. The concept brings Internet of Things (IoT) interconnection to finishing equipment to provide real-time data analytics, predictive maintenance, remote service, and support. Horizon is collaborating with customers to determine which type of IoT functionality is most useful within an automated print factory.

Transformation and Transition at Kodak

Published November 12, 2019

Patti Smith, VP, WW Business Development & Marketing, Digital Inkjet Printing, for Kodak, talks to David Zwang about the latest developments at Kodak, the company's new CEO Jim Continenza, and the renewed emphasis on understanding—and replicating—the transitions customers are undergoing.

Think Smart Finishing Showcases Automated Print Production

Published November 12, 2019

2019 Think Smart Finishing, organized by Horizon International, showcases automated print production from order to finished product. WhatTheyThink spoke to Yasuo Taketsugu of Horizon International about bringing 14 industry partners together across software, print, and finishing to show a fully integrated print environment.

Tri-Win Direct Wins with Continuous-Feed Inkjet from Ricoh

Published November 11, 2019

Andy Chagan of Tri-Win Direct talks about the direct mail company's humble beginnings in a second-floor apartment and now, 22 years later, mails 350-400 million pieces a year. The company uses predominantly Ricoh equipment and, in 2015, the company transitioned from cut-sheet to continuous-feed, and the Ricoh VC60000 was a game-changer.

No Fall for Printing Shipments

Published November 8, 2019

Heading into Fall 2019, the value of printing shipments for September 2019 was $7.14 billion—up from August’s $7.10 billion. It’s not a huge rise, but given that for the last few years September shipments declined from August’s, we’ll take it.

Around the Web: Talking Twistronics. Smartphone Subscriptions. Magenta Monopoly. Sadistic Stacks. Elusive Ebooks. Sumerian Stew. Banishing Blind Spots. No Mo’ Mona. Dean of the Dead.

Published November 8, 2019

Researchers turn graphene into a superconductor. Are subscriptions next for the iPhone? Deutsche Telekom claims to own the color magenta. An old sewing machine repair shop accidentally became a New York museum. Queens’ new library is all but inaccessible if you’re not an elite athlete. Culinary archaeologists recreate ancient recipes. A 14-year-old inventor solves the problem of cars’ blind spots. “Take down the Mona Lisa!” James Dean to star in a new movie, for some reason. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Koenig & Bauer Looks Ahead to drupa 2020

Published November 5, 2019

Koenig & Bauer’s Mark Hischar previews what Koenig & Bauer will be showing at next year’s drupa 2020. The company will have two booths in Dusseldorf to showcase how the company has grown and the new technologies and product lines they have been developing.

EFI’s Jeff White Talks Workflow

Published November 4, 2019

EFI’s Jeff White talks to Kelley Holmes about the importance of workflow tools to make print businesses more efficient, and discusses EFI’s MIS and workflow solutions for commercial print providers, mailing operations, and superwide format printers.

Dave Fellman on Driving the Sales Cycle

Published November 4, 2019

Longtime Printing News contributor Dave Fellman talks to Kelley Holmes about driving the sales cycle: prospecting, quoting, and taking the first few orders. It’s a rule of thumb that you’ll lose about 10% of your customers each year, so to grow, you need to add 12–20% new customers.

Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing—2010–2016

Published November 1, 2019

In 2010, there were 825 establishments in NAICS 32222 (Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing). By 2016, that number had declined for a net loss of -12% to 730.

Around the Web: Terrifying Typeface. Edgy Analytics. Green Garments. Techy Teens. Expensive Eagles. Grotty Gifts. Candy Crushes.

Published November 1, 2019

Hellvetica unleashed. The edge will transform sporting events—and perhaps everything else. Apps for recycling used clothing. A study of mobile technology use by today’s tweens and tweens. Where eagles dare, roaming charges follow. Gift recipients may like poorly wrapped presents better. A hierarchy of candy. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Adding Value to the Industry—and Print Customers

Published November 1, 2019

Kelley Holmes talks to Thayer Long, President of APTech, about some of the strategies and initiatives that APTech is pursuing to help add more value to the industry—and help print providers add more value to their customers—as the print industry goes through major changes.

RMGT: Alone with the Crowd

Published October 31, 2019

Chris Manley, President of Graphco, talks to Kelley Holmes at PRINTING United about how RMGT has the only offset press on the show floor—and that demos have drawn standing-room-only crowds.

Previewing drupa 2020

Published October 30, 2019

drupa’s Sabine Geldermann previews some of the highlights visitors can expect at next June’s drupa 2020, and some of the event’s new innovation partners. In the drupa cube, bestselling author Michael Gale, author of “The Digital Helix,” will talk about the digital transformations in other industries and how they apply to the printing industry.

RISO's Color Printing at PRINTING United

Published October 29, 2019

Brianna Makarevich and David Erwin of RISO Inc. give a tour of the RISO booth at PRINTING United showcasing the variety of devices on display, including the FW Series, which includes a multifunction finisher; the GD Series, which features a Fiery RIP to provide greater color capabilities; and the new Valezus T2100, the latest entry in RISO’s portfolio of print production systems.

Hybrid Software on Packaging Prepress

Published October 29, 2019

Mike Rottenborn, President and CEO of Hybrid Software, talks about how prepress for packaging has changed over the years, and how Hybrid Software has developed prepress solutions for flexo, offset, digital, and hybrid packaging printing.

Meet the EFI BOLT Digital Textile Printer

Published October 28, 2019

EFI's Textile Product Manager Micol Gamba walks us through the capabilities of the EFI BOLT single-pass digital textile printer in this video sponsored by EFI. As the world's fastest digital textile printer running at up to 90 meters per minute, the EFI BOLT was shown running at the recent ITMA trade show in Barcelona and four units had already been sold at that time.

Jeff Jacobson and the EFI Ecosystem

Published October 28, 2019

Jeff Jacobson, new Executive Chairman and CEO of EFI, talks to Cary Sherburne about what attracted him to take on the leadership role at EFI, and the changes in store as EFI transforms from being a public company to a private company.

The View from the Other Side: Print Buyers’ Revenues

Published October 25, 2019

Publishing and advertising are among the biggest print-buying markets. Last month, the Census Bureau released its Quarterly Services Survey, which reported revenues for these markets. Publishers’ revenues continue their long decline, while the up-and-down of advertising revenues indicate the extent to which the nature of advertising is changing.

Around the Web: Graphene Has its Own Conference. Grin and Bear It. Write About Happiness. Where Have All the English Majors Gone? The Internet in 2030. Epic Flight. IKEA Tarot Cards.

Published October 25, 2019

The 14th Graphene Conference meets in Silicon Valley. Bear Naked and Sustainable Pouches. Using digitized books to gauge happiness. English majors are down 25%. What will the Internet look like in 10 years? What does 19 hours on a plane do to the human body? All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Keypoint Intelligence on Textiles

Published October 24, 2019

Keypoint Intelligence - InfoTrends’ Ron Gilboa talks about the different kinds of textile printing applications and how print service providers can add more value for their customers by getting into textile printing.

Scott Eganhouse Talks About TEC Mailing Solutions’ Strong Suits

Published October 22, 2019

Scott Eganhouse of TEC Mailing Solutions talks about the company’s cloud-based USPS-certified cloud solution for the address hygiene and mailing industry—and cloud-based dye-sub-printed trade show attire.

EFI’s Red Hot Fiery Technology at PRINT 19

Published October 22, 2019

Giselle del la Moriniere Product Marketing Manager in EFI’s Fiery Group talks about EFI’s Fiery partners, the Red Hot Technology Award-winning FreeForm Create software, and the integration of the Fiery digital front end with Duplo’s spot coater and slitter/cutter/creaser.

CJ Graphics Sweeps the Bennys

Published October 21, 2019

Jay Mandarino, President and CEO of Mississauga, Ontario’s CJ Graphics, talks about his company’s having won a record 22 “Benny” Awards, the most in the 71-year history of the PIA’s Premier Print Awards.

Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing Establishments—2016

Published October 18, 2019

In 2016, there were 730 establishments in NAICS 32222 (Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing). Nearly four out of 10 (39%) have 50 or more employees, and 59% have 20 or more employees.

Around the Web: Nano Novels. Ultra Ubik. Definitive Dracula. Arcade Arcana. Feline Festivity. Spotify Style. Tooth Tech.

Published October 18, 2019

Read classic books on the NYPL’s Instagram. Deluxe edition of a classic Philip K. Dick novel. A compendium of classic arcade typography. An immersive edition of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. An Advent calendar for cats. Custom T-shirts based on Spotify data. The current science of CBD. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Automated Color Control for Legacy Offset Presses

Published October 18, 2019

John Sweeney of Lithec USA introduces the company, which has just launched in the US, and the LithoFlash, the only retrofit inline closed-loop color control system for legacy sheetfed offset presses.

Marco Boer: drupa 2020 Should Be Part of Your Trade Show Plans

Published October 16, 2019

Marco Boer from I.T. Strategies provides his perspective on why North American printing company executives should attend European trade shows and what to expect at the upcoming drupa 2020 event.

Kirk-Rudy Launches the Memjet-Powered FireJet 4C

Published October 15, 2019

Kirk-Rudy’s Bob Mills showcases the new FireJet 4C, a Memjet-powered four-color inkjet printing system that can print at 1600 x 1600 dpi at speeds up to 150 feet per minute. It uses pigment aqueous ink and is designed to cost-effectively print envelopes, bags, packages, napkins, and other items.

Hunkeler's New Flexible Stacker

Published October 14, 2019

Hunkeler’s Hans Gut talks about the products the company was demonstrating at PRINT 19, including the Red Hot Technology Award-winning Hunkeler LS8-30 Long Stacker, which is designed to cut and stack a wide variety of print products.

Graphco: “The Unfair Advantage”

Published October 14, 2019

Graphco’s Chris Manley talks about the technologies the company was demonstrating at PRINT 19, including its chemical embossing system for RMGT offset presses, Foliant laminating, and GEW LED UV technology.

Around the Web: Paper Back. Mechanical Paper. Graphene—Again! Gambling on RFID. Water Warning. Dog Talk. Real Robocop.

Published October 11, 2019

Mechanical paper sculptures. A book about Graphene. Did RFID playing cards help a poker champ cheat? LED-based art helps gauge NYC’s water quality. Tech is helping animals communicate better. Real-life Robocop is no hero. Scotch pods?! All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Printing Shipments: The Dog Days of Summer Didn’t Bite

Published October 11, 2019

The value of printing shipments for August 2019 was $7.1 billion—up from July’s $6.8 billion. As we head into the autumn, 2019 is shaping up to be the best year for the industry in three years.

Xanté launches their new full color specialty printing solution based on HP FI-1000

Published October 9, 2019

Mark Priede of Xante previews the new full-color specialty printing solution based on the HP FI-1000, which prints 170+ envelopes a minute and uses Xanté’s iQueue software, and discusses the benefits of partnering with HP.

HP SPS OEMs launch wide format, full color solutions for mail and specialty printing applications

Published October 9, 2019

Paul Barton from HP Specialty Printing Systems (SPS) talks about the SPS division and how it allows OEMs to leverage HP’s engineering and manufacturing scale to bring products to market. At PRINT 19, HP SPS introduced the Fixed Imager (FI) 1000, a print engine that allows boxes, bags, corrugated, and cardboard to be printed at the desktop level.

Printware announces their new full color mail solution based on HP FI-1000

Published October 9, 2019

Printware’s Tim Murphy talks about a new entry in the company’s iJetColor line of benchtop and industrial inkjet printing systems: the iJetColor Pro, a light industrial press based on the FI-1000 printhead technology from HP SPS, allowing customers to create short-run, personalized packaging.

Standard Finishing's Red Hot Technologies

Published October 8, 2019

Paul Steinke of Standard Finishing Systems showcases two Red Hot Technology Award-winning products Standard was demonstrating at last week’s PRINT 19: the Horizon VAC-L600H Air-Suction Collator and the Hunkeler LS8-30 Long Stacker.

Business Cards and Shoe Leather—Larry Vaughn Talks About His Memoir

Published October 7, 2019

Larry Vaughn of Thomas Printworks talks about his memoir “Business Cards and Shoe Leather: How Dyslexia Helped Me Found One of the World's Premier Business Cooperatives.” The book, published earlier this year, comprises stories culled from Larry’s 40+ years in the printing industry.

Koenig & Bauer Expands Into Corrugated

Published October 7, 2019

Kelley Holmes talks to Mark Hischar of Koenig & Bauer about the company’s expansion into virtually every printing technology and application, from commercial to all kinds of packaging—especially new forays into corrugated.

Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2016

Published October 4, 2019

In 2010, there were 491 establishments in NAICS 322212 (Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing). By 2016, that number had declined for a net loss of -8% to 451.

Around the Web: Unmade Made. Bawdy Billboard. Brilliant Bins. Some Summoning. Autonomous Vehicle Repellent. “Spocking” Fivers. Escalator Etiquette. Scented Scissors?

Published October 4, 2019

Dennis Amorosano launches Dendog Strategy Insights. Avery Dennison and Unmade partner for apparel manufacturing. Hackers have an electronic billboard play porn. Getting a smart jacket to work properly. A smart trash bin takes itself to the curb. Tesla’s Smart Summon and the chaos that is the modern parking lot. Keeping robot cars away from bicyclists. The Bank of Canada finds “spocking” $5 bills to be highly illogical. Escalator etiquette is wrong. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Brand Print Americas to Launch in 2020

Published October 4, 2019

Thayer Long, President of APTech, talks to Kelley Holmes about APTech’s recent partnership with Tarsus and offers a preview of 2020’s inaugural Brand Print Americas, an event designed to offer business and brand owners the full range of print options when taking their product or services into the marketplace.

Color Learning Materials at a Black-and-White Price Point

Published October 3, 2019

Chuck Werninger, Senior Manager of IT Administrative Services at Houston Independent School District, talks about his adoption of a Canon Océ VarioPrint i300 inkjet press to improve the quality of educational materials for Houston ISD students.

Sun Solutions Quickly Gets Up to Speed on Inkjet

Published October 2, 2019

Bridget Fisher of Sun Solutions in Columbia, S.C., talks to Kelley Holmes about the company's inkjet journey. As a general commercial printer, Sun Solutions had been looking for a cut-sheet inkjet solution, and several months ago installed a Canon Océ VarioPrint i300. They were surprised by the kinds of applications they have been able to transition from offset to inkjet.

Intellus’ Inkjet Journey

Published October 1, 2019

Kelley Holmes talks to MJ Ortiz of Intellus, an omnichannel marketing company that has been growing rapidly over the past three years. When a flagship direct mail customer wanted to make the move to digital, Intellus acquired a Canon Océ VarioPrint i300 and transitioned them from offset to production inkjet.

Printing Shipments: Summer Surprise

Published September 27, 2019

The value of printing shipments for July 2019 was $6.8 billion—up from June’s $6.6 billion. Breaking with seasonality, what has typically been one of the lowest months of the year for printing shipments actually came in pretty good.

Around the Web: Go to Noto. Post-Modern English. Meddling Milton. More Moore. Dart DRM. All Over Alexa. Fancy Feast. Celery Salves. Robot Tuna. Minnow Message.

Published September 27, 2019

IKEA changes its typeface. An op-ed from the future comments on 23rd-century English. A scholar discovers a John Milton-annotated volume of Shakespeare. Animation compares Moore’s Law to actual CPU speeds. DRM for Nerf darts. “Highlights” from Amazon’s hardware announcements. Nestlé introduces $17 “luxury KitKat” bars. Celery juice: a magic cure-all? Sherwood Schwartz sticks it to Newton Minow. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Attracting Millennials to the Printing Industry

Published September 24, 2019

Jeana Garms of SG360 shares with Kelley Holmes some of the highlights of a panel discussion she moderated at the thINK Ahead Conference about some of the misconceptions about Millennials in the printing industry, and how to better attract them to print businesses.

Larry Vaughn on Where thINK Is Today

Published September 23, 2019

Kelley Holmes talks to thINK board member Larry Vaughn about how educational events like the thINK Ahead Conference pull together print business owners and employees to help them understand today’s print marketplace.

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing Establishments—2010–2016

Published September 20, 2019

In 2010, there were 1,356 establishments in NAICS 322211 (Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing). By 2016, that number had declined -12% to 1,200.

Around the Web: Surf’s Up. Sonar Gloves. Wearable Chair. Cardiac Keister. Earthquake Bed. Self-Repairing Robots. Inadvisable Burger.

Published September 20, 2019

Graphene: is there anything it can’t do? Inside the University of Minnesota’s Wearable Technology Lab. Lose all shred of dignity with a wearable chair. Monitor your heart health with a smart toilet seat. The grueling, physically demanding world of...chess. “Hope you enjoy your stinking phones.” KFC’s Chicken and Donuts Sandwich. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Marco Boer on thINK Ahead 2019

Published September 19, 2019

Marco Boer from I.T. Strategies discusses the highlights from the thINK Ahead 2019 event. thINK is this user community of Canon Solutions America production inkjet customers, solution partners, and print industry experts. Marco also shares his perspective on user groups and vendor evenets versus general public trade shows and why both are important for the industry.

Industry Profits: Mind the Gap

Published September 13, 2019

Annualized profits for the second quarter of 2019 were down from $3.61 billion in Q1 to $3.05 billion. However, the gap between large and small printers has only narrowed very slightly.

Around the Web: Chameleonic Kicks. Twisted Twister. Fooling Facial Recognition. Plastic Priests. Kaput Cameras.

Published September 13, 2019

Sneakers that put on a light show. An inflatable Twister mat may be just what your next party needs. Adversarial fashion takes on face recognition systems. A.I. priests. A.I. passes an 8th-grade science test. An animation tracks the rise and fall of web browsers. Camera sales fall off a cliff.  All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Irvine, Calif.’s Sir Speedy Relies on Automation

Published September 9, 2019

Kelley Holmes talks to Kathy Morgan, President of Sir Speedy Printing & Signs in Irvine, Calif., about the changes she has seen in commercial printing over her 30+ years in the industry, such as the transition from offset to digital printing and an increased emphasis on automation.

Around the Web: AI vs. WTT Round 2. Temporary Text. Fast Food. Siri-ous Sneaker. Dim Bulbs. Forest Bathing. Plastic People. Erse Erudition.

Published September 6, 2019

Artificial intelligence attempts to write a wide-format story. “The World’s Most Dangerous Writing App.” Digital signage is too fast. Editor & Publisher sold. Nike’s Self-Lacing Sneakers. How to keep Slack from driving you crazy. All about “forest bathing.” Hide and seek in IKEA. Are we in a true “Age of Plastic”? A revised online dictionary of Medieval Irish. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

From the Classroom to the Pressroom

Published September 4, 2019

Kelley Holmes talks to Adam Pelzek of Pip Printing New England about his transition from teaching to the family printing business, founded by his father and uncle more than 40 years ago. He also shares his perspective on Millennials’ perceptions of print and the printing industry.

Printing Establishment Births and Deaths

Published August 30, 2019

From 2015 to 2016, there was an increase of +1,586 printing establishments and a decrease of -1,881 establishments, for a net loss of -295 establishments.

Around the Web: Fashion Pact. Bug Barrier. Book Sales. Caption Contretemps. Capital Ideas. AI vs. WTT. 80s iPhones. Elemental.

Published August 30, 2019

G7 takes on fashion sustainability. Graphene vs. mosquitoes. AAP’s latest book sales figures for January to June 2019. Is captioning audiobooks illegal? How to capitalize headlines. Can AI write for WhatTheyThink? What would a 1980s-era iPhone have looked like? Whither the Periodic Table? All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Thin LED Panels Are Good for Plastic or Fabric Signage

Published August 29, 2019

Aleksandr Karasyk, President of Elephant US, talks about the company's thin, double-sided, LED panels and its journey from the Ukraine to the U.S.

Around the Web: Bogus Books. Letterpress Lovecraft. Online Occultiana. Crazy Cards. Bothersome Billboards. Migrating Mattresses. Farewell, FogCam.

Published August 23, 2019

Amazon sells fake Orwell titles. An experiential letterpress-printed book inspired by H.P. Lovecraft. Amsterdam’s occult library digitizes its collection. Memorable baseball card photos. The Apple Card: Leave home without it? New York’s continued war on digital offshore billboards. “Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Is an Economic Indicator.” The longest-running webcam is going dark. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

For Pip Printing New England, Mailing Services Are on the Rise

Published August 20, 2019

Bob Pelzek, President of Pip Printing New England, talks about his 43 years in the business, and how he has navigated the industry’s changing trends. Lately, Pip Printing New England has branched into signage, and Pelzek comments on the rise, fall, and resurgence of the mailing services business.

June Printing Shipments: The Dog Days of Summer Begin

Published August 16, 2019

Printing shipments for June 2019 were—as expected—down from May, and came in slightly below June 2018.

Around the Web: Graphene Gown. Adversarial Fashion. Smart Ovens, Dumb Choices. Amazon Airbnb. Big Apple Retail Apocalypse. Crazy Train. Implantables.

Published August 16, 2019

A fashion line designed to mess with surveillance cameras. The smart device invasion. A Seattle Airbnb that offers a mock Amazon job interview. High-profile shopping meccas in NYC shut down. Ozzy Osbourne is an actual genetic mutant (as we all suspected). You can now store your data—and your car keys—inside your body. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Quick Printing at its Finest

Published August 13, 2019

Kelley Holmes talks with Eileen Rosenzweig, President of Sir Speedy Sarasota in Florida. Rosenzweig is a second-generation Sir Speedy owner and has been in the business 33 years. Sir Speedy Sarasota is “a very big small printer” and offers full-service commercial printing and signage.

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing Establishments—2016

Published August 9, 2019

in 2016, there were 1,200 establishments in NAICS 322211 (Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing). About half of these establishments (49%) have 50 or more employees and more than two-thirds (71%) have 20 or more employees.

Around the Web: Mobile Medals. Human Tails. Reviving Bookshops. Ugly Gerry. Dog Mode. Artificial Tongue. Libeling Parrots.

Published August 9, 2019

The medals for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics are being made from recycled mobile phones. An Irish teen wins the Google Science Fair for a system for removing microplastics from the oceans. Can Waterstones’ savior duplicate that success for Barnes & Noble? A typeface based on heinously gerrymandered Congressional districts. Scottish researchers develop an artificial tongue for whisky tasting. 3M streamlines packaging material. If you’re a UK publisher, go ahead and insult all the parrots you want. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Sir Speedy Tampa Sees Strong Growth in Signage

Published August 8, 2019

Kelley Holmes talks with Steve Albritton, President & CEO of Sir Speedy Tampa, about the marketing tips he picked up at the Franchise Services Annual Convention, as well as some exciting recent projects he has worked on, including signage and display graphics.

June Jobs: Up in the Short Term, Down in the Long Term

Published August 2, 2019

In June, overall printing employment grew +0.5% from May to June 2019. On a year-over-year basis, it is down -2.5%. Production employment was up +0.4% from May to June, but year-over-year was down -4.9%. Non-production employment was up +0.7% from May to June, and year-over-year was up +2.6%.

Around the Web: Mechanical Marketers. Breathable Lava Suits. Smart Diapers. Wearable Air Conditioners. Paper Organs. Geomessages. Butternauts! Words About Words. Craving Carvers. Rebooted Airplanes.

Published August 2, 2019

Chase replaces its copywriters with AI. What to wear when immersed in molten rock. “If only there were a way to determine when a diaper needed changing...” Look cool being cool. Creating organ models from maps of Zürich, for some reason. Sending messages via geomapping. The dictionary explains “fursona,” upsettingly. The stone carver job market heats up. New books for language nerds. “We will start boarding as soon as the plane has rebooted.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Converted Paper Product Manufacturing Establishments—2016

Published July 26, 2019

in 2016, there were 3,638 establishments in NAICS 3222 (Converted Paper Product Manufacturing). More than four out of 10 of these establishments (42%) have 50 or more employees and two-thirds (65%) have 20 or more employees.

Around the Web: Medical Tattooing. Etsy Faces the Music. Guinness’ Road Less Traveled. Another Press Conference Cat-astrophe. Slugs in Medieval Manuscripts. Wienerbnb.

Published July 26, 2019

Disney’s “Escape from the Haunted Mansion” papercraft. Tattoos that function as medical diagnostics. Etsy buys musical marketplace. What technology will be obsolete in your lifetime? Is the world’s steepest road really the steepest in the world? What is it with these cat filters? A long, but well-worth-it Twitter thread about slugs in Medieval manuscript illumination. Spend a night in the Wienermobile...if you dare. “Disruption has come for toilet paper.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

May Printing Shipments Up from April

Published July 19, 2019

Printing shipments for May 2019 were up from April—and even came in above May 2018 shipments, albeit only very slightly.

Around the Web: Newspaperless Starbucks. Printless Textbooks. Madless Al Jaffee. Memeless TikTok. Painless Airplane Seats? Monkless Chanting. Methless Gators.

Published July 19, 2019

Starbucks stops selling newspapers. Pearson switches to etextbooks. All about the semicolon. Coder Margaret Hamilton saved the Apollo 11 mission. The inventor of the computer password is ******. What is TikTok? IBM patents a smartwatch that unfolds into a tablet. Whatever happened to all those Bob Ross paintings? F. Scott Fitzgerald and “cocktail” as a verb. Heavy metal knitting. Twinkies for Breakfast. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

FSI’s Rich Lowe on the Latest Trends Affecting Print Franchises

Published July 19, 2019

Rich Lowe of Franchise Services talks to Kelley Holmes at this week’s Franchise Services Convention about current trends in the marketplace affecting print franchises and their customers. Specifically, franchises have had to learn how to really be a marketing services provider, how to work with data, and have had to understand the sign business.

PR Agency Employees—2010–2016

Published July 12, 2019

In 2016, there were 58,489 employees in establishments in NAICS 54182 (Public Relations Agencies). Employment in this category has grown +17% from 2010 to 2016.

Around the Web: Knitted Sensors. Disabled Books. The City that Invented the Publishing Industry. Brands and Amazon Search. Most Valuable Brands. Underwater Internet. Another Photo Cake Incident.

Published July 12, 2019

The MIT Media Lab develops knitted sensors. Microsoft discontinues its ebooks—and erases everyone’s libraries. Venice and the dawn of book publishing. Most of product searches on Amazon are brand-free. Sea-level rise may adversely affect the Internet. An AR application to identify street artists. Working for the [Robot] Man. Use AI to keep your prey-toting pet out of the house. Levitating turntables. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Printing Industry Profits: What Goes Up...

Published June 28, 2019

Industry profits data came out earlier this month, and overall profits slipped a little. Annualized profits for Q1 2019 were $3.58 billion, down slightly from $3.66 billion in Q4 of last year. Again, it’s the large printers that are dragging down overall industry profitability.

Around the Web: Yet More Meeker! Madvertising. Roasting Design. Trouble On the Map. Public Domain: The Musical. Danger: Slugs! The ENIAC Programmers Project. Portugal’s Plastic Rocks. Fishbots!

Published June 28, 2019

Mary Meeker Slide Roulette. Brands harness online outrage. How can an Albany antiquarian bookstore outlast its owner? Core77 roasts bad industrial design. Fake businesses on Google Maps. Celebrating the original six ENIAC programmers—women all. Country Time is on your side. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Advertising Agency Employees—2010–2016

Published June 21, 2019

In 2016, there were 194,792 employees in establishments in NAICS 54181 (Advertising Agencies). Employment in this category has grown +31% from 2010 to 2016.

Around the Web: More Meeker! Press Conference Cat-astrophe. 3D Fashion. A Tale of a Tail. Marking Computer History. Redesigned Mailboxes. Celebrating Tristram Shandy. Bakery Printing Error. Li-Fi.

Published June 21, 2019

Mary Meeker Slide Roulette. 3D Fashion Editor. An app-controlled animatronic tail.  A N.H. highway historical marker commemorates the creation of BASIC. Note to press briefers: turn off the kitten filter. The USPS combats postal box fishing.  A look at Laurence Sterne’s classic “Tristram Shandy.” Who wouldn’t want a Marie Curie birthday cake? Internet-transmitting lights. Crocheted body parts. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Ditch Your Silos for Convergence

Published June 20, 2019

Pat McGrew, President of McGrew Group, talks about convergence and what it means for the printing industry.

April Printing Shipments—A New Season?

Published June 14, 2019

Printing shipments for April were up from March, happily disrupting what has become the usual seasonal pattern. Even better, April 2019 shipments came in above April 2018 shipments.

Around the Web: Two Words: Mary Meeker! Kirie Eleison. Passenger Drones. Shame-Based Ecology. Kids on Film. LED Earbuds. Ice Ice Hawking.

Published June 14, 2019

Data nerds rejoice: Mary Meeker’s 2019 Internet Trends Report is out. The Japanese art of kirie. Robotaxies to take flight. Barnes & Noble sold to a hedge fund. Fujifilm resumes making black-and-white film. Light up your brain, ostensibly. “The queen of eating shellfish online.” A Stephen Hawking-esque voice synthesizer performs “Ice Ice Baby.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Canon Solutions America's Océ Colorado Printer Offers Endless Solutions

Published June 13, 2019

John Kaufman, Senior Marketing Specialist for Canon Solutions America, takes us on a tour of the Océ Colorado wide-format printer with faster automation and an endless array of configurations for both small and wide format printing.

Vycom Offers a Variety of Plastic and Specialty Substrate Solutions

Published June 10, 2019

Kevin Duffy, VP of Sales and Marketing for Vycom, outlines a variety of unique substrates available to the sign industry, including Celtec PVC and Polycarve products.

Onyx Graphics Celebrates 30 Years

Published June 10, 2019

Bryan Manwaring, Director of Product Marketing for Onyx Graphics, talks about the 30-year evolution of the company's wide-format RIP software, focused on helping customers and print shops boost profitability.

Around the Web: Fashion Footprints. Dental Data. Born-Again Bookstores. Delicious Design. Correlation Caution. Dash Disturbance. Forgery Fallout. Rocket Reading.

Published June 7, 2019

Quantifying fashion’s environmental footprint. Transforming the bookstore into a “cultural department store.” A profile of revolutionary designer Cipe Peneles. Buy your own Follows and Likes. Caution: Correlation vs. Causation. Using hyphens in academic paper titles adversely affects citations stats. Nuclear tests can help spot art forgeries. An AR-enabled book about the history of rocket launches. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services Employees—2010–2016

Published June 7, 2019

In 2016, there were 472,163 employees in establishments in NAICS 5418 (Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services). Employment in this category has grown +15% from 2010 to 2016.

Mimaki and the "Internet of Things"

Published June 6, 2019

Bert Benckhuysen of Mimaki talks about how to imagine the future of print and the "internet of things"—it's all about connecting printers in an integrated workflow with ERP software, robots, cutting solutions, cameras, and more. Mimaki's IP Job Control software brings Mimaki printers into the Internet of Things, enabling an end-to-end workflow with minimal human intervention.

PrintFactory Offers Color Management Software Solutions

Published June 6, 2019

Simon Landau, Director of the Americas for PrintFactory, talks about the company, the current state of color management, and PrintFactory's software solutions available to the wide-format market.

An Intro to LED Signage

Published June 5, 2019

Josh Brasher, President of EBSCO Sign Group, offers a primer on LED signage, discussing the technology and the business model.

John O'Grady Talks About the New Kodak

Published June 5, 2019

At Kodak’s GUA event celebrating the 20th anniversary of Prinergy, WhatTheyThink Contributing Editor Pat McGrew talks to John O'Grady, President, Print Systems Division, Eastman Kodak Company, about his vision for the new Kodak. Specifically, in order to continue to be of value to their customers, Kodak needs to show them ways to be more effective and more efficient, and to reduce costs.

Agfa Helps Grow Businesses

Published June 4, 2019

Jason Hamilton, Solutions Architect for Agfa, talks about the company's goal to help small to mid-tier sign shops grow their business not only through equipment and technology but through a business partnership.

Horizon Releases a Fully Automated Binding System

Published June 3, 2019

Yoshi Oe, General Manager of Global Business for Horizon Systems, talks about the company's new smart binding system, a fully-integrated and automated unwinder, cutter, folder, binder, and three-knife trimmer.

Kodak Celebrates 20 Years of Prinergy

Published June 3, 2019

At Kodak’s GUA event celebrating the 20th anniversary of Prinergy, WhatTheyThink Contributing Editor Pat McGrew talks to Todd Bigger about his new role as President of Kodak's Software Division, his personal journey in the industry, and Kodak’s renewed commitment to reinvesting in print and developing new products, particularly in the areas of automation and cloud-based technology.

HP Launches STITCH

Published June 3, 2019

Ester Sala, Global Business Director for HP, talks about the development and launch of the new HP STITCH dye-sublimation textile printing portfolio. By working alongside their customers, HP has created a product to solve real-life problems.

The Changing Face of Print Business Opportunities

Published May 31, 2019

In our annual Print Business Outlook Survey, we found that the top opportunities for print businesses included some newer, proactive items, with some of the old chestnuts falling off the tree. As we saw with recent Business Challenges, could this reflect a “changing of the guard” of print business management?

Around the Web: Books...In a Library?! Hidden Secrets of the NYPL. The World’s First Poster Museum. Optical Illusion. A Digital Dress? What the ? A Puckish Idea. Three Little Words.

Published May 31, 2019

The clamor to keep print books in academic libraries. 10 reasons to get a New York Public Library card. NYC opens first poster museum. Fry your brain with this new optical illusion. $9500 for a dress that doesn’t actually exist. Meredith sells Sports Illustrated...but not the magazine. The mysterious origin of the dollar sign. Let us proclaim the mystery of tape. Hockey pucks for the blind. For sale: one Wienermobile. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

From File Server to Systems Builder

Published May 30, 2019

Pat Janowski, Global Sales Director for Proactive Technologies, talks about this boutique computer systems builder focused on the printing industry that began as a file server in the 1980s, as well as the importance of hardware in RIPing and other prepress processes.

Dataline: ERP Dedicated to Making Graphic Arts Businesses More Efficient

Published May 30, 2019

Dirk Deroo, CEO of Dataline, talks about the founding of his company in his attic and why its modular approach to ERP for the graphic arts industry adds value for the industry. In addition to product development experts, Dataline puts substantial focus on project management/implementation. The company has 8,000 users across all segments of print including textiles.

Avery Dennison Wins ISA Innovation Award

Published May 29, 2019

Molly Waters, Senior Technical Specialist for Avery Dennison, talks about the technology demonstrated at the ISA Sign Expo in Las Vegas, including their MPI 1405 PVC-Free film that won the ISA Innovation Award, as well as vehicle wrapping and environmental printing.

HP Adds Dye Sublimation to Its Portfolio

Published May 28, 2019

Santi Morera, General Manager and Global Head of Graphics Solutions Business for HP, discusses the company's strategy for dye sublimation in the textile market and how the new HP Stitch fits into the current HP portfolio.

Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services Establishments—2016

Published May 24, 2019

in 2016, there were 37,875 establishments in NAICS 5418 (Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services). Two-thirds of these establishments (65%) have under four employees, 79% have under 10 employees, and 88% have under 20 employees. The largest agencies (100 or more employees) only account for 2% of all establishments.

Around the Web: Recycling Garments. “Knitting is Coding.” Stubborn Signage. Fanatics and Fast Fashion. Graphic Design for President! QR Codes to Aid Memory. Big Monet.

Published May 24, 2019

Sex weasels of classical portraiture. Times Square billboard under fire. Fanatics becomes the Amazon of sports apparel. The West Wing Weekly podcast looks at campaign design and typography. Using QR codes to assist dementia patients. Is there money in art? The tragedy of AirPods. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Good Graphic Design is an Art

Published May 22, 2019

Anthony Hemsworth, Team Leader for My Graphic Design Team, talks with Kelley Holmes about the importance of good graphic design and what it means to the printing industry and its customers.

Summa Adds Innovative Laser Cutter for Textiles

Published May 21, 2019

Wim Maes, Executive Director at Summa, talks about the company's entry into textiles to address the bottleneck created in the cutting department as textile printers gain in speed. The company acquired CadCam Technology, resulting in the development of the Summa L3214, a 3.2-meter laser cutting device that cuts while the fabric feeds across the table, enabling cutting at 800 square meters per hour.

EFI Focused on Green Printing for Textiles

Published May 20, 2019

Adele Genoni, Vice President and General Manager of EFI Reggiani, talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about EFI's sustainable approach to digital textile printing, from design through production and finishing, including two sustainable inks to cover virtually all fabric types.

Around the Web: Revised Receipts. Lost Libraries. Elusive Elements. Killer Conferences. Otic Apps. Flora Fluorescence.

Published May 17, 2019

Adding visual information to register receipts. 75 years of ISA. A recently discovered 500-year-old library catalog of lost books. Our dwindling helium supply. Does conference room air negatively affect decision-making? Plant-based lighting. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Frank Talks to Highcon's Christian Knapp

Published May 17, 2019

Frank caught up with Christian Knapp of Highcon at the recent Canadian Graphic Arts show. Highcon is a pioneer in automatic creasing and laser diecutting.

FESPA 2019 is All About Innovation

Published May 16, 2019

Mark Hanley of I.T. Strategies talks about the vibrant digital print market represented at FESPA 2019 in Münich, Germany.

Engineered Printing Solutions Covers Many Substrates

Published May 14, 2019

Julian Joffe, President of Engineered Printing Solutions, talks about the history of the company and their ability to print on a variety of surfaces.

HP's Smart Printing

Published May 13, 2019

Steve Newton, Software Solutions Manager for HP Large Format, talks with Kelley Holmes about HP's cloud-based "smart printing" for wide-format, facilitated through PrintOS, and introduces HP's Stitch for the dye-sublimation market.

EFI Checks All the Wide-Format Boxes

Published May 13, 2019

Ken Hanulec, VP of Marketing for EFI, talks about what customers are looking for in a wide-format printer: lower total cost, expansion of capabilities, and reliability.

Printing’s Labor's Lost?

Published May 10, 2019

Overall printing employment dropped -0.7% from March to April 2019 and on a year-over-year basis is down -2.9%. Production employment dropped a tad from March to April, and is down -4.5% from April 2018. Non-production employment was up +0.6% from April 2018 to April 2019.

Around the Web: Textile Reshoring. $50 Typo. Ad Nauseam. Beyond RGB? Salvador Dalí Meets the Marx Brothers. The World’s Smallest Post Service. Parrot-Based Marketing. Also: Hatebeak!

Published May 10, 2019

OnPoint named Alabama Manufacturer of the Year. New dress shirts. The origin of the word “dude.” A dark vision of the future of advertising. Will we ever be able to see more colors? The long lost Marx Brothers movie written by Salvador Dalí. Selling whisky with parrots. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

3M Introduces the Award-Winning Graphics Hub

Published May 9, 2019

Tammi Johnson, Business Development Manager for 3M, talks about the Graphics Hub, a software and website platform for sign and graphics manufacturers, which features a suite of tools including the Install Wizard, which won Business Services/Software Innovation Award at the ISA Sign Expo last month.

Ultimate TechnoGraphics Provides Software Solutions for a Variety of Workflows

Published May 9, 2019

Julie Watson, CEO of Ultimate TechnoGraphics, talks about the breadth of automated software solutions available as either standalone applications or integrated into a variety of third-party products and established workflows.

Convergence Connects Communities

Published May 8, 2019

Brandon Hensley, COO of the International Sign Association, and Joshua Carruth, Trade Show Director for Emerald Expositions, talk about how digital printing technology is driving convergence across wide-format, signage, and textile printing.

Carey Color on the Rebirth of Flexo

Published May 7, 2019

Ed Nicholson, Project Manager for Carey Color Inc., talks to David Zwang about what being a “color separator” means today, and how Carey Color serves as the middleman between ad agencies and printers. The company has also branched into flexographic platemaking—a venture that has taken off with flexo’s recent rebirth.

Save Money and Get Results by Managing Your Data

Published May 7, 2019

Christine Erna of Strategic Postal Advisors and Scott Eganhouse of TEC Mailing Solutions discuss the trends in the automation of workflow centered around transactional documentation and managing data from a centralized location.

Mactac Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary

Published May 6, 2019

Ross Burnham, Senior Marketing Manager for Mactac, talks about Mactac's 60th anniversary, and how Mactac materials are allowing owners of Canon Solutions America's Océ Colorado 1640 wide-format printer produce a wide variety of applications.

Production Inkjet Print Quality Continues to Improve

Published May 6, 2019

Ralf Schlozer, Director of Keypoint Intelligence-InfoTrends, discusses the trends he saw at Hunkeler Innovationdays, including print quality improvements in current production inkjet technologies.

Around the Web: From Tablets to Tablets. Quantophrenia. Smart Towels. The Pinkest Pink. Email Snail Mail. Oak Gall Ink.

Published May 3, 2019

A new history of writing exhibition. Towels that tell you when to wash them. Why the Red Cross loves Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five.” Send a physical letter...by email. Making ink from oak galls. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Print Business Challenges: Some Old Cares, Some New Concerns

Published May 3, 2019

In Winter 2018/2019, we conducted our annual Print Business Outlook Survey and found that the top challenges for print businesses included some new cares and concerns with some of the old challenges falling by the wayside. Could this reflect a “changing of the guard” of print business management?

Kodak Leaps Ahead in the Inkjet Flexible Packaging Market

Published May 2, 2019

Rick Mazur of Kodak's Enterprise Inkjet Division talks with Kelley Holmes about the technological breakthroughs Kodak and Uteco have made in inkjet flexible packaging printing. Although inkjet adoption in flexible packaging has been slow, Kodak sees tremendous interest and potential for growth.

Design Pool Is an Interior Design Resource

Published April 30, 2019

Kristen Dettoni, Founder of Design Pool, talks about the company's online library of designs, and how Design Pool is a kind of Shutterstock for the commercial and residential interior design industry.

ISA and Emerald Expositions Join Forces

Published April 29, 2019

Brandon Hensley, COO of the International Sign Association (ISA), and Joshua Carruth, Trade Show Director for Emerald Expositions, discuss their partnership with ISA and colocation in Orlando next year.

Sign Manufacturers—2010–2016

Published April 26, 2019

In 2016, there were 5,650 Sign Manufacturing establishments (NAICS 33995). The decline and rise of sign manufacturing over the course of the 2010s reflects the impact of the Great Recession, as well as the recovery and the growth of digital printing into traditional signmaking.

Around the Web: Offline Americans. Touring Greece. Loud Restaurants. Topical Typography.

Published April 26, 2019

10% of Americans do not use the Internet. The Comma Queen” tours Greece. The rise of the Post Office—and the decline of dueling. A new app measures the loudness of restaurants. The Presidential candidates’ typography.  A requiem for the old Penn Station. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

ISA Joins Forces with Impressions Expo

Published April 26, 2019

In 2020, the ISA Sign Expo will colocate with Impressions Expo (formerly the Imprinted Sportswear Show). Lori Anderson, CEO and President of ISA, talks about the advantages of this colocation for both shows.

Customer Education is Integral to Visutech's Success

Published April 25, 2019

Pat McGrew interviews Jan-Olef Jungersten, CEO of Visutech Digital AB, about his print philosophy and the importance of customer education to create profit.

Catherine Monson: Sign Trends From Environmental Graphics To Dynamic Digital Signage.

Published April 25, 2019

FastSigns President Catherine Monson discusses trends in the sign industry from environmental graphics to dynamic digital signage.

Minimize Wasted Workflow Time to Save Money

Published April 24, 2019

David Spencer, President and CEO of SpencerMetrics, analyzes how people, machines, and workflow come together to identify and minimize wasted time to reduce costs.

Inkjet Evolves in Customization

Published April 24, 2019

Scott Leger and Gary Barnes of FUJIFILM discuss the shift from analog to inkjet technology for late-stage customization and the higher speed of variable print.

Metallizing and Other Industrial Printing Technologies

Published April 23, 2019

Rob Malay, Product Development Manager for VDI, was a keynote speaker at InPrint 2019. He talks to Kelley Holmes about metallizing, and VDI's converting of polymer webs, metal foils, and flexible glass substrates for printing industry applications.

February 2019 Printing Shipments: Starting the Year Off on the Right Foot

Published April 19, 2019

Printing shipments for February 2019 came in at $6.08 billion. In keeping with the industry’s seasonality, it’s down from January, but so far 2019 shipments are higher than 2018’s.

Around the Web: Mixed Reality Retailers. Heavy Metal Knitting. Recycled Sneakers. 3D Heart. Lego Printing Press. Changing Music Formats. A Netflix Magazine. Mad Libs Sci-Fi Plot Generator.

Published April 19, 2019

The first Heavy Metal Knitting World Championships. Running shoes that can be recycled. A 3D-printed human heart. Danger! Facebook is launching a voice assistant! Run! Cursive handwriting is coming back. Netflix is producing a magazine. “Balloon-related incidents.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Hunkeler AG Looks Ahead to drupa 2020

Published April 18, 2019

Hans Gut, VP of Marketing for Hunkeler AG, talks about the importance of drupa 2020 as a showcase for the industry, and Hunkeler's innovations in automation, workflow, and systems integration.

FASTSIGNS of Helena's Unique Showroom Honors the City's Rich History

Published April 17, 2019

Greg Painter, owner of FASTSIGNS of Helena (Mont.), takes us on a tour of his unconventional showroom complete with an upstairs diner and other iconic elements from Helen's storied past. All of it is designed to pay tribute to the history of the town and show customers many of the applications available.

Bluecrest Blends Production Print and Direct Mail

Published April 16, 2019

Kevin Marks, VP of Global Production Print for Bluecrest, talks about the company's involvement in production print and direct mail, as communication continues to change.

The Ecommerce Trend in Labels and Packaging

Published April 15, 2019

Dawn Olson of Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S., helps customers who have invested in industrial print solutions profit from their investment as quickly as possible. She encourages those in the label and packaging world to take advantage of the opportunities in packaging for ecommerce.

From the Corporate World to FASTSIGNS

Published April 15, 2019

Div Bhingradia, owner of FASTSIGNS Mooresville (N.C.), left his corporate job to open his own sign shop and take advantage of the fast-growing North Carolina business environment. FASTSIGNS helped him navigate an industry with which he was unfamiliar.

Outdoor Advertising Establishments—2010–2016

Published April 12, 2019

In 2016, there were 2,556 establishments classified as Outdoor Advertising (NAICS 54185). In 2010, NAICS 54185 comprised 2,378 establishments—but note that the Census Bureau changed the name of this category in 2012.

Around the Web: Behind the Seams. Threading the Needle. Imaging the Unimagable. A Good Week for Type. Wikienigma. I, Author. Scamming the Scammer.

Published April 12, 2019

The current state of the US textile industry. Ironic commemorative stamps. Making a giant paper dragon. Photographing a black hole. A font of typography news. An encyclopedia of unknowns. Robot-penned books. A screenwriter toys with a Facebook Messenger scammer. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

InPrint 2019 is Off to the Races

Published April 11, 2019

Frazer Chesterman, co-founder of InPrint, talks with Kelley Holmes about this year's event, the move to Louisville, Ky., and what the future holds for the organization.

HP Builds on HDNA to Give Customers a More Diverse Platform

Published April 11, 2019

Carles Farre, Director of Commercial Business for PageWide Industrial at HP, talks about new features and capabilities that build on HP's High Definition Nozzle Architecture (HDNA) platform to give customers more productivity and versatility.

Steve Kouroupas Transitions from Commercial Printing to Signage

Published April 10, 2019

Steve Kouroupas, owner of FASTSIGNS of Greenville (N.C.), spent 10 years in the commercial printing industry and in 2016 looked into opening his own sign business by purchasing a FASTSIGNS franchise. He's found the sign business to be a "mashup of printing, graphics, and construction."

For IWCO Direct, Direct Mail is a Mix of Offset and Digital

Published April 9, 2019

Steve Myrvold, EVP of Operations for IWCO Direct, talks about the fully-integrated direct mail company and their mix of digital and offset equipment.

Business Conditions: Up in 2018, Optimism High for 2019

Published April 5, 2019

In Winter 2018/2019, we conducted our annual Print Business Outlook Survey and found that business in 2018 was perceived by survey respondents as overall pretty good: 42% said that revenues had increased by six percent or more compared to 2017.

Around the Web: iPhone Airbags (no, not the users). April Fool’s Folly. In Praise of Jet Lag. 3D Color Matching. Screen Sharing Horror Stories. No eBooks for You. One Ruler to Rule Them All.

Published April 5, 2019

April Fool’s Day: some cautionary tales. Pantone’s color matching for 3D printing. Be careful when you share your screen. Repossessing eBooks. Gin and tonic toothpaste. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Smooth Operators

Published April 5, 2019

Frank opines about printing press operators. The number of legacy presses has created a need for operators because they are all somewhat different and at any rate schools don't graduate operators of specific machines. Recognizing this problem, the state of Minnesota has created a grant program to help train press operators.

The WhatTheyThink Blooper Reel

Published April 1, 2019

It's April 1, and that can only mean one thing: the annual WhatTheyThink video blooper reel!

PR Establishments—2010–2016

Published March 29, 2019

In 2010, there were 8,219 establishments classified as PR Agencies. By 2016, there had been a net gain of +3.2%.

Around the Web: Inside the NYT Printing Plant. Semantic Satiation. NYC’s LED Barge. The Infinite CVS Receipt. Rebuild Your Business. Are App Users Happy? “Harvesting Garfields.”

Published March 29, 2019

“The craft, precision, and unexpected beauty of the newspaper printing process.” Rebirth of a paper mill. Keyless in New York. The 14th-Century Mappa Mundi. “Alien”: The Play. Garfield phones storm the beaches. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Frank On How to Get Rich Selling Printing

Published March 29, 2019

Frank found an archive of books on sales and marketing at CalPoly. He is surprised by how many there are and enumerates a few titles. He especially likes “How to Grow Rich Selling Printing.”

Ipskamp Printing B.V. Transitions to Digital

Published March 28, 2019

Bob Olde Hampsink, Director of Ipskamp Printing B.V., a book manufacturer in the Netherlands, talks about how the company has adapted over the years and switched to digital production as customers transition to smaller-quantity printing.

FASTSIGNS Dayton, Ohio: Never the Same Day Twice

Published March 27, 2019

Dayton, Ohio's Larry Miller converted his Ham Signs vehicle lettering and sign shop to a FASTSIGNS franchise in 2013. He talks with Kelley Holmes about his nearly three decades in the industry, the fun of running a FASTSIGNS franchise, and how they never have the same day twice.

Inkjet Closes the Gap with Offset

Published March 26, 2019

Martin Bailey, CTO of Global Graphics Software, discusses how far inkjet has come in catching up with offset production quality—and how much it still must improve.

Alaska's Interior Graphics and Printing Has Come a Long Way

Published March 25, 2019

Michelle Maynor, "Print-cess" at Interior Graphics and Printing in Fairbanks, Alaska, talks with Richard Romano at the NPOA Conference about the company's 70+-year history and how it has grown from business printing to adding wide-format and promotional graphics.

Printing Industry Profits: Urban Sprawl in the Tale of Two Cities

Published March 22, 2019

Overall, annualized printing industry profits for Q4 2018 were $3.66 billion—not a massive gain from Q3 but a gain nonetheless (we’ll take it). It also appears that the “tale of two cities” trend is—at least temporarily—on hold.

Around the Web: State Books. Speaking of Food. New Words in the OED. Gen Z and Sustainable Streetwear. “The Scream” Reconsidered. Lost in MySpace. In Praise of Newsletters.

Published March 22, 2019

Which book was the most popular in your state in 2018? Did early humans' dietary changes affect speech? What new words did the OED add to the English lexicon? How are Gen Zers’ sustainable buying preferences driving new apparel products? Is Munch’s “Scream” guy actually screaming? People still use MySpace? Have you heard Vienna’s Vegetable Orchestra? All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Sarah Barr Offers Advice to New Print Owners

Published March 21, 2019

Sarah Barr, Owner of Konhaus Print and Marketing, talks with Richard Romano at the National Print Owners Association (NPOA) Conference about navigating the world of print as a new owner, and how her company can help customers with marketing.

Xerox Updates Inkjet Lines; Offers Complete Workflow Solutions

Published March 19, 2019

Paul Morgavi, CTO of Ink Jet and Novel Printing for Xerox, discusses updates to the Trivor and Rialto lines of production inkjet presses, including increased productivity and enhanced image quality. Xerox provides an end-to-end solutions for customers through extended software, workflow, and printing system integration.

Charlene Sims Brings a Wealth of Experience to the NPOA Board

Published March 18, 2019

Charlene Sims, President of The Master's Press and new National Print Owners Association (NPOA) board member, talks about her 43-year print journey and her plans for leasing the NPOA into the future.

Matthew Romero Expands His Print Business with FASTSIGNS

Published March 18, 2019

Matthew Romero, a FASTSIGNS franchisee, has been in the printing industry his entire life. He opened a sign shop in 2015 and greatly expanded what he could offer by being part of the FASTSIGNS network. He also talks about a mural project he recently completed for a local high school.

Around the Web: Tome Readers. Apple iArmor? Laptop Typewriter. Tiny Tomes. Sappy Sentiment. Me+Moo.

Published March 15, 2019

Print books remain more popular than digital formats. Save the date: WTIN’s digital textile webinar. The first laptop typewriter. Why did people stop wearing hats? An exhibition of really tiny books. Unlucky in love? Try writing to a tree. (No, not D. Eadward Tree.) All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Advertising Agency Establishments—2010–2016

Published March 15, 2019

In 2010, there were 13,248 establishments classified as Advertising Agencies. By 2016, there had been a net gain of +1.0%, the ups and downs reflecting the changing role of the ad agency.

HP's Service Edge Helps the Customer

Published March 14, 2019

Pat McGrew, Inkjet Evangelist, talks with Sylvain Faligand of HP about the company's Service Edge platform. HP's Service Edge leverages the best of HP's prices and tools to help the customer grow, be efficient, be autonomous, and meet their business objectives.

Canon Updates the Océ ProStream 1000

Published March 14, 2019

Johann Schmidbauer, Marketing Director of Canon PPP EMEA Commercial Printing, showed a variety of production inkjet and toner digital printing devices at Hunkeler Innovationdays and discusses updates to the Océ ProStream 1000 Inkjet Press including the ability to print on paper weights up to 300GSM.

Scodix's Digital Embellishments Change the Way Products Are Consumed

Published March 13, 2019

Adina Shorr, CEO of Scodix, talks about the digital embellishment and enhancement, especially in packaging production. Thanks to its ability to mass customize printed packaging, digital embellishments can turn something that is functional—a package—into a form of communication, ultimately changing the way that products are consumed.

HP Production Inkjet at Hunkeler Innovationdays

Published March 11, 2019

David Murphy, Director of Marketing and Business Development for HP PageWide Industrial, talks about the current state of production inkjet, its growth in applications such as direct mail and other commercial work, and the billions of pages being produced by HP PageWide Web Press customers. Helping drive page volumes are new technologies such as HP ColorPRO, HP’s Bonding Agents, the Media Certification Program, and the just-introduced D22 Priming Solution that allows PageWide Web Presses to print on offset coated media.

December 2018 Printing Shipments: Ending 2018 on a High(ish) Note

Published March 8, 2019

Printing shipments for December 2018 came in at $6.40 billion. In keeping with the industry’s new seasonality, that’s down from November, but higher than December 2017—but just barely.

Around the Web: Forensic Fashion. Grayscale iPhone Display. 3D-Printed Orthotics. Hypnotic Password Retrieval. Independent Bookstore Owners Help Out One of Their Own.

Published March 8, 2019

Forensic garment analysts. Fast fashion and the environment. A toast matching system. John Steinbeck sends Marilyn Monroe a fan letter...sort of. Death of a robot. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Canon's ProStream Changes the Printing Game

Published March 7, 2019

Eric Hawkinson, VP of Marketing for Canon Solutions America, talks about his first visit to Hunkeler Innovationdays and Canon's Océ VarioPrint i300 and Océ ProStream 1000 production inkjet systems on display during the event.

NPOA Continues to Grow

Published March 5, 2019

John Henry, CEO of Mitchell's Speedway Press Printing and Programs and Events Director for the National Print Owners Association (NPOA), talks about the advantages of NPOA membership and how both the association and the annual conference have grown in the last seven years.

Advertising and Related Establishments—2010–2016

Published March 1, 2019

In 2010, there were 38,335 establishments classified as Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services. By 2016, there had been a net loss of -1.2%. This is a very broad industry classification, comprising a disparate bunch of business types, each of which has its own unique dynamics.

Around the Web: Traveling Texts. Fit to Be Untied. Kodak Film Is Da Bomb. Uber Economics. Office Space Turns 20. Paper Fold-Away Bed. Lunar Library. Bridge of Size.

Published March 1, 2019

Getting a text from sender to receiver. The Internet of shoes. Nuclear testing and Kodak film. An oral history of “Office Space.” In praise of standards. Retrieving DNA from old books. Digitize yourself for the perfect fit. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Benoit Chatelard on What's Next for Xeikon

Published March 1, 2019

Benoit Chatelard, CEO of Xeikon, talks about the future of the company, inkjet, and the advantage of continuous feed, as well as success through automation.

Frank Talks to PrintWeek India

Published March 1, 2019

The EFI Connect Conference in Las Vegas attracts the second largest contingent of media and analysts after drupa. Frank took advantage of this unique audience to get a brief insight to print trends in some overseas markets. In this interview, he talks to Noel D’Cunha, Managing Editor of PrintWeek India.

The Future of Finishing at Hunkeler AG

Published February 28, 2019

Michel Hunkeler, CEO of Hunkeler AG, talks about the company's new product portfolio as well as how he sees the future of not only finishing technology, but entire print production systems.

Ricoh Presents Latest Printing Innovations at Hunkeler Innovationdays

Published February 28, 2019

Take a tour of the Ricoh booth at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2019. At the event Ricoh is presenting production printing systems including the Ricoh Pro™ VC70000 continuous feed full color inkjet press, the compact Ricoh Pro V20000, mono continuous feed inkjet press, and the Ricoh Pro C9200 digital press. To support efficient and streamlined production Ricoh is showing new additions to its software portfolio including Ricoh’s TotalFlow BatchBuilder and Ricoh’s ProcessDirector.

The Future Is Here at Hunkeler Innovationdays

Published February 27, 2019

Marco Boer, Vice President of IT Strategies, joins David Zwang at Hunkeler Innovationdays to share his thoughts on the event and how cutting-edge technology has improved inkjet quality.

Paper Trends in Production Inkjet Printing

Published February 27, 2019

Jan Rops, Product Manager for Inkjet at Crown Van Gelder, takes us through the current trends in papers for production inkjet printing including print quality and color management. Color management plays a critical role in reducing paper and ink costs in production inkjet printing.

Ricoh Introduces New Inkjet Technology at Hunkeler Innovationdays

Published February 26, 2019

Mike Herold, VP of Global Marketing for Ricoh, talks with David Zwang about the premiere of Ricoh's new Ricoh Pro VC70000, a continuous-feed inkjet printer that uses a new ink solution, reinvents drying, and offers other significant new features.

Automation Takes Center Stage at 13th Hunkeler Innovationdays

Published February 25, 2019

David Zwang talks to Hunkeler AG President Stefan Hunkeler about Hunkeler Innovationdays. The 13th edition of Innovationdays focuses on "Success with Automation" and utilizing Industry 4.0 concepts in automated print production systems.

Printing Shipments as a Percentage of GDP

Published February 22, 2019

Since 1997, the value of printing shipments went from around 0.75% of GDP all the way down to about 0.35%. So we should not be surprised that parts of the printing industry are falling off the government’s radar.

Around the Web: Fabric Runs Hot and Cold. Rebooting...literally. Digital Advertising Surpasses Analog. One More Color. Red Rum. Nom Daguerre. SPUDwrite. Your Cover’s Blown.

Published February 22, 2019

Fabric that responds to its wearer. I got my soul shoes on my feet. (Maybe.) The world’s first photographed human. An E Ink typewriter that only does one thing...like a typewriter. The earliest book covers. The calming sound of a dot matrix printer. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

FASTSIGNS' Catherine Monson on the Company's Continued Growth

Published February 20, 2019

Kelley Holmes talks with FASTSIGNS CEO Catherine Monson about the recent conference in Orlando and the growth of the company in 2018.

Book Printing Employees—2010–2016

Published February 15, 2019

In 2010, there were a total of 28,935 employees in U.S. book printing establishments (NAICS 323117). By 2016, book printing employment had dropped to 19,842.

Around the Web: BLS Loses Track of the Printing Industry. Where and What the Jobs Are. Apple’s “Netflix for News.” Confessions of a Content Marketer. Collecting the Elements.

Published February 15, 2019

The future of digital fabric printing. Printing industry government classifications consolidating. The fastest growing jobs in each state. Newspapers not subscribing to “Netflix for News.” The dark art of content marketing. A Death Star waffle maker. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Canon Solutions America's Touchstone Dimensional Printing Software

Published February 14, 2019

Randy Paar, Marketing Manager for Wide Format at Canon Solutions America,talks about new products the company launched at SGIA 2018—such as Océ Touchstone Dimensional Printing Software.

Oce Arizona 6100 for Corrugated and Flatbed Users

Published February 12, 2019

Patrick Donigain, Senior Marketing Specialist for Canon Solutions America, talks about the Oce Arizona 6100 UV High Flow Vacuum Series Printer designed to solve materials handling issues for corrugated customers as well as flatbed users working with materials that are difficult to hold down on the printer bed.

November 2018 Printing Shipments: Meeting Expectations

Published February 8, 2019

Printing shipments for November 2018 came in at $6.93 billion. In keeping with the industry’s new seasonality, that’s down from October—but it’s still above November 2018’s $6.80 billion.

Around the Web: Coyote Signage. DRM for Houseplants. The Longest Walk on Earth. Robot Reporters. Creepy Napkins. JQA Live on Stage. Cooked by Cellphones.

Published February 8, 2019

Patented houseplants now come with a EULA. Mapping Earth’s longest continuous walk. The rise of automated newswriting. Delta and Coke team up to creep out airline passengers. A new play about 6th US President John Quincy Adams (sort of). 5G conspiracy theories. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Fellers Supplies Wrap and Sign Materials as Well as Training

Published February 7, 2019

Lisa Smoke, franchise sales manager for Fellers, talks about the "world's largest wrap supply company" with more than 60 locations nationwide supplying vehicle wrap films as well as sign supplies, tools, and other materials. The company also offers training classes on working with wrap materials.

SGIA 2018 Canon Booth Tour

Published February 6, 2019

Angel Georgiou, Senior Marketing Specialist for Canon Large Format Solutions, takes visitors through the company's booth at the SGIA Expo in Las Vegas, highlighting their vast array of printing solutions.

swissQprint Announces Its First Roll-to-Roll Wide-Format Printer

Published February 5, 2019

Mike Kyritsi, president of swissQprint, talks to Kelley Holmes about the company's first roll-to-roll wide-format printer, to be launched at FESPA in Munich in May.

Canon's Business Builder Program Offers Training

Published February 4, 2019

Bob Honn, Senior Director of Marketing Support, Large Format Solutions, for Canon Solutions America, discusses how the Business Builder Program combines traditional hardware sales with a variety of training services.

Prepress and Postpress Services Employees—2010–2016

Published February 1, 2019

In 2010, there were a total of 32,906 employees in U.S. prepress and postpress services establishments (NAICS 32312). By 2016, “support services for printing” employment had dropped to 24,502.

Around the Web: Pwned! Prints in Space! Good Gravy! To Thine Own Virtual Self Be True! A Superfluity of Words! Play Bill!

Published February 1, 2019

How to find out if your email account has been compromised. Make your home smell like chicken gravy. VR comes to the theater. Mondrian-inspired sticky notes. Theatergoers still want a printed playbill. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Latest Inflation Adjustment Multipliers

Published January 25, 2019

Every January, we provide the latest inflation-adjustment multipliers so that print business owners can get a real sense of how they are performing year-over year.

Around the Web: Old Elements. Salad Days. Farewell, Yellow Pages. Silent City. Public Domain. Pole Position.

Published January 25, 2019

The oldest periodic table is uncovered in Scotland. UK’s Yellow Pages are no more. Cremona, Italy, goes quiet. A new zine highlights the new works in the public domain. The magnetic north pole is on the move. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Screen Printing Employees—2010–2016

Published January 18, 2019

In 2010, there were a total of 57,674 employees in U.S. screen printing establishments (NAICS 323113). By 2016, screen printing employment had grown to 63,056—the opposite of what we have seen in general commercial printing during that same period.

Around the Web: The Perception of Lines. Loving Lydian. Platform Shoes? Young Entrepreneurs Spurn VCs. A Sixfold Dos-à-Dos Book. The Case of the Missing Mile Marker Signs.

Published January 18, 2019

Why we perceive horizontal and vertical lines differently. An old typeface returns. Superior sleep with pricey pjs. Nike’s new sneaker is a fitness tech platform. Finding alternatives to venture capitalists. A 16th-century book that opens six ways. Why do Mile Marker 480 signs keep disappearing?

Graphic Arts Employment Held Steady in December

Published January 11, 2019

Overall printing employment stayed roughly the same from November to December 2018, and, compared to December 2017, declined -1.6%. Non-production printing employment was up a bit in December, production employment down by about the same bit. PR employment continues to be the industry growth spot.

Around the Web: The Truth About Parachutes? Loud Packaging. Faux 5G. Personalized Cartography. Kohler’s “Intelligent Toilet.” Jazz Graphic Design.

Published January 11, 2019

New barefoot training footwear. What color is your parachute—and how safe is it? 5G connectivity is coming—but accept no imitations. Are paper maps back on the...map? If it were really intelligent, would it be a toilet? The visual look of jazz. Is it better to read a book or listen to it? All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Commercial Printing Employees—2010–2016

Published December 21, 2018

In 2010, there were a total of 499,622 employees in all commercial printing and related support businesses (NAICS 323). By 2016, overall industry employment had dropped to 445,992.

Color ReaderPRO Helps Create Customized Fabric Designs

Published December 18, 2018

Thomas LaTempa and Oriol Martinez Riba announce the partnership of Datacolor and Inedit as they collaborate to bring Color ReaderPRO—a color-reading management device and associated mobile app—to the market.

Canon Partners With Duplo to Add Embellishments

Published December 17, 2018

Matt Poliniak, Advisor for Canon USA, demonstrates how the combination of the Canon imagePRESS and the Duplo DDC-810 gives customers the ability to add embellishments to digital prints.

October 2018 Printing Shipments: Suitable for Framing

Published December 14, 2018

Printing shipments for October 2018 came in at $7.27 billion. That’s up from September—and it’s well above October 2018’s $7.08 billion. Welcome to the new seasonality.

Around the Web: Easy 3D Printing. Roman Adiators. Russian Fauxbots. Bad Signs. Mass Broadband. HP Sustainability. Chicken Logs.

Published December 14, 2018

A cheap, easy-to-use desktop 3D printer. RIP, Evelyn Berezin, inventor of the word processor. Jules Van Sant’s next adventure. Anonymous New Yorkers’ war on signage. A Massachusetts town creates its own broadband. “Please check for all your personal belongings.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Nazdar Partners with EFI to Roll Out a New Entry-Level Roll-to-Roll Wide-Format Printer

Published December 13, 2018

Glenn Shull, Printing Equipment Product Manager for Nazdar, talks about Nazdar's partnership with EFI and the unveiling of the EFI Pro 32r entry-level roll-to-roll wide-format printer.

Gerber Acquires MCT Digital

Published December 12, 2018

Scott Schinlever, President and COO of Automation Solutions for Gerber Technology, announces the acquisition of MCT Digital, a company the specializes in automated cutter technology.

Canon Introduces the Prisma Family

Published December 10, 2018

Bob Barbera, Senior Marketing Manager for Canon USA, unveils the Prisma family of workflow and print controller solutions for digital printing.

Around the Web: 3D-Printed Food. Font for Dyslexics. Fiction On Demand. “Retail Rashomon.” Virtual Vermeer. Murdering Mercator. The Future from 1988. Stay Away from 536.

Published December 7, 2018

Open Source versions of the Creative Cloud applications. A new font aids reading for dyslexics. Yet another take on what’s happening with retail. Cutting Greenland down to size. Futurists in 1988 predict the jobs of the future. Have a time machine? Skip A.D. 536. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.

Printing Industry Profits: The Tale of Two Cities Continues

Published December 7, 2018

Industry profits data came out earlier this week, and it was good and bad news. Overall, annualized profits for Q3 2018 were $3.07 billion—not a huge gain from Q2, but a gain nonetheless. But it’s the ongoing saga of the low profitability of large printers dragging down average industry profitability.

President of Heidelberg Americas Discusses New Strategies

Published December 6, 2018

Felix Mueller, President of Heidelberg Americas, joins Dave Zwang in Colorado and discusses new strategies for strengthening Heidelberg's position in the markets they serve, with a new emphasis on Labels and Packaging.

Sandy Alexander Acquires Wide-Format Capabilities

Published December 5, 2018

Gary Semon, Wide Plant Manager for Sandy Alexander, shares news of the company's acquisition of Designer's Press and their wide-format technology.

The New Heidelberg Fire Line

Published December 4, 2018

Stephan Plenz, CTO of Heidelberg, discusses his role, and the changes in technologies and service offerings.

Adding Embellishment with Duplo's Spot UV Solution

Published December 3, 2018

Si Nguyen, Vice President of Sales for Duplo, shares innovative texture and embellishment effects utilizing Duplo's spot UV solution.

Prepress and Postpress Services Establishments—2016

Published November 30, 2018

In 2016, there were 1,545 total U.S. establishments offering prepress and/or postpress services (NAICS 32312); 51% of these establishments had fewer than 10 employees.

Around the Web: Really Clickable Paper. Chocing Typography. More Gift Wrap Ideas. Guerrilla Signage. Alexa Sleeps with the Fishes. P Is for Pterodactyl. Beard Lights!

Published November 30, 2018

A new kind of electronic paper. The science of paper crumpling. How Choc became a ubiquitous typeface. A “guerilla artist” produces life-affirming stealth signage. Alexa has been integrated into Big Mouth Billy Bass, for reasons passing understanding. A collision of vehicle graphics, AI, and public shaming. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Color Casters Offers Color Management Training and Consulting

Published November 29, 2018

Jim Raffel talks about his new business Color Casters, which offers color management training both via SGIA's color management bootcamps and customized training and consulting.

Kodak's Flexo Journey

Published November 28, 2018

Zaki Ali, CTO of Kodak Flexographic Division talks to David Zwang about the journey of flexo and how Kodak legacy technology has brought flexo platemaking to new heights.

Print and Finishing Solutions Adds an AR Layer to Print

Published November 27, 2018

Kian Hemmen, Western Regional Sales Manager (RMGT) at Print and Finishing Solutions, talks about the company's Augmented Reality (AR) technology, and how making print interactive can help increase a customer's profitability.

EFI Expands Their Channel Partner Program

Published November 26, 2018

Ricky Vescovacci, Manager of National Channel Sales for EFI, talks about their channel partner program and how they are collaborating with Ricoh and Nazdar.

New Partnerships for the 2019 InPrint Conference

Published November 21, 2018

Melissa Magestro, Executive Vice President of Mac Brooks Exhibitions, announces new partnerships for next year's InPrint Conference, to be held April 9 to 11 in Louisville, Ky.

Dan Johansen Recaps Ricoh's Recent Wide-Format Announcements

Published November 21, 2018

Dan Johansen, Marketing Manager for Graphic Arts Wide Format, Commercial and Industrial Printing Business Group for Ricoh USA, sums up the new products introduced at the SGIA Expo 2018, including the RICOH Pro L5160 latex printer and RICOH Pro TF 6250 flatbed.

Augmenting Print with AR

Published November 20, 2018

Jim Luttrell of SOCiOS talks about the future of AR and the possibilities available for print applications.

Sandy Alexander Purchases Designer's Press

Published November 19, 2018

Jason Leonard, Director of Business Development for Sandy Alexander, announces that Designer's Press in Orlando has been purchased by Sandy Alexander, which will re-brand the company and expand their wide-format capabilities.

Prepress and Postpress Services Establishments

Published November 16, 2018

In 2010, there were 2,080 establishments offering prepress and/or postpress services; by 2016, that number had dropped to 1,545. (The Census Bureau stopped breaking out prepress and postpress establishments separately in 2012.) It’s not difficult to understand why the number of these establishments has been dropping;  prepress is being absorbed into the printing process itself (especially in digital printing), and more print businesses are acquiring their own finishing capabilities.

Around the Web: Dry Leather. Secret Envelopes. Movies and Typography. Eyewitness Alexa. Informed Identity Theft. Farewell, Mon Kg

Published November 16, 2018

Mix-and-match jigsaw puzzles. Postcards from World War I. The bestselling books of 2114. Alexa stars in a reboot of "Rear Window." Friendly skies, unfriendly seats. Weighing in on the kilogram. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Roland Interviews Customers at SGIA Expo

Published November 15, 2018

Andrew Oransky, President of Roland DGA, talks about how the company took the opportunity to interview several customers at the SGIA Expo to better understand their businesses—and how Roland can help them achieve their goals.

InPrint Heads to Louisville

Published November 14, 2018

Frazer Chesterman, Co-Founder of InPrint, previews the upcoming InPrint 2019 industrial printing conference, which will take place April 9-11 in Louisville, Ky., and discusses some of the current trends in industrial printing.

Crawford Technologies and Workflow Automation

Published November 13, 2018

Ernie Crawford, CEO of Crawford Technologies, defines "workflow" and talks about the company's software and automation solutions for the transactional and direct mail space.

BlueCrest: "A $450 Million Start-Up"

Published November 13, 2018

Grant Miller, CEO of BlueCrest, discusses this new standalone company within Pitney Bowes that has merged Pitney Bowes' core document messaging technologies with its software portfolio.

Two Sides' "Keep Me Posted" Campaign Advocates Access to Printed Communications

Published November 12, 2018

Phil Riebel, President of Two Sides North America, talks about the work the organization does to advocate for printing and paper, with more than 1,000 members. Through its Keep Me Posted Campaign, the organization is advocating access to printed statements and communications.

Modern Litho Expands Its Footprint

Published November 12, 2018

Jim Tomblinson, Vice President of Operations for Modern Litho, discusses the breadth of the company's offerings, its expanding geographical footprint, and how it has benefitted from the adoption of processless plates.

End of the Season? September 2018 Printing Shipments

Published November 9, 2018

Printing shipments for September 2018 came in at $6.52 billion. That’s down from August—and it’s well below August 2017’s $6.76 billion. Are we seeing a new seasonality in the printing industry—or the end of any seasonality?

Around the Web: Virtual Fitting Rooms. Gift Wrap Your Face. Typewriters for Sale. Flying Cars. Music for Cheese. Fungus Footwear. Bionic Mushrooms. Fake News[casters].

Published November 9, 2018

Virtual fitting rooms for men. Create customized wrapping paper. Safety apparel for grow lights. Is the flying car on its way? Boots for Mars. Chinese news media introduces AI-based virtual presenters. What’s the deal with “The Piña Colada Song”? All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Looking Ahead to drupa 2020

Published November 8, 2018

Sabine Geldermann, Director of drupa and Global Head of Print Technology, talks about what visitors can expect at drupa in 2020.

David Fellman on Worldwide Sales Training

Published November 8, 2018

David Fellman, President of David Fellman & Associates and longtime Printing News contributor, shares his experiences in Australia and New Zealand in worldwide sales training.

The New Nexfinity

Published November 7, 2018

Todd Bigger, of Eastman Kodak Company, talks about the next-generation Nexfinity digital press and how it builds on and extends the existing platform.

Stefan Hunkeler on the Upcoming Hunkeler Innovation Days

Published November 7, 2018

Stefan Hunkeler, President of Hunkeler, looks forward to Innovation Days in February and offers a preview of what attendees can look forward to in high-end inkjet production.

Textile Printing for Commercial Printers

Published November 6, 2018

Tim Check, Senior Product Manager for Epson America, talks about textile printing technologies and how commercial printers can use fabric printing to open up new business opportunities and offer more options to customers.

Canon Unveils New Wide-Format Printers

Published November 5, 2018

Richard Reamer, Senior Director of Large Format Solutions at Canon USA, talks about Canon's wide-format printer portfolio and the new TM (Technical Multipurpose) Series, targeted at architects, engineers, and contractors. The use of a new pigment ink also makes the new series printers suitable for posters and other display graphics.

CHILI Publisher and "Smart Artwork"

Published November 5, 2018

Kevin Goeminne, CEO of CHILI Publish, talks about the CHILI Publisher universal graphics engine focused around "smart artwork"—a way of templating and automating the design and production of a variety of packaging and marketing materials.

Screen Printers—2016

Published November 2, 2018

In 2016, there were 5,150 total U.S. commercial screen printing establishments. As with most printing categories, the majority have under 10 employees, but screen shops tend to be smaller than other kinds of printing establishments.

Around the Web: New Flame-Retardant Fabric. Blockchains in Space. Direct-to-Object Printing. Pantone’s “Unignorable” Color. Hamster Power.

Published November 2, 2018

Don’t spoil the ends of books...or else. Heidelberg heads to InPrint Milan with the Omnifire. A new meaning of the phrase “high on the hog.” Pantone and United Way develop a new color to raise awareness of social issues. Could you power your home with hamsters? All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Glazier Design, Digital Printing, and Beyond

Published November 1, 2018

Ben Glazier, Director of Glazier Design, talks to Kelley Holmes about the new Xerox Iridesse press and the advantages of new digital technology, as well as Glazier Design's connection to the Stephen Hawking Foundation.

What to Look for in MIS Software

Published October 31, 2018

Jonathan Bowen, Product Specialist for PrintIQ, talks to Kelley Holmes about the importance of an MIS and what to look for when shopping for one.

Epson Introduces New SureColor Technical Printer

Published October 30, 2018

Matt Kochanowski, Product Manager for Epson America, talks about the company's new SureColor printers, designed for the AEC (architecture/engineering/construction) print market.

Xeikon's Success at PRINT 18

Published October 30, 2018

Donna Covannon, Director of Marketing for North America, Xeikon, talks about the company's productive year and the new technology to come.

Meet This Year's Skills USA National Champion

Published October 29, 2018

Brittany Whitestone, a junior at California University of Pennsylvania, is this year's national champion of Skills USA, an organization that creates technical standards for students to showcase what they've learned. To win the national competition, Whitestone had to operate offset and digital printing and finishing equipment, estimate jobs, and pass a job interview. She goes on to compete in the WorldSkills competition in Russia.

The Importance of User Groups

Published October 29, 2018

Christine Yardley, President of PrintPanther, talks about the advantages of being a member of PROKOM, Konica Minolta's user community, and how user groups are a great source of information, troubleshooting resources, and networking opportunities.

Graphic Arts Employment Continues to Decline; PR Employment Continues to Grow

Published October 26, 2018

Overall printing employment dropped from August to September 2018, and on a year-over-year basis is down -1.5%. Non-production printing employment was up slightly, indicating that production staff are the hardest employees to find. PR employment is again the industry bright spot, employment-wise.

Around the Web: Cameras In the Lens. Recycled Textiles in the Ink. Color in The Hulk. Apocalypse Not in Retail.

Published October 26, 2018

Get a customized reading list from the Brooklyn Public Library. A new process recycles textile waste into dyestuffs. Poor color management made The Hulk green.  Shatner Claus? Thwarting the “retail apocalypse.” 200 years of Frankenstein. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Team Concept Printing Purchases MGI JETVarnish to Expand Offerings

Published October 25, 2018

Tony Rouse, President of Carol Stream, Ill.'s Team Concept Printing, talks to Kelley Holmes about the company's purchase of a new MGI JETVarnish 3-D to offer customers more options and "spice up" print.

Copresco Sees Opportunities in Digital Book Printing

Published October 24, 2018

Steve Johnson, President and CEO of Copresco, talks about the changing industry and the opportunities available in digital book printing.

OKI Pushes the Envelope

Published October 23, 2018

Arthur Verwey, Senior Product Marketing Manager for OKI Data Americas, discusses the company's newest digital envelope presses.

RISO's New Rollfed Inkjet Technology

Published October 23, 2018

Andre D'Urbano, Director of Dealer Sales for RISO, talks about RISO's broad digital inkjet portfolio and introduces a new rollfed option.

The Present and Future of SGIA

Published October 22, 2018

Ford Bowers, President and CEO of SGIA, talks about this year's final SGIA Expo—as well as the future of the association and the expo, as both change with the industry.

Global Graphics On the New PDF 2.0

Published October 22, 2018

Martin Bailey, CTO of Global Graphics, talks with Dave Zwang about the exciting new PDF 2.0 and what it means for the printing industry.

Screen Printers 2010–2016

Published October 19, 2018

From 2010 to 2016, the number of U.S. commercial screen printing establishments increased from 4,454 to 5,150. Growth in screen printing establishments has been consistent from year to year. Chalk this up to the rise of specialty printing.

Around the Web: A Cheesy Book. “Hello, Death.” Watching The Night Watch. Packaging Design Archive Online.

Published October 19, 2018

A new book is nothing but bound slices of cheese. A New Zealand vending machine has a grim message. The Rijksmuseum to livestream a Rembrandt painting restoration. The Museum of London offers a fascinating online archive of package design.

UV-LED Curing Helps Bring Jobs Back to Offset

Published October 18, 2018

Chris Manley, President of Graphco, which represents RMGT in the U.S., talks about how the advantages of UV-LED curing are driving customers to "unplug" their digital presses and move more jobs to offset to increase profitability.

HP’s Alon Bar-Shany on Trends in Labels and Flexible Packaging

Published October 18, 2018

Dave Zwang talks to Alon Bar-Shany, General Manager for HP Indigo, HP Inc., about the growth he has been seeing in both the label and flexible packaging markets, as well as how the industry can learn from past commercial printing experience to avoid pitfalls in the future.

New RSA Releases Help Boost In-Plant Automation and Productivity

Published October 17, 2018

Vince Tutino, Senior Product Manager for Rochester Software Associates (RSA), discusses three updated products designed to increase productivity and automation for in-plants: WebCRD Web to print software, QDirect output manager, and RSA's Universal prepress suite, ReadyPrint.

CloudLab's Tailor-Made Web-to-Print Solutions

Published October 17, 2018

Marc Horriar, CEO and Founder, talks about CloudLab, one of the largest web-to-print vendors in Europe, and whose U.S. branch opened in 2017. CloudLab has more than 200 customers in 25 countries. Some of the largest online print businesses in the world use CloudLab, which focuses on solutions tailored to each business rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Colter and Peterson Announces New Saber Cutting Line

Published October 16, 2018

Finishing products manufacturer Colter and Peterson has been in the industry for 100 years and continues to innovate the paper finishing business. President Bruce Peterson, grandson of the company's founder, talks with Kelley Holmes about C&P's new line of Saber cutters.

Producing High-Value Print Applications with Scodix's Ultra2 Pro

Published October 15, 2018

Mark Nixon, General Manager for Scodix, introduces the Ultra2 Pro at PRINT 18, able to cast and cure, a process that can create very high-value, digitally embossed applications, from holographics to foil.

SGIA Acquires Graphics of the Americas

Published October 15, 2018

Ford Bowers, President and CEO of SGIA, talks with Cary Sherburne about SGIA's recent acquisition of the Graphics of the Americas show.

Around the Web: Know Your Flower Colors. The Mummy Sells! Self-Destructing Art. Unraveling the CVS Receipt. Mac & Cheese Candy Canes.

Published October 12, 2018

A new book identifies flowers by color. An old movie poster to sell at auction for $1+ million. Closed captioning glasses for live theater. Christmas comestibles: mac and cheese candy canes and Christmas tree-flavored potato chips. Is the Internet of Things trouble waiting to happen? All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Dead Heat: August 2018 Printing Shipments

Published October 12, 2018

Printing shipments for August 2018 came in at $6.89 billion. That’s essentially even with August 2017’s $6.88 billion on an inflation-adjusted basis.

New Horizons for Standard Finishing Systems

Published October 11, 2018

Paul Steinke, National Sales Manager for Standard Finishing Systems, talks about two new Horizon finishing units on display at PRINT 18: the StitchLiner Mark III and BQ-480 perfect binder, both of which include new automation features.

Ricoh Unveils New Workflow and Data Analytics Solutions

Published October 9, 2018

Ryan Kiley, Director of Strategic Production Services for Ricoh USA, talks about Ricoh Communications Manager and Ricoh Supervisor, the company's new workflow automation and print shop management tools.

Tour the Canon Applications Gallery at PRINT 18

Published October 8, 2018

Join Jennifer Kolloczek, Director of Marketing for Canon Solutions America, on a tour of the #PRINTCANON Applications Gallery at PRINT 18 in Chicago. This fully immersive hotel experience highlights the many applications that customers can add to their own businesses with the help of Canon technology.

Commercial Printers—2016

Published October 5, 2018

In 2016, there were 18,405 total commercial printing establishments (excluding screen and book printers). Half of them have fewer than 5 employees.

Around the Web: Apparel Manufacturing of the Future. Death by Selfie. Memory-Enhancing Font. Ditching Facebook. Fake News. Next-Gen WiFi.

Published October 5, 2018

Print advertising success stories. Sans Forgetica, a font designed for memory retention. Young people are deleting their Facebook app. Social media users expect news to be inaccurate. WiFi 6 is coming; this may not be good news. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Creative Labels Transitions to Digital

Published October 5, 2018

Chris Martin, VP of Creative Labels, has been in the label business since 1980, and talks to Dave Zwang at Labelexpo about the steps he's taken over the years to transition into digital technologies.

Seamless Cloud-Based Mailing Solutions

Published October 4, 2018

Scott Eganhouse, Vice President of Business Development for TEC Mailing Solutions, talks about the importance of cloud-based mailing, and winning a Red Hot Technology Award at PRINT 18 for their mailing software.

Xante Makes an Impact at PRINT 18

Published October 3, 2018

Robert Ross, President of Xante, talks to Kelley Holmes about the company's successful PRINT 18, which featured their new, interactive classroom booth, as well as the excitement of bringing home three new technology awards.

Eric Hawkinson on @PRINT18 Magazine

Published October 2, 2018

Eric Hawkinson, VP of Marketing for Canon, talks about @PRINT18, the onsite guide to the Chicago conference, printed on the Canon Océ ProStream Series Production Inkjet Device.

Kicking Off PRINT 18

Published October 1, 2018

Thayer Long, President of the Association for PRINT Technologies (APTech), talks with Kelley Holmes about PRINT 18's opening day and APTech's new membership option for print service providers.

Book Printers—2016

Published September 28, 2018

In 2016, there were 421 total book printing establishments. The majority have under 10 employees. This is similar to what we find in general commercial printing—yet different.

Around the Web: Manipulating Buybacks. The Ugliest Color. New Words for Scrabble Fans. Lithophones. How Not to Catch a Plane. 3D Printed Dog Skulls.

Published September 28, 2018

Research has identified down to the Pantone number the least attractive color. Merriam-Webster adds 300 new words to the Official Scrabble Dictionary. A nine-year-old dachshund is helped by 3D printing. The pen is still mightier. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

The Changing Book Printing Market

Published September 26, 2018

Jim Clark, Director of Operations for McNaughton and Gunn, talks to Dave Zwang about the changing trends that the 42-year-old book printing business has been seeing. While offset is still the mainstay, digital is by far the fastest growing part of the business.

Sanford Health Uses Production Inkjet to Streamline Workflow

Published September 24, 2018

Lisa Stelter of Sanford Health discusses how the organization handles their in-house printing, their installation of a Canon Océ VarioPrint i300, and how the combination of their printing facilities has saved money and streamlined their workflow.

July 2018 Printing Shipments: We Have Some Good News and Some Bad News

Published September 21, 2018

Printing shipments for July 2018 came in at $6.31 billion—that’s down -3.4% from June, but it’s up +2.3% from July 2017. We’ll take whatever victories we can.

Around the Web: Odor Eating Fabric. Times Newer Roman. Rest in Personalization. Robot Rumpus. Modeling Movement. In Praise of Luddites. Pen Packaging Put-On.

Published September 21, 2018

New odor-capturing fabric finishes. Cheat on your homework with a variant of Times New Roman. New documentary on a prominent “coffin artist.” Turn any object into a robot. Turn 2D videos into 3D objects. The pen is mightier than the packaging. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

United Mail Invests in a Canon i300

Published September 20, 2018

Casey Hendrick, President of Production for United Mail, talks about the company's offerings—predominantly in the health and financial industries—and the company's integration of the new Canon Océ VarioPrint i300.

Inkjet Growth Continues to Make an Impact on the Market

Published September 19, 2018

Amy Machado of IDC Research talks about her recent inkjet forecast for the entire color market. Overall numbers show that the inkjet market is growing, thanks to quality improvements and the availability of more options.

Core Publishing Solutions Switch to Production Inkjet for Book Publishing

Published September 17, 2018

Todd Roth, VP of Manufacturing and Distribution, Core Publishing Solutions, at Thomson Reuters, discusses the company's background in web press applications, their move into production inkjet, and their new venture selling book manufacturing for other publishers.

Around the Web: Ancient Art. Avian Economists. Insect Imaging. Deterring Drivers. Planetary Palaver.

Published September 14, 2018

How to hurricane-proof your outdoor digital signage. The oldest human drawing. Do parrots know economics? New color from weevils. An optical illusion-based crosswalk thwarts speeders. New arguments for Pluto’s planethood. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Book Printers—2010–2016

Published September 14, 2018

In 2010, there were 536 book printing establishments. In the ensuing six years, the establishment count would drop -21%. So says our Commercial Printing Establishments tracker.

PRINT 18 Is Just Weeks Away

Published September 12, 2018

Kelley Holmes of WhatTheyThink, talks with Thayer Long, President of the Association for PRINT Technologies, about what to expect at PRINT 18 just a few weeks away in Chicago.

Embracing the Changing Workforce

Published September 11, 2018

Marco Boer, Vice President of IT Strategies, discusses the future of print manufacturing and how the industry will need to adjust to a growing millennial workforce.

Around the Web: 3D Printing and Disruption – New Piezo Printing Process – The New Corporate Font – High-Viscosity Printing – Truth in Stock Market Reporting – This Week in Printing History

Published September 7, 2018

A special fashion model inspires the design industry. A new font for brands encompasses all brands. A new printer technology can print very viscous liquids. An honest stock report. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Words of the Profits

Published September 7, 2018

Looking at the most recent industry profits data that came out earlier this week, we continue to tell the “tale of two cities.” Low profitability of large printers is dragging down average industry profitability. For the industry as a whole, cracking—or re-cracking—$4 billion in profits is proving to be an elusive goal.

Frank Celebrates 50 Years of PRINT

Published September 7, 2018

Frank commemorates the 50th anniversary of the first PRINT show. Held in June 1968 in Chicago, PRINT 68 was the first major industry event of the modern era, comprising 274,000 square feet and 400 exhibitors. It was the first show where hot metal typesetting was not on display (it was the dawning of the age of phototypesetting) and the first to have web offset presses running on the show floor. Attendees lined up around the block to get in.

thINK Forum 2018 Kicks Off

Published September 6, 2018

WhatTheyThink's Kelley Holmes talks to Eric Hawkinson, VP of Marketing, Canon Solutions America, about the thINK Forum 2018 which started yesterday with an Inkjet 101 boot camp hosted at CSA's Customer Experience Center in Boca Raton, Fla. More than 600 people attended this year's event to share knowledge, network, and be inspired.

Around the Web: Shopping for Preferences – Ancient Gripes – The Kids Are Offline – Chinese Typewriters – Earnings Reports: A Modest Proposal – The E-Horse – This Week in Printing History

Published August 31, 2018

The world’s oldest customer complaint was etched in clay. A modern twist on the old “spend a penny.” Today’s teens are not as wired as we thought. Twice-yearly earnings reports? The case for daily earnings reports. Researchers use 3D-printed boxes to help search for new antibiotics. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Mid-Size Establishments—2010–2016

Published August 31, 2018

In 2010, there were 6,725 10–19-employee commercial printing establishments. Among this demographic category, there was the most precipitous drop from 2010 to 2011—the fallout from the Great Recession which started to take its toll after 2009. By 2012, the bleeding had been largely stanched, and the year-to-year declines were more modest. So says our recently launched Commercial Printing Establishments tracker.

A Wealth of Activities and Programs at Upcoming PRINT 18

Published August 29, 2018

Julie Shaffer talks about the speakers and activities scheduled for PRINT 18 in Chicago, Sept. 30-Oct. 2.

Canadian Printing Shipments

Published August 24, 2018

Looking at the 12-month moving average of Canada’s printing shipments, it may look like Canada’s printing industry has been holding steady, but the inflation-adjusted figures show a slight decline from a recent peak at the end of 2013.

Around the Web: 3M Wraps Itself. Cool Caps. Trillions of Dollars. Fur-Ternity Leave. Tor Nada. This Week in Printing History.

Published August 24, 2018

3M wraps its own headquarters. UNITED CAPS develops bio-sourced plastics for its caps. How much paper would it take to print the Internet? Are library ebooks killing sales? All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Brands Need to Get Personal

Published August 20, 2018

Doris Brown-McNally of HP Graphic Solutions, talks about the top three ways to engage millennials and Gen Zers with brands, from personalizing a brand message to the use of augmented reality.

Around the Web: Small Business Optimism – Action Towels – What’s an Ad Worth? – Dumbing Phones – Cheese of the Pharaohs – This Week in Printing History

Published August 17, 2018

The latest NFIB Small Business Optimism Index. Towels made of recycled bottles. Stopping “stalking ads.” Making phones just a little less smart. The world’s oldest cheese. Modern American prints from 1920-1948. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Consolidation Among Large Print Businesses: 2010–2016

Published August 17, 2018

In 2010, there were 2,124 establishments having 50 or more employees. By 2016, they had dropped to 1,851 (down -13%). So says our new Commercial Printing Establishments tracker, based on data from the Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns, which presents—in spreadsheet form—U.S. commercial printing establishments from 2010 to 2016, broken down by six different print business classifications and nine employee-size breakdowns.

The Success of Roll-Fed Inkjet and Importance of Finishing

Published August 15, 2018

Mark Hunt, Director of Strategic Alliances for Standard Finishing Systems, discusses the reasons behind the surge of popularity in roll-fed inkjet, and the importance of finishing. He also discusses what to expect at Hunkeler Innovations Days 2019.

The Ups and Downs in the Future of Print

Published August 13, 2018

Kip Cassino, Executive Vice President of Borrell Associates, discusses the cross-generational evolution of print: what's expected to grow and what's expected to decline in the coming years.

Printing Shipments Head Into the Dog Days of Summer

Published August 10, 2018

The inflation-adjusted value of printing shipments for June 2018 were down from $6.9 billion in May to $6.5 billion in June. On the plus side, it’s not appreciably below the $6.6 billion reported in June 2017.

Around the Web: A Book of Wood – A Felt Supermarket – Amish Uber – Robot Coworkers – Cookie War – This Week in Printing History

Published August 10, 2018

A book consisting entirely of pieces of wood. How to foil a car thief: drive a stick. The gig economy is surging...but only in Amish country. Survey says: workers are cool with robot coworkers. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Frank Looks Back at—and Ahead to—Printing News

Published August 10, 2018

Frank traces the history of Printing News from its beginning in 1928, and its founder and editor, Leo Joachim. Few magazines have made it to 90 years and Frank is glad that the new relationship between WhatTheyThink and Printing News will see a printed magazine continue. Especially for the printing industry.

Around the Web: PPI Executive Director Jules VanSant Steps Down – Ambigrams and Lipograms – Customized Cars – Mad Men No More – This Week in Printing History

Published August 3, 2018

After 12 years of leadership, Jules VanSant is stepping down as PPI Executive Director. Unusual typography. Automakers look to digitally printed auto parts. Don Draper—and even Darrin Stephens—are ad men of the past. The semaphore origin of the peace symbol. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

WhatTheyThink Launches New Industry Establishment Data Series

Published August 3, 2018

Our new Commercial Printing Establishments tracker, based on data from the Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns, presents—in spreadsheet form—U.S. commercial printing establishments from 2010 to 2016, broken down by six different print business classifications and nine employee-size breakdowns.

June Printing Employment Down Y/Y

Published July 27, 2018

Overall, printing employment ticked up from May to June 2018, but on a year-over-year basis is down -1.8% from June 2017. Among the creative markets, PR is the place to be.

Around the Web: Amazon to Replace Libraries? – Book Fore-Edge Painting – The Truth About Recycled Clothing – Japan’s Looming “Y2K”-Like Problem – This Week in Printing History

Published July 27, 2018

Forbes columnist suggests replacing public libraries with Amazon stores, for some reason. The economic costs of comma misuse. Built-in sun protection for garments. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Kelley Holmes Talks About Printing News Joining WhatTheyThink

Published July 23, 2018

WhatTheyThink today announced that the Printing News Group is joining the organization to strengthen the industry’s most extensive independent news and analysis platform with both print and digital media covering commercial printing, wide format, labels, packaging, signage, specialty graphics, textiles and other industrial applications of print technology.

Around the Web: The Virtual Dressing Room – Cool Threads – Underwear Knife – Biobased Car – This Week in Printing History

Published July 20, 2018

Try on clothes virtually. As bad as flying is, it used to be worse. World’s first biobased, circular car has been successfully designed and built. Men’s boxer shorts turned into a knife. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

May Printing Shipments Up from April, Closing in on 2017 Levels

Published July 13, 2018

Printing shipments for May 2018 came in at $6.77 billion, up +3.1% from April. However, on an inflation-adjusted basis, May 2018 came in below the $6.92 billion reported in May 2017, and is well below the recent high of $7.46 billion back in May 2016.

Around the Web: Pet Allergen-Free Textiles – Social Media Around the World – Pink Is the Oldest Color – 3D Printed Car – A Decade of Smartphone Apps – This Week in Printing History

Published July 13, 2018

A new technology can remove pet allergens from textiles (and that’s nothing to sneeze at). The retail transformation heats up. Scientists find the oldest (1.1 billion years) colors. ColorZenith uses Massivit technology to 3D print a classic car for Milan’s La Scala opera house. The Morgan Library & Museum in NYC is exhibiting a unique autograph collection. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

From Traditional to Digital in Corrugated

Published July 11, 2018

Chuck Slingerland, Vice President of Sales and Digital Operations for Abbott-Action, takes us through the digital journey for a traditional corrugated converter.

Around the Web: New Water-Repellent Textiles – A 3D Printing Playbook – CliffsNotes for Food Labels – Missile Mail! – Public Libraries’ Streaming Services – This Week in Printing History

Published July 6, 2018

A new process reduces the environmental impact of water-repellent textiles. Harvard Business Review looks at new possibilities for 3D printing. New health benefits of coffee. The best streaming service may just be your public library. RIP Harlan Ellison. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Amazon’s On-Demand T-shirts – Cooking a 4,000-year-old recipe – “Cash is grief” – Mary Meeker Slide Roulette – This Week in Printing History

Published June 29, 2018

A "historical culinary event" featured a 4,000-year-old Mesopotamian recipe carved on a cuneiform tablet. Modern air conditioning was originally invented for a Brooklyn commercial print shop. Amazon beats out Google for product searches. The World Cup gives a lift to streaming services. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Hume Media Switches to Inkjet with Xerox Technology

Published June 28, 2018

John Hume, President of Hume Media Inc., talks about the history of his company and the upgrades he's made to his printing equipment over the years, first with the Xerox iGen and now Brenva HD production inkjet press.

Around the Web: No More Sweater Pilling – Body Scanning – That Micro Moment – Flexo Innovation – Mary Meeker Slide Roulette – Escalators!!! – This Week in Printing History

Published June 22, 2018

Australian researchers have found a way to minimize unsightly pilling and help garments look better longer. HyperCard, the first application for creating interactive documents, was inspired by an acid trip. Fad Fashion? Micro Moments? Learn the new textile lexicon. Rats break into an ATM and eat $17K in cash. A random slide from Mary Meeker’s “Internet Trends Report.” Amazon’s Alexa will soon be sharing your hotel room. A keyboard that can fit in your pocket. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Around the Web: Bats in the Biblioteca – Mary Meeker Slide Roulette – DIY T Shirt Printing – “Recycled” Ancient Manuscripts – Bloomsday – This Week in Printing History

Published June 15, 2018

A library in Portugal uses a colony of bats to help preserve old books and documents. The UK is confounded by the name change from “Salad Cream” to “Sandwich Cream.” The new heroes of our age: Country Time Lemonade and Domino’s Pizza? A random slide from Mary Meeker’s “Internet Trends Report.” Uncovering lost “data” from ancient manuscripts. What happened this week in printing and publishing history. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Trends in High-Performance Apparel

Published June 14, 2018

Mark Sunderland, Textile Engineer and Strategist at Thomas Jefferson University, discusses high-performance apparel and products, including new and emerging trends in moisture management and "wearables."

In-Plants and Outsourcing: The Perennial Problem

Published June 13, 2018

At this year's IPMA Conference, Howie Fenton addresses one of the perennial challenges that in-plant printing departments face: their parent company outsourcing print and other related work. He offers some suggestions for bringing that work back in-house.

IPMA 2018 Conference Update: In-Plant Printing Trends and Challenges

Published June 12, 2018

Mike Loyd, Executive Director of the In-Plant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA), talks about the major trends affecting in-plant printing departments, the challenges faced by in-plant operations managers, and the value of the annual IPMA Conference.

Around the Web: GDPR as Sleep Therapy – Vintage NSA Workplace Posters – “Smart Hemp” – New iOS AR Features – Mary Meeker Slide Roulette – Mermaids for Hire – This Week in Printing History

Published June 8, 2018

Government Attic discovered a load of NSA workplace posters from the 50s, 60s, and 70s—you can even get them on a T shirt. A 3D printer outputs custom-designed pancakes. Don’t call it “dope”: hemp used for intelligent textiles. A random slide from Mary Meeker’s “Internet Trends Report.” What happened this week in printing and publishing history. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

New EFI Reggiani Pigment Textile Ink Eliminates Need for Post-Treatment

Published June 8, 2018

Giorgio Sala of EFI Reggiani talks about the company's new pigment-based ink for the FLEXY textile printer. The new ink contains a binder that eliminates the need for post-treatment, such as washing or steaming of the fabric, after printing.

Famous Last Words

Published June 8, 2018

There are about 8,000 spoken languages left on this planet and they are disappearing at one language every two weeks. Some have fewer than 1,000 speakers left. Frank opines in what we think is English.

Mimaki Unleashes New Tiger Textile Printing System

Published June 7, 2018

Bert Benckhuysen, Senior Product Manager, EMEA, for Mimaki, introduces the new Tiger textile printing system, capable of both direct-to-fabric and transfer-based dye sublimation. Mimaki has also incorporated Tiger into its own microfactory concept for fast fashion and other textile-based applications.

Scott Schinlever Continues Analog-to-Digital Transformation at Gerber Technology

Published June 7, 2018

Scott Schinlever, President of Automation Services for Gerber Technology, discusses the similarities and differences between digital and analog, as well as his move from EFI to Gerber.

Durst's Textile Printing Strategy

Published June 6, 2018

Fabio Gromo, Global Sales Manager of Textile Printing for durst, describes the durst line of textile printers and capabilities as well as the company's strategies with respect to the digital textile printing industry.

Factors Driving the Growth of Industrial Printing

Published June 6, 2018

Marcus Timson, Co-Founder of the InPrint Industrial Inkjet Conference, discusses the reasons for the growing popularity of industrial printing, including the plateauing of traditional print markets, the maturity of digital inkjet and its advantages in industrial applications, and changing consumer behaviors.

SAi Brings AR Capabilities to Signmaking

Published June 4, 2018

Annette Plummer, Director of Marketing for SAi, a developer of software for the signmaking industry, discusses the use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in signmaking.

RadLaunch Helps Start-Ups Make Connections

Published June 4, 2018

Nir Waiskopf, Ph.D., of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, attended the RadTech UV+EB 2018 Conference as part of RadLaunch, an "idea accelerator" for start-ups, students, and innovators. Dr. Waiskopf chose the RadTech conference for its educational and networking opportunities, seeking potential collaborators and partners for some of the projects he is helping develop.

Around the Web: E License Plates – Direct-to-Egg Printing – Mary Meeker’s Internet Trends Report – 36 Days of Type – This Week in Printing History

Published June 1, 2018

California experiments with E Ink-based license plates. Mary Meeker’s hotly anticipated annual Internet trends presentation has arrived. The first “cyberattack” took place nearly 200 years ago. A beautiful and brilliant collection of crowdsourced letter and number designs. ANA Acquires DMA. What happened this week in printing and publishing history. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Roland Is Looking for Heroes

Published June 1, 2018

At FESPA Berlin, Gillian Montanaro, Head of Marketing for EMEA Roland, talks about the launch of the Roland Hero Campaign, in which Roland collects and presents their customers' inspiring stories. (For more information, visit www.rolandhero.com.)

Frank Thinks Around the Outside of the Box

Published June 1, 2018

A visitor to the Museum of Printing donated an old, handheld rotary letterpress device for marking boxes and cartons. Frank dates it back to the early 20th century, and contrasts it with a modern, handheld digital inkjet box-marking printer.

Dacar Digital Printing Purchases 100th EFI Roll-to-Roll Device

Published May 31, 2018

At FESPA 2018, EFI sold its 100th roll-to-roll device to Belgium's Dacar Digital Printing. Dacar's Dennis van der Lingen talks about his wide-format printing company that serves the Benelux region, talks about the kind of print work the company does, and the opportunities that are enabled by EFI products.

Lectra Launches Cutting 4.0, A New Platform for Textile Cutting

Published May 31, 2018

Frederic Gaillard, VP of Product Marketing for Lectra, talks to Cary Sherburne about Cutting 4.0, Lectra's new smart cutter for textile cutting that interfaces with Lectra Digital Cutting, a new cloud-based cutting platform. The machine receives orders and executes them, and sends back data so the entire process can be controlled in real time. The platform is designed to address the new challenges the company sees in the market, such as small runs and customization. The new platform also includes a fabric library.

Lighting and Color in Retail Spaces

Published May 30, 2018

Ann Laidlaw, Consultant for ACL Color Consulting LLC, talks to Cary Sherburne about how ambient lighting impacts our perception of color—an important consideration in retail environments where the lighting under which a consumer views a garment may be different from that under which the garment was manufactured. Compounding the problem is the latest trend toward LED lighting (of which there are many different kinds) in retail stores, which can impact how a particular colored garment is perceived.

When Launching a Business or a Product, Don’t Skimp on Marketing

Published May 30, 2018

Mark Abramson, President of Printform Corporation, talks about his experiences in starting a business that produces specialty-printed products, as well as his efforts in helping other entrepreneurs launch wide-format, industrial, and other specialty products. He shares some pieces of advice for success, a key one being to invest at least as much in marketing as in any other part of the business.

Streamlining and Automating On-Demand Textile Production

Published May 29, 2018

Kirby Best, President and CEO of Purchase Activated Apparel Technologies (PAAT), talks about one of the biggest challenges he found in the analog-to-digital transformation of textile printing: the difficulty of feeding information to the production equipment. To realize all the advantage of on-demand production, all the systems within the operation need to be in sync and "talking" to each other. He talks to Cary Sherburne about how PAAT overcame that challenge.

EFI's Inkjet Philosophy

Published May 29, 2018

Josh Samuel, Director of Ink Development at EFI, talks to David Zwang about EFI's inkjet philosophy: helping companies and even entire industries make a seamless transformation from analog to digital. EFI offers the machines, the inks, and the software as a larger system to help customers make that transformation.

Inside FESPA 2018's Print Make Wear "Fast Fashion" Microfactory

Published May 25, 2018

Debbie McKeegan, Textile Ambassador for FESPA 2018, walks us through the Print Make Wear microfactory and demonstrates the process of textile printing from beginning to end.

Around the Web: Investing in the Swamp – The Quest for Red Pigment – Scented Postage – The Retail Apocalypse Deferred – Blockchain and Digital Signage – Towel Day

Published May 25, 2018

Investing in companies by how much they spend on lobbying. Searching for a safe, bright red pigment. Making your mail smell like popsicles. Exaggerating the death of retail. All that and more in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Product and Technology Changes Afoot at Xeikon

Published May 24, 2018

At the recent Xeikon Café, Filip Weymans, Vice President of Marketing for Xeikon, discusses some recent technology and product changes that customers can look forward to, from the addition of dry toner and UV inkjet to a complete digital technology upgrade.

SEAMS: The Voice of the Sewn Products Industry

Published May 24, 2018

At this week's TechTextil, Will Duncan, Executive Director of SEAMS, talks about SEAMS which, for 50 years, has been the "voice" of the U.S. sewn products industry. Members include brands and retailers, as well as the textile supply sector. "Made in America" is the association's main initiative.

New 3D Hologram Solution for Label and Packaging Security

Published May 23, 2018

Matt Hirsch Ph.D., Co-Founder and CTO of Lumii, talks to David Zwang about a new solution for label and packaging security that allows 2D printers and presses generate holographic 3D effects. Using proprietary algorithms and Terascale computing, the Lumii Light Field Engine calculates the exact patterns for a duplex print from a single image to create a visual 3D object from a 2D pattern.

Techtextil 2018: New Technologies—and Challenges—for Textile Printing

Published May 23, 2018

Brian Francois, Executive Vice President of AATCC, discusses the analog-to-digital transformation in textile printing, and identifies such emerging challenges as wearable technology and developing and implementing color standards for LED lighting.

From Concept to Creation—Dover Digital Printing’s Microfactory Streamlines Digital Textile Production

Published May 22, 2018

Sebastien Hanssens, Vice President of Marketing and Communication for Dover Digital Printing, talks about the “microfactory” concept of on-demand digital garment printing, which Dover Digital Printing was demonstrating at FESPA 2018. “The Sports Factory” showcased customized athletic jersey printing from online ordering to printing and sewing.

EFI's New H Series Set to Launch This Summer

Published May 21, 2018

Ken Hanulec, Vice President of Marketing, Inkjet Solutions for EFI, talks about the company's new H Series at FESPA 2018 in Berlin. This new hybrid printer, targeted at the mid-range market, is capable of printing on both rigid and flexible substrates.

Wade Neff Offers an Inkjet Reality Check

Published May 21, 2018

At the InPrint Industrial Inkjet Conference, Wade Neff, Strategic Business Unity Manager for Strategic Factory, discusses how inkjet printing is not the solution for every application, and that print service providers need to understand, and be able to communicate to customers, both the advantages and limitations of inkjet technology.

HP PageWide Technology Changes the Food Packaging Industry

Published May 18, 2018

This week at FESPA 2018, HP launched two new PageWide presses for ultra-high-volume digital corrugated printing. David Murphy, Worldwide Director of Marketing & Business Development–HP PageWide Industrial Division, describes the Digital Corrugated Experience at FESPA 2018. and how HP's PageWide technology has versatility and adaptability for uses in consumer, electronics, and food and beverage packaging.

Around the Web: Digital ad Revenue - Digitally Colored Embroidery - Media Consumption Habits

Published May 18, 2018

Digital ad revenue, digitally colored embroidery, and curbing your media consumption. All that and more this week in WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany.

Massivit Launches New Entry-Level 3DPrinter

Published May 17, 2018

Kevin M. Sykes, North American President of Massivit 3D, talks about the new Massivit 1500 "Exploration" 3D printer, which allows users to pursue 3D printing at a lower price point than the company's flagship product. Sykes also discusses the opportunities to be had in 3D printing.

UV LED Looks to the Future

Published May 15, 2018

Pamela Lee, Senior Product Manager for Excelitas Technologies, discusses UV LED technology vs. traditional UV curing in terms of performance, cost, and environmental benefits in a variety of commercial and industrial applications.

Digital Printing Hits a Wall. And the Floor. And Your Sofa.

Published May 14, 2018

Rachel Nunziata, Product Development Manager for 4Walls, talks about the design process for digital décor. 4Walls designs and prints wallcoverings and a wide variety of other materials, handling the process all the way from design through production.

Around the Web - Recommended Reading from the WhatTheyThink Team

Published May 11, 2018

Blockchain, Buffett, and blurring boundaries. Silk and sneakers. One space or two? WhatTheyThink’s new regular Friday feature, Around the Web, presents a miscellany of random news items that caught the attention of our contributors this week. Read on for more.

From Craft Beer to Soda, Printers Need a "Can"-Do Mentality

Published May 9, 2018

At the InPrint Industrial Printing Show in Chicago, Jim Lambert, VP of Digital Sales for INX International, talks about digital direct-to-can printing, a technology that gives beverage makers flexibility in both design and volume, and the ability to adapt to changing consumer trends and tastes.

IT Strategies' Mark Hanley Offers Insight on Industrial Printing

Published May 7, 2018

Mark Hanley, President of IT Strategies, Inc., discusses industrial printing and how print providers can navigate the variety of "industrial" markets, from packaging to direct-to-shape, and determine areas of emerging growth.

Education Partnerships at Printing Industry Midwest Helps Students Explore Jobs in Print

Published April 30, 2018

Nick Gawreluk talks to Kris Davis of Printing Industry Midwest (PIMW) about its education programs to help students explore job opportunities in print. For the past the 10 years, PIMW has provided financial support to PIMW members to help bring summer interns into printing companies.

Graphic Design, Marketing, and Print Come Together on Dscoop.com

Published April 25, 2018

Vicki Strull, graphic designer and brand consultant, helps brands increase consumer engagement, build brand loyalty, and drive purchase intent. Strull addresses the gap among design, print, and the marketing community by educating these three stakeholders in the understanding of each industry.

Bringing the Global Printing Community Together on Dscoop.com

Published April 24, 2018

Julian Marsh is Director of Commercial Printing at District Photo, an online digital print business that produces a large range of photo products. Julian is the Global Chairman of Dscoop, and helped launch the new Dscoop.com platform to facilitate year-round collaboration and networking within the Dscoop community.

Tharstern's Approach to MIS and Business Intelligence

Published April 23, 2018

Matt Miloszewski, Business Development Manager at Tharstern, talks about Tharstern's approach to MIS and managing operational data within print operations. Tharstern has over 700 installations globally.

Digipix Invests in HP Indigo To Support Growing Print Business

Published April 4, 2018

Digipix, a photo products company based in Sao-Paulo, Brazil recently installed the HP Indigo 12000 HD Digital Press to support its growing photo products business. Marco Perlman, Digipix founder and CEO, spoke with WhatTheyThink about his business and its recent investment in the HP Indigo 12000 HD Digital Press.

Dscoop from Annual Event to Networking Platform

Published April 3, 2018

WhatTheyThink spoke to Keith Wilmot, CEO of DSCOOP at the DSCOOP 18 conference. Under Wilmot's leadership the organization has embarked on transiting DSCOOP from a once per a year conference to a networking platform at dscoop.com

USPS Challenge: “Hidden Message” Special Effects Screen Printing with Flash-Activated Photochromatic Ink

Published March 22, 2018

In the hunt for new print techniques and technologies for mail, Trish leads us to H&H Graphics in Chicago for a photochromatic ink technology that is designed to work in conjunction with the camera on your smartphone

Julie Shaffer Discusses the Importance of Education at the Association for Print Technologies

Published March 2, 2018

Julie Shaffer, Associate VP of Program and Community Development at the Association for Print Technologies, talks to Gina Testa about why she decided to join the team at the new association and her passion for education and bringing new people into the printing industry.

APTech’s Kelly Kilga Shares Expectations and Education Opportunities the Print 18 Event

Published March 2, 2018

Kelly Kilga, VP Meetings & Events at the Association for Print Technologies (formerly NPES) lays the foundation for expectations and education at APTech’s signature annual event, PRINT®, coming September 30 - October 2, 2018 to Chicago’s McCormick Place.

Print Business Outlook Survey: Areas of interest in new print-related applications

Published February 28, 2018

WhatTheyThink surveyed printing business owners and executives: "What are your areas of interest in new print-related applications."

Print Business Outlook Survey: Which of the following investment items have you budgeted for and plan to acquire in the next 12 months?

Published February 20, 2018

WhatTheyThink surveyed printing business owners and executives: "Which of the following investment items have you budgeted for and plan to acquire in the next 12 months?"

Print Business Outlook Survey: In the next 12 months, which of the following will be your biggest business opportunities?

Published February 15, 2018

WhatTheyThink surveyed printing business owners and executives: "In the next 12 months, which of the following will be your biggest business opportunities?"

Mark Hischar talks about the APTech Rebranding Initiative and Print 18

Published February 15, 2018

Mark Hischar, President and CEO of KBA North America and Chairman of the Association for Print Technologies talks about the Association’s rebranding initiative and the upcoming Print 18 event.

Print Business Outlook Survey: In the next 12 months, which of the following will be your biggest business challenges?

Published February 5, 2018

WhatTheyThink surveyed printing business owners and executives: "In the next 12 months, which of the following will be your biggest business challenges?"

Industry Press and Analysts React to Fujifilm Xerox Deal

Published February 1, 2018

Xerox and Fujifilm announced a deal to combine Xerox and the Fuji Xerox joint venture into a single company called Fuji Xerox. Industry Analysts share their reaction to the deal.

EFI's Frank Mallozzi on Textile Portfolio and Strategy

Published January 29, 2018

EFI is going into its third year with the Reggiani portfolio of fabric printing equipment. EFI has recently brought new products to its textile portfolio to ease the transition into digital production including the EFI Reggiani VOGUE and EFI Reggiani ReNOIR FLEXY.

PIA's Color Conference Is the Go-to to Increase Color Knowledge

Published January 23, 2018

PIA’s Color Conference grew attendance by about 30% compared to 2017, with 25% of attendees representing the brand/design community. For anyone with a color-critical role, this is an excellent venue to increase color knowledge, network with peers, and have in-depth in-person conversations with conference sponsors about solutions that can assist with specific challenges.

You Might Be Ready for the Cloud If...(Part 4)

Published January 19, 2018

Are you ready for a cloud migration? Here is the fourth and final post in a four-part series on "cloud readiness" criteria put together by experts.

You Might Be Ready for the Cloud If . . . (Part 3)

Published January 12, 2018

Are you ready for a cloud migration? Here is the third in a four-part series of posts on criteria put together by experts.

Got Inkjet? Learn How to Evaluate, Optimize, and Grow It with Inkjet Insight

Published December 14, 2017

Elizabeth Gooding, President of Inkjet Insight, talks about the new venture and the ways it can help inform those serious about inkjet about both devices, paper, software, and other equipment. The site brings a lot of information together in an easy to use way and Elizabeth highlights them.

The Advantages of Energy Curing Technologies for Package Printing

Published December 12, 2017

David Biro, Director of Paste Screen and Industrial Inks for Sun Chemical discusses the movement toward energy curing and the advantages associated with this type of curing for packaging applications. He also talks about some of the challenges associated with this kind of curing.

How Digital Technologies are Impacting Package Printing with New Embellishment Tools

Published December 11, 2017

Jeff Peterson, President of FSEA, gives an overview of the association and how it serves members through their Odyssey show, magazine, and webinar events. He also discusses how new digital technologies like MGI and Scodix take specialty effects to the next level as well as a new study done in conjunction with Clemson University that showcases how end users tend to see embellished print first over standard package printing.

How Investing in Workflow Can Help Your Bottomline

Published December 7, 2017

Pat McGrew, Director of Production Workflow Service at Keypoint Intelligence - InfoTrends, talks about how workflow is often underfunded in a printing operation and how proper investment and strategy can increase profits.

The Cloud Lets Printers Go Computer Agnostic

Published December 5, 2017

When we think about the cloud, we think about benefits such as anytime, anywhere access, cost savings from the elimination of servers, and automatic updates. But there is one benefit that many people don’t think about—computer agnosticism.

SAi Drives Sign Making Demand Online using sign.com

Published December 4, 2017

Dean Durhak, Product Manager at SAi talks about their FlexiSign Software and also sign.com, a consumer facing application that drives sign making demand online and routes jobs directly to the nearest production facility.

Overview of the USPS Informed Delivery Program

Published November 30, 2017

Matt Swain, Group Director at Keypoint Intelligence - InfoTrends talks about the benefits for consumers and marketers of the USPS Informed Delivery program.

Collaboration: The Low-Hanging Fruit of Cloud Migration

Published November 29, 2017

Whether it’s for administrative, production, or marketing initiatives, the cloud brings significant benefits to businesses of all sizes. One of those benefits, and one that is the easiest to implement, is collaboration. Let’s take a closer look at this low-hanging fruit from the cloud.

How Consumer Demand Drives Change in Ink Technologies for Packaging Print

Published November 29, 2017

Matt Ellison, Senior Ink Chemist at Dart, talks about the importance of the ability to recycle and low migration ink given their focus on disposable packaging products. He also discusses the changing nature of inks in the print for packaging industry.

Developing the Next Generation of Packaging

Published November 27, 2017

Todd Fayne Principal Engineer at PepsiCo talks about major trends affecting consumer packaged goods and the technical considerations required for next generation packaging that includes interactivity, functional advancements, and other consumer focused features.

Inkjet Head Technology Innovation at Konica Minolta Opens Up New Applications

Published November 22, 2017

Gavin Jordan-Smith Vice President, Industrial Print and Graphic Communications at Konica Minolta provides an update on Konica Minolta lastest advancements in inkjet head technology and new applications these advancements are enabling in industrial and commercial printing.

Graphic Arts Alliance Helped Modern Litho Save Money

Published November 21, 2017

Darrell Moore, President at Modern Litho, talks about his printing business and how he's saving money through the Graphic Arts Alliance purchasing cooperative.

PrintIQ's Approach to MIS and Workflow

Published November 16, 2017

Mick Rowan (Director) and Adrian Fleming (Sales Director) at PrintIQ share their vision and approach to a cloud based management workflow system that goes beyond traditional MIS.

Benefits of Belonging to a Purchasing Cooperative

Published November 15, 2017

John Braceland of Graphic Arts Alliance talks about the member-run purchasing cooperative and how it helps printing companies increase buying power and save money on equipment and supplies.

Ricoh Introduces Ricoh Pro T7210 at SGIA

Published November 13, 2017

Dan Johansen, Marketing Manager at Ricoh, talks about their new Ricoh Pro T7210 flatbed device shown at SGIA. With new ink development, this device is able to produce custom graphics with a large diversity of substrates.

Canon Opens Up New Markets with Wide Format Offerings

Published November 9, 2017

Randy Paar, Marketing Manager for Large Format at Canon Solutions America, talks about flatbed printers and the ability to print on different substrates and opening up the possibilities to enter the packaging market as well. He also discusses their High Flow Vacuum configuration which allows printers to enter these new markets.

MGX Copy Approach to Production, Software Development, and Recruiting Tech Workers

Published November 8, 2017

Lawrence Chou at San Diego-based MGX Copy LLC talks about the company's recent expansion into a East Coast facility, their approach to in-house print software development, and attracting tech workers to the printing industry.

Defining Cloud Production for Printers

Published November 7, 2017

Cloud production doesn’t have to be complicated. A simplified definition, along with three ways to use the cloud for business, change the conversation from “why should I?” to “what’s the big deal?”

Update on Unified Océ Product Strategy from Christian Unterberger

Published November 7, 2017

Christian Unterberger, CMO & EVP of Production Printing Products at Océ talks about unification of product development and what that means for Canon's continous feed and sheetfed production printing products. Unterberger hints at the development of a packaging solution.

RadTech Hosts First Printing and Packaging Conference in Philadelphia

Published November 6, 2017

Lisa Fine, President of RadTech, joins us from their first Printing & Packaging Conference in Philadelphia to talk about the great interest generated along with a brief overview of some of the content offered to attendees of the event.

Lexington's Copy Express Leverages New RMGT 9 Press for Versatility

Published November 2, 2017

Mark Hicks, President at Copy Express in Lexington, Kentucky, joins us from a customer open house event to talk about his production environment and their acquisition of a new RMGT 9 offset press.

Copy Express in Lexington Kentucky Invests in CRON-ECRM for Speed and Efficiency

Published November 2, 2017

Copy Express President Mark Hicks and Prepress operator Allen Wallace talk to us from a recent open house about how they have invested in a new system from CRON-ECRM and the impact it is having on their business.

Production Inkjet Transition at Merrill Corporation

Published November 1, 2017

Pat Foley, Senior Vice President Operations at Merrill Corporation, talks about adopting production inkjet within its operations. Merrill has had 3 phases of inkjet implementations within its operations to address customer applications, offset-to-inkjet, and toner-to-inkjet.

Brian Dollard on Ricoh's Commercial and Industrial Print Strategy

Published October 30, 2017

Brian Dollard, Director of Strategic Planning and Business Development, at Ricoh talks about Ricoh's strategy with the company's newly formed organization that focuses on commercial and industrial printing.

The Cloud: Speeding Receivables for Printers

Published October 26, 2017

Two printer case studies on speeding receivables show another way that cloud business can save print shops money.

NextPage CEO Gina Danner on Industry Recruiting

Published October 25, 2017

NextPage CEO Gina Danner talks about recruiting the next generation of works to join the industry. As the industry continues its transformation there is a need for workers beyond traditional production jobs. Danner shares her insight on staffing at her company.

John Mashia President and COO at IMS Direct talks about Toner to Inkjet Transition

Published October 24, 2017

IMS Direct a provider of critical communications has started to transition from toner to production inkjet with an investment in the Canon Océ i300 sheetfed device. Productivity and uptime is critical factor to meet customer delivery schedules.

PGSF Scholarship Recipient Colby Kibbe Talks About Finding a Career in the Industry

Published October 19, 2017

Colby Kibbe a PGSF scholarship recipient and now a Project Manager at EFI talks about what drew him to the industry. Scholarship and internship programs influenced his interest and growth in the industry.

Bookmasters Turns to Digital and Production Inkjet for Its Book Printing Ops

Published October 18, 2017

Ken Fultz General Manager at Bookmasters talks about how production inkjet printing is changing book production. Bookmasters has gone through three transitions offset to digital toner to production inkjet. Hear their story.

Professor Erica Walker on Guiding Students into Careers in Print

Published October 17, 2017

Dr. Erica Walker an Assistant Professor in the Department of Graphic Communications at Clemson University talks about attracting students to the industry and helping them match career goals with different training and education levels.

"Have You Heard the Cover"

Published October 16, 2017

Dr. Joe Webb and Richard Romano talk about the production of a special edition of their new book The Third Wave that included interactive print elements.

Debunking the Top 10 Cloud Myths

Published October 12, 2017

Cloud experts Slava Apel and Joseph W. Webb, Ph.D., debunk the top 10 myths about moving to cloud-based production and business workflow.

NPES President Thayer Long on Implementing its 2020 Strategic Plan

Published October 12, 2017

Earlier this year NPES announced a strategic business plan with an ambitious new direction. WhatTheyThink spoke with Thayer Long to talk about its implementation and some the initial programs coming from the plan. These include a new data analysis platform and a partnership with the CMO Council to create a resource for brand marketers call the Brand Inspiration Center.

Darwill Continues its Inkjet Journey with Océ ProStream 1000

Published October 12, 2017

Chicago-based Darwill will be the first US company to install the Océ ProStream 1000. The company selected the ProStream to fulfill customer demand for high quality color applications on coated stock. Mark Deboer talks about how critical it is to have networking and peer education at events like thINK have helped them get up to speed on the evolving production inkjet ecosystem.

Single Pass Document Security in a White Paper Factory

Published October 12, 2017

Chief Technology Officer and Founder of Arcis Solutions talks about single pass document security that can be added to a production print white paper factory.

Inkjet Paper is a Focus Area at Lindenmeyr Munroe

Published October 12, 2017

Wes Clayton at Lindenmeyr Munroe talks about paper for production inkjet and how inkjet device advancements are increasingly producing high quality output on both coated and uncoated stocks.

SGIA President Ford Bowers on Print United Announcement

Published October 11, 2017

Ford Bowers, President of SGIA, talks to WhatTheyThink about the announcement that they'll retire the SGIA Expo brand after 2018 and launch a new show called Print United in 2019 in cooperation with NAPCO.

Canon Solutions America Product and Market Strategy

Published October 10, 2017

During the Océ ProStream US launch and thINK forum kickoff, Francis McMahon Senior Vice President at Canon Solutions America, shared recent management changes and the company’s product and market strategy. In 2018 the company will launch its B2+ production inkjet system as it continues to bring systems to market for the commercial printing segment of the industry.

Print and Paper Packs a Punch in a Digital World

Published October 5, 2017

WhatTheyThink spoke with Phil Riebel, President of Two Sides North America, about recent initiatives at the print advocacy organization. These include advertising outreach in consumer media and a recently completed survey of over 10,700 consumers on media preferences. The results reveal a strong preference for print when it comes to recreational reading with 72% of global respondents indicating they prefer printed books, compared to only 9% preferring e-books.

The Journey of the Job

Published October 3, 2017

EFI's Nick Benkovich at talks about "The Journal of the Job" a narrative that explores the connected events and systems involved in print production.

Quadient Launches with Integrated Approach to Customer Experience

Published October 2, 2017

WhatTheyThink spoke with Rob Daleman, VP Corporate Marketing at Quadient about the company's strategy and product portfolio after the integration of GMC Software, Human Inference and Satori Software is announced at the beginning of September.

Printing Industries Alliance Launches Print Drives America Initiative

Published September 26, 2017

The Printing Industries Alliance has launched a new initiative that aims to increase the market share of print. WhatTheyThink talked to Tim Freeman, president of the Printing Industries Alliance, and Marty Maloney, Executive Director of the Print Drives America Foundation about the goals of this initiative and how this effort is different from previous advocacy efforts.

Cloud Production in the Printing Industry

Published September 25, 2017

Frank Romano talks to Dr. Joe Webb and Slava Apel about their new book on using the cloud in your print business.

PGSF Launches New Campaign to Inform Student about Careers in Graphic Communications

Published September 21, 2017

The Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF) has launched a new campaign that includes a poster and brochures that show students various career paths in graphic communications. Dr. Joe Webb talks with John Berthelsen, VP of Development about the campaign. Watch to learn more about how you can get involved.

Print 17: "best show in recent years" but "our work is not done"

Published September 18, 2017

WhatTheyThink sat down with NPES President Thayer Long at the end of Print 17 to talk about what worked with the changes to the Print show and the evolution of graphic communication trade shows in the US.

RMGT 9 Series 8 Color Perfecting Press Live at PRINT 17

Published September 13, 2017

RMGT is running its 9 Series perfecting press live at PRINT 17. Chris Manley, President of Graphco, talks about bringing heavy iron to the show and recent customer placements.

Canon Updates PRISMAsync Color Print Server with Enhanced Workflow and Analytics Capabilities

Published September 12, 2017

Bob Barbera, Senior Manager Marketing at Canon USA, talks about the latest release of its PRISMAsync Color Print Server. The debut PRISMAsync Print Server v5.2 is at PRINT 17.

Print17 Day 2 Show Floor Opening

Published September 12, 2017

A time lapse of the show floor opening on day 2 of Print17 showing the buildup of people waiting to get on to the show floor and the release when the show opens at 10am.

Xerox and Fujifilm Expand North American Reseller Partnership to Include Collective Inkjet Portfolios

Published September 12, 2017

Todd Zimmerman (Division President at Fujifilm) and Andrew Copley (Head of Graphic Communication at Xerox) discuss the details around the recently announced expansion of their reseller partnership.

CHILI Publish at Print 17

Published September 11, 2017

Live at Print 17: Kevin Goeminne, CEO of CHILI Publish talks the latest products announcements, partnerships, and continued expansion in the US market.

Canon's Mal Baboyian talks about Print 17 and Canon's Exhibit

Published September 11, 2017

Mal Baboyian of Canon U.S.A talks about the portfolio of products and solutions that Canon has on display at Print 17.

Canon Launches the Océ VarioPrint 6000 TITAN at Print 17

Published September 11, 2017

At Print 17 Canon announced the Océ VarioPrint 6000 TITAN. Jennifer Kolloczek, Senior Manager, Product Planning & Marketing; Production Solutions Division at Canon USA talks about the Océ VarioPrint 6000 TITAN and Canon toner-based digital print portfolio.

Frank: Xeikon Roll-fed Digital Press 25th Anniversary

Published August 11, 2017

We are coming up on the 25th anniversary of the Xeikon roll-fed digital color printer. Frank shows some of the classic work done by this venerable machine, which is still helping printers worldwide to make money.

Zumbiel Packaging's Production Inkjet-Flexo Platform

Published July 25, 2017

Ed Zumbiel shares his thoughts on Zumbiel Packaging's exciting new digital-flexo hybrid packaging press for folding carton production. The press includes the first installation of Kodak PROSPER 6000S production inkjet press for folding cartons production.

Frank on Comic Books, Paper from Stone and Retail Waste

Published July 21, 2017

Frank opines about blank comic books going back to print, paper made from stone, and all the waste generated by online retail. These are not related, except in Frank’s warped mind.

Advancements in Workflow and Finishing for POP Displays

Published June 12, 2017

Richard Romano talks to George Folockman, Diretor of Business Development at Esko, about advancements in POP display workflow and finishing.

Pressroom Case Study: G7 Certification Process

Published June 7, 2017

Jeff Collins, National Color Solutions Manager at Konica Minolta, walks us through the G7 process. Idealliance and Konica Minolta recently teamed up with Spectrum Printing in Tucson, AZ to bring the G7 Master Facility Qualification to the printing company's offset and digital pressroom.

Frank: Judge a Book by its Covers

Published April 14, 2017

Frank uses a book authored by RIT student Akshat Pardiwala to demonstrate that the cover often makes the book. He shows two versions to make his case.

Core Publishing Solutions to Install a Hybrid Bindery Solution to Address a Wide Range of Short- and Long-Run Work

Published April 10, 2017

Steve Zweber, the Director of Manufacturing & Distribution Services at Thomson Reuters Core Publishing Solutions, talks about the company's diverse bindery operation and how its focus on continuous improvement has made much of its equipment short-run capable. That being said, the company is adding a new piece of equipment that can equally handle web offset and digital output. Hear the full story.

Global Graphics: Working to Support Industry Efficiency

Published March 27, 2017

Martin Bailey, CTO of Global Graphics, shares information the initiatives the company has underway to better support manufacturers of inkjet presses during the development process, as well as the company's role in conducting interoperability events around the launch of PDF 2.0 to ease its entry into the market.

Guy Gecht on the State of the Inkjet Business

Published March 27, 2017

Guy Gecht, EFI's CEO, discusses the state of the inkjet business, from signs and displays to packaging, building materials and textiles. He outlines the opportunities for printing businesses these emerging applications present. He points out that inkjet printers are opening the door to a plethora of specialty applications that can fuel business growth.

Once Again, Flexo Levels Up: an Interview with Kodak’s Chris Payne

Published March 14, 2017

One constant amidst the turmoil and transformation of Kodak in recent years has been the company’s intense focus on R&D for its flexographic printing technologies. To hear Chris Payne tell it, concentrating on flexo has yielded some of Kodak’s biggest strategic dividends in the aftermath of its emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2013.

HP's Eric Wiesner Explains New Addition to Production Inkjet Portfolio

Published March 1, 2017

At Hunkeler Innovationdays, HP announced the HP Pagewide T235HD, positioned as a more entry level device as compared to the Pagewide T240HD. General Manager of the HP Pagewide Industrial Division explains the difference and the strategy behind the product.

How to Leverage RIP Technology in a Hybrid Offset/Digital Workflow

Published February 27, 2017

Lou Prestia, Senior Product Line Manager at EFI, talks about the role a digital RIP plays in streamlining workflow for a hybrid offset/digital production platform. He describes the ideal hybrid workflow, recommending that the file be prepared for offset, using the digital RIP to convert the offset file to digital as needed. Get the full story.

A Look Inside the Kodak Booth at Hunkeler Innovationdays

Published February 22, 2017

Randy Vadagriff, VP of R&D for Enterprise Inkjet at Kodak, gives us an overview of the Kodak booth at Hunkeler Innovation Days. Featured are the Prosper S-Series Imprinting System, the Prosper 6000C Full Color Press, as well as Ultrastream technology unveiled at drupa.

Take a Tour of the Ricoh Booth at Hunkeler Innovation Days

Published February 21, 2017

Ricoh's Mike Herold, Eric Staples, Nick Fiore, and John Blyth take us on a tour of the Ricoh booth at Hunkeler Innovation Days. They discuss the VC60000, Pro C9110, and software solutions.

Production Inkjet Exceeds Expectations for Critical Content Solutions

Published February 1, 2017

Fred Van Alstyne, COO at Content Critical Solutions in New Jersey, serving the insurance, financial services and government markets, The company has been up and running with production inkjet since January 2014. "It was the best decision we ever made," he says.

How PIA and Idealliance Collaborate for the Benefit of the Industry

Published January 10, 2017

Tim Baechle, Director of Global Print Media Markets and Technologies at Idealliance, joins Senior Editor Cary Sherburne to discuss how Printing Industries of America and Idealliance collaborate for the benefit of the industry. He also discusses the DNA and mission of Idealliance as it pursues its global objectives. He also outlines a new program call Brand Q on which the two organizations are collaborating.

thINK 2016 Enters 2nd Year with Largest Education and Networking Event Focused on Inkjet Technology

Published October 11, 2016

Over 450 people are attending the thINK inkjet conference this week in Boca Raton, Florida. Dave Johannes, Senior Vice President, Operations at IWCO Direct and Eric Hawkinson, Senior Director of Marketing at Canon Solutions America talk about how the conference is structured to focus on peer-based education.

Missed Connection at Graph Expo

Published September 30, 2016

At Graph Expo we had a scheduling error. The result was so bad and so hilarious that we had to share it. We'll probably regret publishing this video later.

Ghent Workgroup Chairman David Zwang Provides Update on PDF Specifications for Packaging

Published September 21, 2016

David Zwang, Chairman of the Ghent Workgroup, talks about the role of PDF in packaging as it moves digital. The organization has developed a specification on its way to becoming an ISO standard that includes not only the file components but a standardized way to communicate embellishments and other aspects of packaging production to enable increased automation.

Mimaki's Josh Hope Discusses Mimaki's Products at SGIA

Published September 19, 2016

Josh Hope, Senior Manager, Industrial Printing, for Mimaki USA talks "live" from the SIA show floor about the company's current equipment portfolio of flatbed UV and dye-sub textile printers.

Commodity Printers: "They're Ruining the Business for the People Who Love It"

Published May 26, 2016

If a verbal broadside is what it will take to get the attention of a complacent printing industry, then a verbal broadside is what Warren Werbitt is prepared to deliver. Here, he asks why the industry doesn't do more to keep itself from being devalued by people who ought to be saluting printers for bringing "life to the world." He also wants to see more young people taking part both at the company level and at industry conferences and trade shows.

“Perfection” in Packaging: Nice, but Now What?

Published May 17, 2016

David Schawk (SKG Global) argues that because consumers are exposed to so many other influences, the pursuit of perfection in the look of packaging is no longer enough. Brand owners and packaging producers must learn to think of packages as “digital portals to non-linear consumer experiences.” He gives an example.

drupa 2016: see offset quality coating technology for digital printing ... and more

Published May 4, 2016

Nick Bruno, President of Harris & Bruno, shares some last-minute advice about attending drupa 2016, the premier printing show in the world. Planning to go? Don't forget to spend time with digital finishing solutions where lots of advances will be shown.

The History of Print and Paper, According to Mohawk

Published April 28, 2016

Chris Harrold, Vice President and Creative Director at Mohawk, talks about Mohawk's support for digital-friendly fine papers over the last 17 years and its recently expanded non-paper portfolio for wide format inkjet. He also explains the role of Mohawk's Print Innovation Center and gives examples of beautiful print that reflect the re-emergence of the importance of print.

The Dscoop Difference: Sharing, Giving and Getting

Published April 26, 2016

Mike Duggal, CEO of Duggal Visual Solutions in New York, and Conference Chair for Dscoop 11, talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about the Dscoop experience and what makes it different from other organizations. He shares a very personal experience as an example.

Adi Chinai On The Massive Paradigm Shift In Book Printing

Published April 21, 2016

Adi Chinai, Managing Director at King Printing, talks about the massive paradigm shift that has occurred in book printing. He states that in the last 10 years, there has been more change than in the previous 30 years with the advent of production inkjet and the software driving it, to a near-lights-out model

drupa 2016: There's something magical

Published April 18, 2016

Guy Gecht, EFI's CEO, talks about the importance of drupa 2016 for graphic arts professionals. He points out that for many trade shows, it is about what we have now, but drupa is about where the market is going. See all the vendors in one location, each with a different view of where the industry is going.

David Murphy on Jetcomm 2 - The HP PageWide Web Press User Community Conference

Published April 14, 2016

HP's David Murphy, Director of Marketing, PageWide Web Press talks to Cary Sherburne about Jetcomm 2 taking place this week in San Antonio, TX. Jetcomm is the user community of HP PageWide Web Presses. The community comes together once a year to share ideas, hear from experts on emerging trends, and network with their peers.

Dr. Joe’s Latest Favorite Things: Broken Windows, Stuffed Mattresses, Clocks, and Kings

Published April 14, 2016

This week's recommended reading and articles of interest to media and printing executives.

SGIA’s Marci Kinter on Sustainability

Published April 7, 2016

Richard Romano talks to SGIA’s Marci Kinter about the latest trends in sustainability, its growing importance, and how the print community can help brand owners meet their sustainability goals.

drupa 2016: The experience of a lifetime

Published April 6, 2016

Jim Hamilton, Group Director at InfoTrends, talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about what to expect at drupa 2016 and the importance of North American printers making the trip. "It's the experience of a lifetime," he says.

The 2016 WhatTheyThink Video Blooper Reel

Published April 1, 2016

Most of the time our interviewers, interview subjects, and videographers get it right. There are occasions, however, when things don't go quite as planned. Here's a look at the past year along with some of our favorite funny animations!

Mark Geeves of Color Logic on Specialty Color Management

Published March 30, 2016

Richard Romano talks to Mark Geeves of Color Logic and Touch 7 about how “one mouse click can change your life.”

John Puterbaugh on "Orchestrated Media" and the Role of Print

Published March 29, 2016

"Orchestrating" media means bringing the right channels together in successful marketing campaigns. John Puterbaugh, Ph.D., managing partner and chief digital officer of the BlueSoho division of QuadGraphics, explains how print enriches the mix by generating interest and engagement.

Ken Garner and David Steinhardt on the Idealliance-Epicomm Merger

Published March 28, 2016

At PRIMEX East 2016, Ken Garner and David Steinhardt talked about how the printing trade association Epicomm, under Garner's direction, came to a mutually beneficial merger with IDEAlliance, of which Steinhardt is CEO.

Graphic Vision Owner Don Brown on 26 Years in the Printing Business and Transition into Wide-Format Printing

Published March 23, 2016

Richard Romano talks to Don Brown, owner of Graphic Vision, on the company’s transition from commercial printing into wide-format printing.

PVS In-Store Graphics’ Wes Shinn on Specialty Printing

Published March 21, 2016

Richard Romano talks to Wes Shinn, Co-owner of PVS In-Store Graphics, on the wide range of specialty printing projects his company tackles, as well as and how PVS works with customers to produce highly unusual and unique applications.

Ricoh’s John Fulena on Wide-Format

Published March 14, 2016

Richard Romano talks to Ricoh VP John Fulena about Ricoh’s wide-format equipment and current trends in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) printing market.

Production inkjet enables more colorful Academic Planners at School Datebooks

Published March 10, 2016

School Datebooks serves 12,000 schools in 14 countries. Jeff Bapst, VP of Production, is getting great results with production inkjet for its academic planners, introducing more color and reducing the amount of offset printing required.

My Prints' Steven Moreno on Dye-Sublimation and Apparel Printing

Published March 9, 2016

Richard Romano talks to Steven Moreno, CEO of My Prints, on the company’s emphasis on apparel and costume printing, and the advantages and challenges of digital dye-sublimation textile printing.

MGX Copy runs a "dim the lights" online operation with digital print

Published March 7, 2016

Lawrence Chou, CEO of MGX Copy, an online commercial printer with 100% digital printing, talks about his "dim the lights" operation, rather than lights-out, and their focus on the customer experience. The company recently added 4 Ricoh PRO C9110 digital presses to its production platform and has aggressive future expansion plans.

The Future of Finishing at drupa 2016

Published March 2, 2016

Andy Fetherman, Director of Digital Solutions for Muller Martini, reports that the company will be in Hall 2 at drupa 2016 as well as a significant presence in other exhibitors' stands. He encourages printers to take the time to investigate the future of finishing at the show.

One-stop shopping a winning approach at The Arnold Group

Published March 1, 2016

Max Arnold, CEO of Berlin-based Arnold Group, talks about the growing demand for one-stop shopping across the media/print supply chain, and the importance of MIS solutions to effectively run the business.

4Q-2015 GDP Revised Up from +0.7% to +1.0%, But Not as Good as It Seems

Published March 1, 2016

The second estimate of fourth quarter GDP was revised up from +0.7% to +1.0%, mainly from an increase in net inventories. This factor in the GDP calculation is volatile, so we track GDP with and without it to get a perspective of the underlying GDP rate from a long term perspective in a year-to-year comparison.

Content Management as a Service For Publishers

Published February 29, 2016

Dick Ryan, VP of Sales & Marketing at Publishers Press, a web printer with 19 web offset and 4 digital presses, talks about solutions that fit into their workflow and that of their customers, including content management that does not require a siloed workflow and the future of inkjet for magazines.

Virginia-based GAM migrated from 100% offset to 100% digital

Published February 25, 2016

Nathaniel Grant, President of Graphics and Marketing (GAM), a Virginia-based family-owned business. talks about migrating from 100% offset to 100% digital. Their latest digital press uses white ink, adding significant capability.

Lions Club International Benefits from Digital Printing and Ricoh Professional Services

Published February 22, 2016

Jim Sinclair, Print Production Manager at Lions Club International, talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about the digital printing services he offers to the organization's 1.4 million members world wide. The shop is working with Ricoh Professional Services to expand print offerings to members and external organizations.

Fujifilm’s Terry Mitchell On the Latest in Production Inkjet

Published February 22, 2016

Richard Romano talks to Fujifilm’s Terry Mitchell about the company’s latest J Press Inkjet Presses and the current state of, and trends in, production inkjet.

The Importance of Business Workflow

Published February 17, 2016

A discussion of workflow optimization is typically very production-centric. In this video Jennifer Matt and Jane Mugford discuss business workflow and why business workflow should be settled first.

Konica Minolta and Z-Verse Partner to Make 3D Printing Easy

Published February 16, 2016

Gavin Jordan-Smith, Vice President at Konica Minolta, talks about its unique relationship with Z-Verse to deliver a service that turns 2D images into 3D objects -- a service that makes 3D printing easy. Simply upload a 2D image and it is automatically converted to a 3D file printed! How easy is that?

David Zwang on Production Inkjet Technology Updates

Published February 15, 2016

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne talks to WhatTheyThink Contributor David Zwang about what's new with production inkjet technology and what we will see at drupa 2016.

High Tech Commercial Printer Earth Color Continues Aggressive Technology Deployment Strategy

Published February 10, 2016

Cheryl Kahanec, EVP at Earth Color, a high-tech commercial printing company, talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about some if its more recent technology investments, including distribute/print/mail to save time and money while aligning in-home dates. Cheryl will head to drupa to investigate future investments in production inkjet and more.

Single-Pass Printing with Len Lauer, CEO of Memjet

Published February 9, 2016

Richard Romano talks with Len Lauer, Chairman and CEO of Memjet, on the advantages of single-pass printing, as well as the variety of Memjet-based single-pass devices on the market.

What to Expect at drupa 2016. Pack your bags!

Published February 8, 2016

KBA CEO and President of drupa Claus Bolza-Schunemann, shares how drupa 2016 is repositioning itself to address emerging market realities. More than 1500 exhibitors will be showing solutions and technologies across six different segments under the tagline Touch the Future. Start planning now!

Fixed Color Palette Printing Is Here

Published February 3, 2016

Ron Voigt, President of X-Rite Pantone, explains the importance of Pantone's recently launched Extended Color Gamut Guide, making fixed color palette printing (CMYK/OVG) more easily achievable. Fixed color palette printing saves time and money for brands and printers.

Two Sides President Phil Riebel on Sustainability of Print

Published February 3, 2016

Phil Riebel, President of Two Sides, speaks out about the sustainability of print and paper and the myth that electronic communications are more sustainable than print. He recommends life cycle assessments to get the true story about going electronic versus paper-based communications.

Color management: Where Are We Now?

Published February 2, 2016

Erica Aitken, President of Santa Cruz CA based Rods & Cones, talks about issues in color management and the importance of establishing a color managed workflow.

Xeikon Cheetah Brings Speed To Digital Label Printing

Published February 1, 2016

Wim Maes, Xeikon's CEO, talks Cheetah technology and the Xeikon CX3 high-speed, high quality digital label printer with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne: Cheetah AI ICE-based toner enables printing on heat-sensitive substrates. Cheetah is 60% faster than previous Xeikon engines. The goal: Raising the digital/flexo crossover point.

Standard Finishing Pleased with thINK Conference Participation

Published January 28, 2016

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Mark Hunt, Director of Strategic Alliances for Standard Finishing, about the value of partnering with thINK, the Canon production inkjet users group, and the importance of making early decisions about finishing solutions in the press purchasing process.

Production inkjet is Transforming Business for Access Direct

Published January 27, 2016

Lori Messina, EVP at Access Direct Systems, mils over a billion pieces of mail annually and is rapidly transitioning its business to production inkjet with 4 Canon ColorStream inkjet presses in one year, displacing 23 black & white toner presses. 70% to 80% customers are testing a move to inkjet.

EFI Deeply Invested in Packaging, According to Patrick Henry

Published January 26, 2016

WhatTheyThink's Patrick Henry and Cary Sherburne discuss EFI's strategies and accomplishments in the packaging industry, including labels, folding carton and corrugated with both printing and MIS/workflow solutions.

Think it's hard to get into 3D printing? Z-Verse says think again.

Published January 26, 2016

John Carrington, Co-Founder and CEO of Z-Verse, explains how printing companies can enter 3D printing with no investment or special expertise. Very interesting!

David Zwang Talks About EFI Workflow Accomplishments

Published January 21, 2016

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne talks with WhatTheyThink contributor David Zwang about EFI's holistic approach to workflow certifications, including the ability to integrate external components and the increase in professional services consulting from EFI Connect 2016.

Digimarc's Pinky Gonzales On Using Invisible Barcodes To Make Print Interactive

Published January 19, 2016

In Part 2 of our discussion, Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Digimarc Director of Marketing Pinky Gonzales about how the invisible Digimarc barcode uses color science to make print interactive and enable new revenue streams and adds value for customers, especially in the retail environment.

ARB Digital's Alvaro Rodriguez On His Printing Journey

Published January 19, 2016

Sacramento's ARB DIgital has carved out a niche offering a wide range of wide-format and specialty printing services. Company founder Alvaro Rodriguez talks with Richard Romano about his journey into the wide-format printing world—and the strangest substrate on which he's ever printed.

Invisible Barcodes: Improving Retail Front-Of-Store Efficiency

Published January 18, 2016

Pinky Gonzales, Director of Marketing at Digimarc, talks about how augmented reality increases the scope and value of print. He also discusses how invisible barcodes can reclaim the real estate now taken up by UPC codes.

What's The Latest On The Konica Minolta KM-1?

Published January 14, 2016

Gavin Jordan-Smith, VP of Solutions & Production Planning at Konica Minolta, shares the latest info on the KM-1 production sheetfed inkjet press developed in partnership with Komori. Key features: extremely high quality and productivity, no pretreatment of stocks, and suitable for commercial print and packaging applications. Due for commercialization in early 2016.

Harris & Bruno Brings Offset-Quality Coatings To Digital Print

Published January 14, 2016

Nick Bruno, President of Harris & Bruno, talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about the company's transformation from providing 90% of its products to the offset world, to a significant part of the business coming from digital, bringing offset-quality coatings to the world of digital print.

Lots Of Talk About Inkjet But There's Still Life In Toner, Says Xerox' Ragni Mehta

Published January 13, 2016

Ragni Mehta, VP and General Manager of the Xerox Cut-Sheet Business Team, shares her perspective on the future of toner-based digital print, especially for high value-add applications, including the value of adding a 5th color.

Fabian Prudhomme on the Latest Additions to Enfocus Switch

Published January 12, 2016

Enfocus Software VP Fabian Prudhomme talks with Richard Romano about new Switch Connectors specific to wide-format printing workflows, new partnerships, and new developments in automation software.

Driving Change at drupa 2016

Published December 17, 2015

Highcon's President Vic Stalam talks about the importance of drupa as a platform to launch next-generation products to drive change in the 100-year-old print finishing industry. He also encourages marketers and brand owners to take advantage of educational sessions in the drupa Cube.

KBA's Claus Bolza-Schünemann Bullish about Industry's Prospects

Published December 15, 2015

KBA's President & CEO, Claus Bolza-Schünemann talks about the state of KBA's business including 30% year-over-year growth and the exciting digital press for the corrugated industry in partnership with HP.

Taking GRACoL to the Next Level

Published December 14, 2015

Steve Bonoff, EVP at IDEAlliance, talks about a current project in partnership with Ryerson University to take GRACoL to the next level, better supporting current devices and processes and to publish specifications for an expanded color space.

Cj Graphics: Sharing Innovative Ideas With Designers

Published December 9, 2015

Jay Mandarino, President of CJ Graphics in Canada, continues his innovative approach by installing the first Highcon Euclid in Canada. He discusses how he used the Euclid to build a stunning cover for Design Edge, a magazine that goes to 11,000 designers across Canada.

New ISO Standard Allows A Common Global Color Language

Published December 3, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne talks with Steve Smiley of Smileycolor and Elie Khoury of Alwan Color Expertise about the importance and value of complying with ISO 15339 (Graphic technology -- Printing from digital data across multiple technologies), a new standard that includes a set of print definitions that can be used anywhere in the world and for any printing technology.

EFI's Charlotte Tueckmantel on Marketing Technology and New Business Models

Published December 3, 2015

Print Software Section Editor Jennifer Matt talks to Charlotte Tueckmantel, GM/VP, Web to Print and Value Added Products at EFI about trends in marketing technology and new business models in cross-media marketing.

Packaging As Part Of The Owned Media Platform

Published December 2, 2015

Aiden Tracey, CEO of SGS, a packaging premedia house, talks about consumers using smartphones to interact with intelligent packaging to help brands "own that moment" at the shelf and in the home. Start building for a future you believe will be there, he says.

Guy Gecht on the Imaging of Things

Published December 1, 2015

EFI's CEO Guy Gecht has a story to tell around the Imaging of Things. He shares his thoughts about broadening the concept of print beyond documents, to breathe new life into the printing industry. He also speaks about how being a Silicon Valley CEO has influenced his approach to the business.

Ricoh Americas Announces Formation of Ricoh Consulting Group

Published December 1, 2015

Brian Balow, Vice President, Professional Services for Ricoh Professional Services, talks about the company's new practice-based Consulting Group, including five different practice areas: Strategic Business Systems, Workflow Automation, Document Composition & Multi-channel Distribution, Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Services, and Color Management, including G7 certification services.

Making Print An Equal Internet Citizen

Published November 30, 2015

Hear from Eric Wiesner, VP and GM at HP, as he talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about the impact of digital display and mobile on print, and how we should be thinking about the role of print in this environment, with print becoming an equal Internet citizen. Check it out!

Highcon's Vic Stalam: Free Designers from the Constraints of the Past

Published November 25, 2015

Highcon's Vic Stalam shows unique digital finishing applications enabled by the Highcon Euclid, including a surprise proposal for Senior Editor Cary Sherburne. He also talks about the role of paper artist Peter Dahmen in helping unshackle designers from the constraints of the past.

Fast-Turnaround Production Of Church Bulletins Benefits From Production Inkjet

Published November 25, 2015

Liturgical Publications is leveraging production inkjet as an offset replacement technology for its church bulletin publishing business. Hear what Ken Shanovich, Operations Manager, has to say about this transition.

Dave Hunter of Pilot Marketing: The Value of Closed Loop Color Management

Published November 24, 2015

Dave Hunter of Pilot Marketing talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about the value of closed-loop color management, replacing the manual color management process many press operators have traditionally used. Makeready reduced from hours to minutes!

Marketing: Micro To Mega And More. Exploring What Marketers Want.

Published November 23, 2015

InfoTrends Group Director Jim Hamilton talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about upcoming research the firm will be publishing. These include exploring needs of marketers, digital packaging workflow, document outsourcing and more.

Steve Kirchof from Labels in Motion on Digital Label Printing

Published November 19, 2015

WhatTheyThink's Pat Henry talks to Steve Kirchof, VP at Labels in Motion about using digital printing technology to produce labels and packaging.

Mark Hahn on a Notable M&A Transaction

Published November 19, 2015

Mark Hahn, Managing Director at Graphic Arts Advisors talks about a notable M&A transaction in the printing and publishing industry in 2015.

Dr. Mark Bohan Talks About The Value Of Drupa

Published November 18, 2015

Dr. Mark Bohan, VP of Technologies and Research for the Printing Industries of America, encourages North American printing professionals to leverage drupa 2016 as a launching pad for planning of future strategies with advice as to how they should prepare in advance to make their time at the show productive.

Pazazz Printing Achieves Pantone Certification Across Digital and Offset

Published November 18, 2015

WhatTheyThink's Adam Dewitz talks to Warren Werbitt, Founder and Chief Fisherman at Pazazz Printing. Pazazz recently achieved certification through the PANTONE Certified Printer Program. Warren talks about the market benefits of the program and how the program is opening doors to new business.

Tuning Communications To The Customer Life Cycle

Published November 17, 2015

Francis McMahon, Sr. Vice President of Marketing at Canon Solutions America, speaks about the changing role of print in the communications ecosystem and the importance of participating in communities, such as Primex West recently held in San Francisco.

Short-run Offset Made Easy at WholesalePocketFolder.com

Published November 16, 2015

Ty Blankenship from WholesalePocketFolder.com is joined by Chris Manley of RMGT to talk about how LED UV offset printing is bringing down the crossover point between offset and digital and introduces more flexibility into the product portfolio.

SCI Uses Production Inkjet To Help Advertisers Reach Individual Subscribers

Published November 12, 2015

New Jersey based Strategic Content Imaging (SCI) has leveraged production inkjet printing to deliver innovative services to its publishing, healthcare and other clients. Hear what Dale Williams, Executive Vice President, has to say about their work with Hearst and others to deliver a personalized blend of advertising and direct mail for magazines.

Scodix: Going for the Gold in Digital Print Enhancement

Published November 11, 2015

Amit Schvartz, Vice President of Marketing at Scodix, explains the range of digital print enhancements Scodix now offers, including its most recent foiling solution. He explains how digital print enhancement can change the market and drive higher margins. He shows samples!

Magazine Publisher Printing More Copies Than Ever Before

Published November 10, 2015

Ron Epstein, publisher of L.A. Parent, augments the printed magazine with events and digital channels centered around education. Print volume for the magazine is growing. "The audience wouldn't even know us without the print magazine." Hear more.

SGIA's Michael Robertson on SGIA Expo Trends and Attendance

Published November 6, 2015

WhatTheyThink's Richard Romano talks to Michael Robertson, President & CEO at SGIA about SGIA Expo tends including growing attendance from commercial printers and sign makers.

SGIA's Dan Marx on SGIA Expo 2015

Published November 5, 2015

WhatTheyThink's Richard Romano talks to Dan Marx, VP Markets & Technology at SGIA about SGIA Expo 2015 taking place this week in in Atlanta, Georgia.

Jubels CEO Jeroen van Druenen on Peer Communities, Strategic Partnerships, Omni-Channel Communications

Published November 4, 2015

WhatTheyThink's Adam Dewitz talks to Jeroen van Druenen CEO of Jubels in the Netherlands about the benefits of being part of the Xerox Premier Partner community, the recent Partner Congress, Developing Strategic Partnerships with other Printers, and the role of print in omni-channel communications.

CRON-ECRM Brings New CTP Options to North America

Published November 3, 2015

Rick Black, CEO of CRON-ECRM, provides an update with respect to the joint venture and its progress in North America. CRON is the fastest growing CTP provider in the world, based in China.

Bennett Graphics Blends Offset And Digital For High Quality Print

Published November 3, 2015

Join Senior Editor Cary Sherburne and Bennett Graphics President David Bennett for an informative video discussion about how digital printing, including the company's HP Indigo 10000 Digital Press, and its G7 certifications have enabled a seamless hybrid production process that delivers exceptional customer value.

What To Expect With The HP Split

Published November 2, 2015

Eric Wiesner, VP and General Manager, PageWide Web Press, HP, shares an update on the Hewlett-Packard split into two separate companies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and HP. HP will consist of three divisions: PCs, 2D print and 3D print (the latter to be run by Steve Nigro).

Why Drupa 2016 Is Important To Hunkeler

Published November 2, 2015

Stefan Hunkeler, CEO of Hunkeler, shares his thoughts on the value of drupa 2016, as one of the most important events in the industry. Hunkeler plans new announcements even though it is only just over a year from its Hunkeler Innovationdays gala.

Fast Color And Excellent Document Quality With HP PageWide XL Technology

Published October 29, 2015

The HP PageWide XL 8000 Printer offers high quality at high printing speeds. Scalable to meet a wide range of application and performance requirements. In this video Jamie Sirois talks about this new product from HP.

Joe Duncan, SVP Leo Burnett: Using Print Differently

Published October 29, 2015

Leo Burnett has more print projects than ever before, although they are smaller. The challenge is linking print back to digital using data and finding the magic formula to make it all work to benefit the brand owner and the consumer.

Warren Werbitt of Pazzaz on Networking Within the Print Community

Published October 28, 2015

WhatTheyThink's Eric Vessels talks to Warren Werbitt, President and Fisherman of Montreal-based Pazazz at the recent Xerox Forum in Prague. Warren talks about the importance of networking, user groups and communities, and finding new business through collaboration.

Dscoop Implementing Significant Changes, Announces Conference Keynotes

Published October 27, 2015

Kathy Popovich, Dscoop's new North American Director, talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about how Dscoop is shifting its strategies to take the organization to the next level as it enters its second decade -- including featuring Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, as a keynote speaker at the April conference.

IDEAlliance Sees Growth in Print

Published October 22, 2015

David Steinhardt, President & CEO of IDEAlliance, speaks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about Idealliance's 50 years of serving the media supply chain by helping to increase efficiency of the supply chain, including the continuing importance of print and the marriage of print and digital. He also explains why it was important to recently hold a PRIMEX conference in San Francisco.

Mark Serbin on Print Marketing, Areas of Growth, Xerox Premier Partner Program

Published October 21, 2015

WhatTheyThink's Eric Vessels talks to Mark Serbin, President of Serbin Print Marketing and Publishing. Mark talks about his business, new areas of growth in marketing, and his recent attendance at the Xerox Forum as Xerox Premier Partner member.

DT Print Solutions: Real People Doing Real Things For Real People

Published October 20, 2015

Dan Thompson of Toronto-based DT Print Solutions tells the story of how his business was founded on an HP Indigo press, delivering high quality, fast turn work. The model has worked, and another HP Indigo press and wide format printing were recently added in a high touch, high quality service provider.

An Update on Kodak's Business from CEO Jeff Clarke

Published October 19, 2015

WhatTheyThink's Cary Sherburne talked to Kodak CEO Jeff Clarke during Graph Expo 2015 to find out what's new at Kodak, growth in its Sonora process free plates business, and what Kodak is working on in the area of functional printing for touchscreen panel manufacturing.

Jeroen van Druenen from Jubels on the Upcoming XMPie Users Group Conference

Published October 15, 2015

WhatTheyThink's Adam Dewitz talks to Jeroen van Druenen CEO of Jubels in the Netherlands and president of the XMPie Users Group about the upcoming XMPie Users Group Conference from Oct. 25-28 in Miami, FL. Topics at the conference: Print, Personalization, Multi-channel marketing, Marketing automation, and Digital media.

Pitney Bowes's Ben Matarese on Multichannel Communications

Published October 13, 2015

Pitney Bowes's Ben Matarese talks about multichannel document production using the Pitney Bowes EngageOne platform.

Crit Driessenon on Canon Océ's Strategy and Product Roadmap for Commercial Printing

Published October 8, 2015

WhatTheyThink's Adam Dewitz talks to Crit Driessen, VP Strategy and Alliances at Canon's Océ Printing Systems about the continous feed production inkjet strategy Canon has put in place to go after the commercial printing market.

B2B, B2C: It all works at Fulfillment America

Published October 6, 2015

Michael Byrne of Fulfillment America joins Senior Editor Cary Sherburne to talk about how HP SmartStream Production Center has helped the company manage its very complex business, ranging from traditional print on demand to B2C wedding invitations.

Pitney Bowes's John Kline Previews the Epic Inserting Solution

Published October 5, 2015

John Kline, VP of Global Solutions at Pitney Bowes previews the Epic Inserting Solution. The Epic Inserting Solution is a high speed letter processing solution for complex transactional processing.

Highlights from the Commercial Printing Business Days Hosted by Canon Océ

Published October 5, 2015

WhatTheyThink's Adam Dewitz talks with Christian Unterberger, Executive Vice President at Océ Printing Systems, a Canon Company, about the recent Commercial Printing Business Days held in Poing, Germany. Printers from around the world took part in the 3 day event to see the latest in continuous feed solutions from Canon Océ.

Ricoh: Planning to be at drupa 2016 in force!

Published October 1, 2015

Mike Herold, Director of Product Marketing for Inkjet for Ricoh, looks ahead to drupa 2016. Inkjet is mainstream, not promises and hope, and drupa will be the stage for new business drivers and business development on that will drive the technology forward.

OpenSoft's Degory Valentine on Must See 'em award at Graph Expo 2015

Published September 29, 2015

Degory Valentine, Vice-President and OpenSoft, explains the OpenSoft solutions that were recipients of the prestigious Must See 'em award at Graph Expo 2015. This included DaVinci in the order and sales entry category, and Scissorhands, automation for guillotine cutters. You may have seen the scary Scissorhands ladies at the show!

Xaar's Mark Alexander on the Adoption of Digital Printed Labels

Published September 29, 2015

WhatTheyThink's Pat Henry talks to Mark Alexander of Xaar on the adoption of digitally printed labels, what is holding adoption back, how production inkjet is changing the the outlook for digitally printed labels, and the future of direct to shape printing.

Magnum Magnetics Demonstrates Post-Print Magnetizer

Published September 25, 2015

Jim Cirigliano, Marketing Manager, Magnum Magnetics shares examples of their magnet products and demonstrates how its post-print magnetizer quickly creates a magnetized product.

FastSigns Offers Co-brand Franchise Opportunities at Graph Expo 2015

Published September 24, 2015

Catherine Monson, CEO of FastSigns, discusses their co-brand franchise program they exhibited at Graph Expo. Launched three years ago at the store, the program continues to be a success. Something new was their digital display signage.

For Labels & Packaging Converter FlexTech, Digital Differentiates

Published September 22, 2015

Ryan Chai, VP of Technology for FlexTech, talks about founding the company as a digital business. "Culturally, digital is in our DNA and our customers have responded well to that!" The company is considering acquisition of an HP Indigo 20000.

Pitney Bowes Showcases Accelejet Printing and Finishing System at Graph Expo 2015

Published September 21, 2015

Steve Coburn, Director of Production Print Management at Pitney Bowes, talks about the Accelejet Printing and Finishing system at Graph Expo 2015.

DST Investigates Migrating Cut Sheet Toner Printing to Sheet-Fed Inkjet

Published September 17, 2015

Naveed Choudhry, Manager of Production Operations for DST, speaks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about the company's experiences with production inkjet printing and his thoughts about the Canon Oce VarioPrint i300 sheetfed inkjet press to manage reprints, remakes and small jobs and to migrate more toner volume to inkjet.

Speeding Up The Variable Data Process At Bennett Graphics

Published September 16, 2015

Kevin Horsley, Prepress Manager at Bennett Graphics, talks about how the company used HP SmartStream Composer to reduce job prep time from 27 hours to 15 minutes for a job with 200,000 records.

Ralph Nappi on What's Happening at Graph Expo 2015

Published September 14, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne talks to Ralph Nappi, President of the Graphic Arts Show Company about Graph Expo 2015. What's at the show, expected turnout, and future Graph Expo events.

Darren Loken Shares His Experience Transitioning to Production Inkjet

Published September 9, 2015

Darren Loken, President of K&H Integrated Print Solutions in Everett, Washington talks about partnering with Canon Solutions America during the transition from toner-based digital printing to production inkjet. The transition from toner-based digital printing to production inkjet has allowed K&H Integrated Print Solutions to become more efficient across its printing and finishing operations.

Blooming Color Blooms into a New Future

Published September 8, 2015

Brian Scott, President of Blooming Color , talks about the company's transition from a Minuteman franchise into a hub-and-spoke commercial printer with offset, wide format and digital print. Demand is so high the firm is in the process of acquiring an HP Indigo 10000 to bridge offset and digital. The company's business is 70% digital.

Darrin Wilen on Direct Marketing, Changes at Wilen Direct, and Production Inkjet

Published September 3, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Darrin Wilen, President of the Wilen Group, a New York based direct marketing company about changes in direct marketing and recent changes to its Wilen Direct business.

Kodak's President of Enterprise Inkjet Systems, Phillip Cullimore, Looks Ahead to drupa 2016

Published September 1, 2015

Phillip Cullimore new President of Kodak's Enterprise Inkjet Systems, talk about what we might expect from Kodak at drupa 2016 ... more offset pages moving to digital, more focus on functional printing ... and more.

Xerox' Eric Bouet Sees Big Shift from Offset to Digital in Europe

Published August 31, 2015

Eric Bouet, SVP of Xerox Europe, joins Senior Editor Cary Sherburne to talk about the accelerating offset-to-digital transition in Europe, largely driven by advances in production inkjet technology and media for inkjet.

Is It a Package, or Is It a Warning Sign?

Published August 26, 2015

It’s impossible to take controversy out of certain kinds of products—or the packages they come in. More consumer-goods packaging is starting to feel the heat.

Changing Customer Needs Drive Production Changes In Weber's Label Manufacturing Business

Published August 25, 2015

Todd Peterson, Prime Label Production Manager at Chicago-based Weber, shares his thoughts with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about the role of HP Indigo digital printing in a flexo label manufacturing business.

The Sustainability Of Print

Published August 19, 2015

Kodak's Brad Kruchten explains why print should be considered as more sustainable than electronic communications.

Ricoh Americas SVP Tim Vellek on Ricoh's Latest Production Presses

Published August 17, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Ricoh Americas SVP Tim Vellek about Ricoh's presses launched in late 2014 and the benefits they bring to the market.

IWCO's Dave Johannes on Selecting the Lastest Canon Production Inkjet Technology

Published August 13, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne talks to Dave Johannes, Senior Vice President of Operation at IWCO about the company's recent installation of Canon's new generation of production inkjet plaftorms: the Océ ImageStream 3500 and the Océ VarioPrint i300.

No Apologies Digital Printing at Mel Media Group

Published August 11, 2015

August Grebinski, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Detroit's Mel Media Group finds great business demand for high quality digital printing and explains how their HP Indigo press is helping them meet that demand and maintain customer satisfaction levels.

Esko's Jan De Roeck on Packaging Trends

Published August 10, 2015

Jan De Roeck, Markering Manager for Esko, talks to Richard Romano at last June's Eskoworld about the growth of digital packaging and the trends driving it.

Paul Biernat Of Graphic Measures International Talks About The Importance Of Good Color Management

Published August 6, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Paul Biernat of GMI about the current state of color management, which often is monitored with ink density or "by eye" when the modern trends and standards call for using spectral management. He also talks about the ROI in terms of waste management and time savings when using a spectrophotometer.

Mark DeBoer on the Upcoming thINK Conference

Published August 4, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne talks to Mark DeBoer, Director of Customer Experience at Darwill about the upcoming thINK 2015 Conference for Canon Production Inkjet Customer.

Ken Shriber of Ditto on Unique Print Applications

Published August 3, 2015

Cary Sherburne talks to Ken Shriber, President at Ditto Document Solutions. Ken shares a unique digital print application they created for a local client to help that opened the door to do business with a national chain.

Ricoh's Tim Vellek on TotalFlow Path

Published July 27, 2015

Cary Sherburne spoke with Tim Vellek, SVP Marketing at Ricoh America on TotalFlow Path, an integration and automation software product that enables different applications to communicate in a single end-to-end workflow.

Paul Hudson CEO at Hudson Printing on Integrating Production Inkjet with Web Offset

Published July 22, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne talks to Paul Hudson, CEO at Hudson Printing in Salt Lake City, Utah about integrating HP production inkjet into its existing high volume web offset printing capabilities.

Esko's Udo Panenka at EskoWorld

Published July 20, 2015

Udo Panenka, President of Esko, talks to Richard Romano at last month's EskoWorld about the latest trends in packaging and wide-format, and Esko's role in those markets.

Strategies to Increase Valuation in a Commercial Printing Company

Published July 16, 2015

Mark Hahn Managing Director at Graphic Arts Advisors talks about strategies to increase valuation in a commercial printing company that is looking to sell.

20,000 personalized postcards overnight! Game Changer...

Published July 14, 2015

Chris Reine, Indigo Operations Manager at Louisiana-based Franklin Printing has seen many changes in his time with this 100-year-old company whose customers are in gaming and banking. An early adopter of HP Indigo presses, the company now has an HP 10000 to address the color personalization volumes required in the gaming industry.

Fabian Prudhomme of Enfocus talks about advances in workflow automation with Switch

Published July 13, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne talks with Fabian Prudhomme of Enfocus about how Enfocus Switch can be used to automate production operations, including the most recent enhancements that enable easier management of complex workflows. www.Crossroads-World.com has information about the Enfocus Switch community.

Kevin McVea at Strategic Content Imaging on Producing Personalized Magazines

Published July 9, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne talks to Kevin McVea, SVP at Strategic Content Imaging (SCI) on investing in production inkjet and how SCI is using its HP inkjet platforms to produce long-run personalized magazines.

airSpring Software's Neal Gottsaker on Interactive Applications and Customer Communications

Published July 7, 2015

Cary Sherburne talks to Neal Gottsaker, President and CEO of airSpring Software, about its interactive applications and customer communications platform.

HP's Isaac Meged Talks About New Scitex Industrial Presses

Published July 6, 2015

Isaac Meged, HP's Worldwide Marketing Manager for Scitex Industrial Presses, talks about two recent product introductions for the sign and display and corrugated packaging markets.

Primary Color Seeks Transparency with Workflow Automation

Published July 1, 2015

James Handler, Vice President of Web-to-Print, Primary Color, talks about how connecting HP SmartStream to EFI Monarch MIS will further streamline and automate the company's workflow.

Canon Solutions America VP of Marketing Francis McMahon talks about IWCO Direct Customer Event

Published June 29, 2015

In this video, Canon Solutions America VP of Marketing Francis McMahon talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about last week's IWCO Direct customer event, the first North American site to install the Canon ImageStream 3500 and the Varioprint i300, as well as the upcoming thINK user group conference scheduled for September in New York.

Transactional Printer Intelligent Document Solutions Reinvents Business Model with Production Inkjet

Published June 25, 2015

Bill Hayden, CEO of IDS in Michigan, talks about how Xerox CiPress production inkjet presses have completely changed his transactional print business model.

Canon Oce: Ready for Commercial Print

Published June 23, 2015

Christian Unterberger, EVP for Commercial Print, Canon/Oce, talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about Canon's strategies in the commercial print market., especially with its portfolio of production inkjet presses, including the ability to produce commercial print quality on difficult papers.

HP's Tom Wittenberg on the Sign and Display Market

Published June 22, 2015

Tom Wittenberg, HP's Sign & Display Marketing Manager, discusses the state of the sign and display market—and the "rule of 7s."

Terry Teal from PTI Marketing Technologies on Taking Advantage of Technology Platforms to Build New Services

Published June 18, 2015

Terry Teal from PTI Marketing Technologies talks to Senior Editor Cary Sherbure about taking advantage of technology platforms to build new services and provide integrated programs to customers.

Cedar Graphics: Crossing the Bridge from Offline to Online

Published June 16, 2015

Justin McDonald, Marketing Solutions Manager for Iowa-based Cedar Graphics shares the interesting story of the founding of the company a half century ago as well as its subsequent journey into digital printing to meet short-run requirements and the ability to match UV offset with HP Indigo presses. "The great thing about digital is you are only limited by your imagination."

Chalk Talk with Visual Magnetics' Joe Deetz

Published June 15, 2015

President and CEO of Visual Magnetics Joe Deetz talks with Richard Romano about the company's SGIA Product of the Year-winning chalkboard film-based substrate, optimized for "liquid chalk" signage.

On-Site at the World Bank Printing Plant

Published June 10, 2015

In a recent visit to Washington D.C., the WhatTheyThink video team had a fabulous visit to the World Bank's printing operation. We learned how their business has been revolutionized with the introduction of an HP T230 Inkjet Web Press and how it has helped them better address their mission of ending poverty in the world.

Analytics and Business Intelligence in PTI's Marcom Central

Published June 9, 2015

Forrest Leighton and Jennifer Matt talk about how marketing has evolved into a measured science. In order to support this evolution, Marcom Central has integrated with Birst business intelligence and analytics provider so PTI customers can leverage best in class tools to measure their marketing impact.

Roland's Rick Scrimger on Latest Trends in Sign and Display Graphics

Published June 8, 2015

Roland president Rick Scrimger discusses the latest trends in sign and display graphics at last April's ISA Sign Expo.

Canon's Crit Dreissen Shares Canon Production Inkjet Strategy

Published June 3, 2015

Crit Dreissen, VP of Strategy and Alliances for Canon/Oce Printing Systems, shares Canon's strategic direction in inkjet, driving the move from B&W to color, offset to digital, and introduction of sheetfed inkjet with the VarioPrint i300 (code-named Niagara).

The Stars Are Aligned for ANRO in Production Inkjet Printing

Published June 3, 2015

ANRO Communications is well-known in the printing community for its innovation and thought leadership position. In this article, sponsored by HP, Paul DeSantis, ANRO’s Director of IT, talks about how production inkjet has future-proofed the company’s business.

Century Label: Digital Printing of Shrink Sleeves Makes Products Pop -- and drives 70% YOY growth for the company

Published June 2, 2015

WhatTheyThink's Eric Vessels talks with Heidi Chambers, Director of Sales at Century Label, talks about opportunities in digitally printed shrink sleeves with 70% year-over-year growth. With 360 degrees of graphics, shrink sleeves deliver labeling that make products pop, and extended gamut printing on HP Indigo WS6000 and 6600 presses ensure excellent quality for the company and its customers.

New Research on the Signage Industry

Published June 1, 2015

David Hickey, VP of Government Relations for the International Sign Association, talks about new research initiatives for the sign and display markets.

HP VP/GM Aurelio Maruggi shares HP Inkjet Strategy

Published May 28, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with VP/GM Aurelio Maruggi about HP's production inkjet strategy and its new HDNA printhead technology. The strategies are built around customer success, continued innovation and protecting customer investments through field upgradability.

Ironsides Technology's Bill Riley Talks About Process Automation

Published May 27, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne interviews Bill Riley, President of Ironsides Technology, about the importance of hardware-independent process control software in transactional, direct mail and commercial printing operations where real-time tracking and reporting offers the opportunity for a more efficient, near-lights-out environment.

Unique meeting guide adds excitement for DscoopX attendees

Published May 26, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with David Bennett, President of Atlanta-based Bennett Graphics, talks about the unusual meeting guide his company printed for DscoopX, including a ziplock bag cover produced on an HP Indigo 20000 with a personalized folding carton inserted.

On-demand Delivery of Targeted Marketing Materials Across Media

Published May 21, 2015

Jennifer Matt, Section Editor talks to Forrest Leighton, VP of Marketing at PTI Marketing Technologies about the on-demand delivery of marketing materials.

Lights-out workflow at Capita managed by Ironsides Technology Solutions

Published May 20, 2015

Cary Sherburne interviews Craig Hall of Capita in the UK, who explains the company's innovative approach to a lights-out print production process, with full real-time tracking and reporting at every stage of the closed-loop process provided by Ironsides Technology.

Xerox' John Conley Talks the Impact of Production Inkjet on Book Publishing

Published May 19, 2015

John Conley, VP of Commercial Print and Publishing for Xerox, shares an overview of global trends in book printing and publishing, including cash management and global distribution strategies.

HP Talks Wide-Format and Packaging Trends

Published May 18, 2015

HP's Micha Kemelman talks about the latest trends in packaging and wide-format printing, and the new HP Scitex Industrial Press.

Patrick Bolan of Avanti on Successful Print MIS Implementations

Published May 13, 2015

Jane Mugford of WhatTheyThink's Print Software Section talks to Patrick Bolan, President and CEO of Avanti about Print MIS implementation, integration, and setting up Print MIS to handle various workflows.

Engaging Customers Wherever They Are: Pitney Bowes Strategy

Published May 12, 2015

Lisa Sutrick, Managing Director of Product Management for Pitney Bowes, discusses the emerging trend of relevant, consistent customer communications at every touch point -- how customer journey mapping can help.

Jennifer Matt & Forrest Leighton, PTI Talk Marcom Central Integration to Salesforce

Published May 7, 2015

Web-to-print has to play nice with other technologies in the marketing supply chain. Salesforce is a dominate player in the CRM and sales enablement space. Jennifer Matt discusses how embedding Marcom Central into Salesforce might be the best placement possible for full adoption of your web-to-print system.

The Last Mile of Digital: Bringing Finishing Into the Loop

Published May 6, 2015

Vic Stalam, President of Highcon Americas, shows some unique and stunning examples of the type of digital finishing that can be produced on a Highcon Euclid, including pop-ups.

Using Textured Papers for Unique Digital Print

Published May 6, 2015

Greg Maze, Senior Digital Brand Manager for Neenah Paper, talks about the company's Explore initiative with three special swatch books and some special tools (two out, one to come) designed to inspire printers to use colored textured papers for digitally printed products.

Superior Graphics Finds Exceptional Quality for Retail POP with HP Indigo Press

Published May 5, 2015

WhatTheyThink's Eric Vessels talks with John Ehrenberger, President of Superior Graphics about his company's blend of large format and small format as a driver for business growth. Ehrenberger also discusses the value of vendor partners like HP helping with business development efforts.

RTI's Kevin Howes Talks About the Need for Speed in Wide-Format Printing

Published May 4, 2015

Kevin Howes, Director of Wide-Format Solutions for Reprographic Technology International (RTI), talks about RTI, the Vortex 4200 wide-format printer, and opportunities in CAD, GIS, and POP printing.

Franchise Services' Dave Sigafus Talks Sign and Display

Published April 29, 2015

Dave Sigafus, Signage Product Manager for Franchise Services—owner of Sir Speedy, PIP, and Signal Graphics—talks with Richard Romano about sign and display trends, and the opportunities for print franchises and their clients.

Innovating with a Homegrown Label Print MIS

Published April 29, 2015

A short film by Label Traxx tells the story of when it might be time to modernize your approach to running your label printing operations. One of the keys to thriving in an increasingly data-driven world is to have a trusted label print management system of record, that allows you to reliably manage and share data across your organization and with your customers. This film slightly exaggerates the homegrown systems used to manage a busy label printing operation. This video is presented by Label Traxx.

GMC Software Continues to Reinvent Customer Communications Management

Published April 28, 2015

Didier Rouillard, VP Service Provider Business, GMC Software Technologies, speaks with Cary Sherburne, Senior Editor, about shifting consumer requirements and the evolving role of GMC solutions in ensuring relevant customer communications.

Kevin Horey on Web-to-Print, Workflow, and Production Automation

Published April 27, 2015

Jennifer Matt talks to Kevin Horey, VP/GM Workflow & Solutions at Xerox on its approach to web-to-print, workflow and production automation.

Forrest Leighton at PTI Marketing Technologies Kicks Off Marketing Technology Education Series

Published April 23, 2015

Cary Sherburne, Senior Editor at WhatTheyThink talks to Forrest Leighton, VP Strategic Alliances at PTI Marketing Technologies about a timely educational series PTI is sponsoring on WhatTheyThink. Over the coming weeks PTI will be discussing how MarcomCentral is evolving to adapt to the ever changing needs of marketers while maintaining their high-level of support for print in the modern marketing mix.

FastSigns' CEO Catherine Monson at ISA Sign Expo

Published April 22, 2015

FastSigns president and CEO Catherine Monson talks to Richard Romano about this year's ISA Sign Expo and the latest trends in signage.

Highcon Shares Latest Developments And New Applications

Published April 22, 2015

Highcon's COO Miki Zimmer and Nigel Tracey, Sales Director, speak with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about advances with the Highcon Euclid digital finishing solution and some unique applications customers have created.

Kevin McVea, SVP at Strategic Content Imaging on the HP Indigo 10000 Platform

Published April 21, 2015

Kevin McVea, Senior Vice President at Strategic Content Imaging, discusses how his HP Indigo 10000 with a unique inline UV coater has improved time to market and throughput in his company's retail advertising applications. He also discussed how Indigo and HP Inkjet Web Presses work together to drive quality and productivity.

John Berthelsen Explains PGSF Efforts to Attract new Talent to the Printing Industry

Published April 21, 2015

Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation Vice President John Berthelsen speaks with Cary Sherburne about the role of PGSF in attracting new talent to the printing industry.

Paul Diangelo of Printers Plan on Successful Print MIS Implementations

Published April 20, 2015

Jane Mugford of WhatTheyThink's Print Software Section talks to Paul Diangelo, Technology Solutions Director at Printers Plan about Print MIS implementation, integration, and setting up Print MIS to handle various workflows.

Gerardo Cerros of CMA Imaging on the Impacts of Optical Brighteners in Paper

Published April 20, 2015

In Part 2 of our interview with CMA Imaging CEO Gerardo Cerros explains how optical brightening agents in paper have an impact on accurate color management. Cerros explains why, and what printing professionals can do to address these issues. This includes compliance with new ISO and GRACoL standards.

Ricoh Europe's Benoit Chatelard speaks about Ricoh Europe's services offerings

Published April 16, 2015

Benoit Chatelard, General Manager for Production Printing Solutions, Ricoh Europe, talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about how Ricoh services are helping customers be more profitable and efficient.

Gerardo Cerros of CMA Imaging Talks About Latest Developments in Color Measurement and Management

Published April 16, 2015

Gerardo Cerros, CEO of CMA Imaging, discusses the Color Management Advice the company can offer to printers and packaging converters as they move from ink density to spectral measurements and incorporate other modern color measurement and management techniques.

Lori Anderson, CEO at International Sign Association on Sign Expo 2015

Published April 15, 2015

Richard Romano talks to Lori Anderson, President and CEO at International Sign Association about Sign Expo 2015. Lori highlights what was on display at the show.

Production Inkjet Delivers for Allied Printing

Published April 14, 2015

Tony Pelc, Chief Operating Officer at Allied Printing, talks about business drivers for acquisition of an HP T300 Inket Web Press, moving to a white-paper-in environment, allowing for faster turn times, new applications and a focus on higher value products, as well as making the offset environment more productive.

Shaun Corbridge on Successful Print MIS Implementations

Published April 13, 2015

Jane Mugford of WhatTheyThink's Print Software Section talks to Shaun Corbridge, CEO and Founder at Atomology about Print MIS implementation, integration, and setting up Print MIS to handle various workflows.

Ricoh Europe's Benoit Chatelard Shares Business Update for Ricoh Europe

Published April 9, 2015

Benoit Chatelard, General Manager for Production Printing Solutions, Ricoh Europe, talks about growing demand for continuous form and cut sheet printers as well as workflow solutions in Europe, despite the difficult economic situation there. He also addresses the value of Ricoh's PTI acquisition and how it fits into their portfolio.

Caldera Software on the Integration of Print and Digital Signage

Published April 8, 2015

Sebastien Hanssens, VP of Marketing for Caldera Software, talks to Richard Romano about the integration of printed and dynamic digital signage, and the tools that can help create unique applications.

HP's Steve Nigro on its Graphics Business and the Future of Print

Published April 7, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne talks to Steve Nigro, Senior Vice President of Imaging and Printing at Hewlett-Packard about the Print Business unit which includes the HP InkJet, HP LaserJet, and HP Graphics Business as well as its emerging 3D printing business. Steve shares HP's vision of print and how it integrates with mobile, social, cloud computing.

Eric Wold of SmartSoft on Successful Print MIS Implementations

Published April 6, 2015

Jane Mugford of WhatTheyThink's Print Software Section talks to Eric Wold, Vice President of SmartSoft about Print MIS implementation, integration, and setting up Print MIS to handle various workflows.

Web2Print Experts Launches All Inclusive Print Software Solution

Published April 1, 2015

Jennifer Matt, Jane Mugford, and Chris Reisz-Hanson from Web2Print Experts launch a new offering to the print industry – a single solution that manages every aspect of your software needs (automatically replacing all your existing print software with one solution that floats in the cloud).

Blooper Reel. This is the Blooper Reel

Published April 1, 2015

At WhatTheyThink we shoot lots of video. They don't always go so well… Sometimes its bad intros, sometimes awkward responses, sometimes fart noises…

How To Save Money By Ditching MIS, Automation, and Process Optimization

Published April 1, 2015

Many vendors pitch process optimization and automation solutions as a way to lower costs. Udi Arieli from EFI and Jim Rosenthal of Paradigm Digital Color Graphics discuss how many of these solutions are inefficient, and a waste of money and company resources.

Bill Riley, CEO of Ironsides Technology, talks about production automation and workflow tracking

Published March 31, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne talks with Ironsides Technology CEO Bill Riley about how Ironsides solutions can help packaging printers better satisfy customers through process automation and real-time reporting.

Mark Andersen of Enterprise Print Management Solutions on Successful Print MIS Implementations

Published March 30, 2015

Jane Mugford of WhatTheyThink's Print Software Section talks to Mark Andersen, President and CTO of Enterprise Print Management Solutions (EPMS) about Print MIS implementation, integration, and setting up Print MIS to handle various workflows.

Paul Morgavi on Xerox Inkjet Strategy

Published March 26, 2015

Paul Morgavi, COO of Xerox's Inkjet Division, talks about two years post-acquisition of Impika by Xerox and the Xerox inkjet strategy moving forward.

InnoMark Communications Implementing EFI Radius in 7 Plants

Published March 26, 2015

Joe Roberts, ERP Implementation Manager at InnoMark Communications in Ohio talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about his planned implementation of EFI Radius in the company's 7 plants -- moving from a non-structured to a very structured process.

Into the Application Zone: A Tour of Agfa's SGIA Booth

Published March 25, 2015

Agfa's Director of Marketing Deborah Hutcheson takes Richard Romano on a tour of Agfa's booth at last fall's SGIA Expo, showcasing all the myriad materials, surfaces, and applications that can be printed.

Cordoba Printing: Why move book printing to inkjet?

Published March 25, 2015

Gaby Duer, owner of Israel-based Cordoba Printing, explains market and regulatory changes that are driving book printing to inkjet in Israel.

Canon on track to enter folding carton market with InfiniStream

Published March 24, 2015

Christian Unterberger EVP for Commercial Printing at Canon in Poing, Germany talks about progress with InfiniStream, the company's planned liquid toner entry into the folding carton market, including beta results and planned roll-out

Erv Ratazak of CRC Information Systems on Successful Print MIS Implementations

Published March 23, 2015

Jane Mugford of WhatTheyThink's Print Software Section talks to Erv Ratazak of CRC Information Systems about Print MIS implementation, integration, and setting up Print MIS to handle various workflows.

Wim Maes, CEO of Xeikon, Talks About Xeikon News

Published March 23, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne talks with Xeikon CEO Wim Maes about the company's new Xeikon 9800 digital press with lower operating costs and some of the dry toner innovations the company is bringing to market. He also updates us on the status of the liquid toner Trillium product.

How is Mobile Affecting the Book Publishing World?

Published March 20, 2015

Future of Publishing Thad McIlRoy joins Senior Editor Cary Sherburne to discuss how mobile technologies are influencing the book publishing world, in North America and abroad. Download the White Paper: 11 Trends Affecting the Publishing Industry.

Paul Sprow from Arlington County VA talks about Amazing Automation

Published March 19, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Paul Sprow, Manager of the Digital Production Group at Arlington County, Virginia, about his transition from an offset to a digital shop. "It's like night and day," he says. "I believe in giving people 24-hour turnaround and I can do that now!"

Gerhard Marterrer, Director 1-1 Marketing, Eversfrank Gruppe, explains value of envelope wraps for personalization

Published March 18, 2015

Eversfrank Gruppe in Germany is using personalized envelope wraps and web-to-print to print customized catalogs for 4,300 dealers in 12 languages for one customer and 450,000 magazines for 4,000 pharmacies for another. Great example of hybrid offset/digital printing.

Sal Sheikh from Canon Solutions America on Growth in Large Format Printing

Published March 17, 2015

Cary Sherburne talks to Sal Sheikh, VP of Marketing for Large Format Printing at Canon Solutions America about growth opportunities in large format printing and the transition from analog to digital in that space.

Steve McDermott of navINK on Web-to-Print Integration, Mobile and Successful Web-to-Print Implementations

Published March 16, 2015

EFI's Gabriel Matsliach Highlights Importance of EFI Productivity Suite

Published March 12, 2015

EFI' Senior Vice President and General Manager of Productivity Software explains the importance of the company's recently released Productivity Suite in bringing improved end-to-end production automation out of the box to its customers, helping printing and packaging companies prosper and succeed.

Self-Publishers, Production Inkjet and Amazon: A Changing Book Market

Published March 12, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne returns to her conversation with Thad McIlroy about the Future of Publishing, this time focusing on the growth of and impact on publishing of self-publishers as well as the impact of production inkjet and Amazon on the book market.

Roland's Rick Scrimger Recaps the Imagination Conference

Published March 11, 2015

Roland president Rick Scrimger talks to Richard Romano about last fall's Roland Imagination user conference and emerging applications for wide format graphics.

X-Rite's Shoshana Burgett explains PantoneLIVE

Published March 10, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with X-Rite Pantone's Director of WW Marketing Shoshana Burgett about PantoneLIVE, ColorCert and X-Rite eXact -- how they deliver closed-loop color management and the benefits to the color supply chain for both brand owners and converters.

Greg Salzman of Aleyant on Web-to-Print Integration, Mobile, and Helping Printers Find Success Online.

Published March 9, 2015

Jennifer Matt talks to Greg Salzman, President of Aleyant Systems about the Aleyant Pressero web-to-print system and his company's view on web-to-print integration, mobile, and helping printers find success online.

Brian Benson, CEO of Benson Integrated Marketing Solutions, talks about offering an Amazon-style experience

Published March 6, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne explores the business benefits Benson has garnered by implementing integrated MIS, web storefront and marketing asset management to deliver a great customer experience that reduces touch points.

Three Cycles of Disruptive Change in Publishing

Published March 5, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Thad McIlroy, principal of consulting firm The Future of Publishing to learn more about ... the future of publishing, including three cycles of disruptive change he has identified.

Veritiv's Scott Spagnolli Talks About Wide-Format Substrates

Published March 4, 2015

Scott Spagnolli, Director of Graphics Support for Veritiv, talks with Richard Romano about the latest news from Vertiv, as well as the latest wide-format application and substrate trends.

Hunkeler's Hans Gut on New Hunkeler Products

Published March 3, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Hunkeler's Hans Gut who explains what's new from Hunkeler, including the DP-8 dynamic perfer and the smart book solution for short-run book production, both of which were shown for the first time at Hunkeler Innovationsdays 2015 in Lucerne.

CGX and Donnelley: An Insider's Perspective

Published March 3, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Former CGX President Steve Brown about the RR Donnelley acquisition and his current role at Mimeo.

Hunkeler's Erich Hodel Shares Hunkeler Innovationdays Stats

Published March 2, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne talks with Marketing Leader Erich Hodel of Hunkeler about where attendees came from and what they saw at Hunkeler Innovationdays 2015. He highlights Hunkeler's brand-new control platform that enables end-to-end control of print jobs.

Marco Boer of I.T. Strategies Talks about the Value of Hunkeler Innovationdays 2015

Published March 2, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Marco Boer of I.T. Strategies about our recent visit to Hunkeler Innovationdays in Lucerne. His enthusiasm about this event was reflected by everyone who attended and he articulates its value well.

HP's Aurelio Maruggi Talks about Jetcomm, the inkJetcommUnity

Published February 26, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with HP's Vice President and General Manager High Speed Production Solutions, Aurelio Maruggi about the upcoming Jetcomm conference scheduled for March 4-5, 2015, in Washington D.C., the first-ever user group devoted to the production inkjet community.

Joe Maloy of Polaris Direct Speaks with Cary Sherburne about Business Transformation

Published February 25, 2015

Polaris Direct is moving to a white-paper-in strategy for its direct mail business, adding an inkjet line to lift the business from a commodity model to a value-added model that will take the business to the next level. President & COO Joe Maloy talks about this transformation "taking the handcuffs off the marketers," giving them more flexibility in delivering timely, relevant communications.

David Zwang Talks About the Next Wave of Inkjet Innovation

Published February 24, 2015

Editor Cary Sherburne catches up with WhatTheyThink contributor David Zwang at Hunkeler Innovationdays in Lucerne, Switzerland, to get his insight on the new solutions being shown at the show and the importance of this event for the future of inkjet.

Stefan Hunkeler Shares Hunkeler Innovationdays Thoughts

Published February 23, 2015

The 11th edition of Hunkeler Innovationdays begins today. Stefan Hunkeler, owner and CEO of Hunkeler, talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about what the nearly 5,500 visitors to this unique event can expect, including innovative new solutions from Hunkeler itself.

Daniel Houghton, CEO of Lonely Planet and the Future of Publishing

Published February 19, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Daniel Houghton, CEO of Lonely Planet, about how print fits into the publishing mix for the company. This includes a bundling strategy for print and digital, interactive ebooks, using QR codes, future trends and more.

Textile Printing to Dye For: Epson's SGIA Product of the Year Award

Published February 18, 2015

Epson Product Manager Reed Hecht spoke with Richard Romano at the 2014 SGIA Expo about winning a Product of the Year Award, as well as the latest trends in dye-sublimation and direct-to-garment textile printing.

Sara Domville, President of F +W on taking a 360-degree Approach to Delivering Content

Published February 17, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Sara Domville, President of F+W, the Digital Book World organizer and more. She talks about taking a 360-degree approach to delivering content, including digital, print and in-person strategies, and the multiple lives content has today.

Epicomm’s CEO Ken Garner on rebranding of NAPL/NAQP/AMSP

Published February 16, 2015

Epicomm’s CEO Ken Garner talks with Senior Editor Cary Sherburne about the rebranding of NAPL/NAQP/AMSP and future strategies.

Author and Writer Ken Auletta Shares Thoughts on Yahoo!

Published February 12, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Author and New Yorker writer Ken Auletta about Yahoo! and the challenges faced by CEO Marissa Mayer. He gives her an “Incomplete” so far in terms of her efforts to turn the company around.

CSA's Randy Paar Talks High-Value Print Applications

Published February 11, 2015

Canon Solutions America's Randy Paar talks to Richard Romano about the award-winning Arizona series wide-format printers, and the increasing demand for high-value print applications.

EFI's Jeff White on Successfully MIS Implementations

Published February 10, 2015

Jeff White, General Manager, EFI Monarch speaks with Print Software Section Contributing Editor Jane Mugford about successful MIS implementations.

Author and Writer Ken Auletta Shares Thoughts on Google and Amazon

Published February 5, 2015

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne speaks with Author and New Yorker Writer Ken Auletta about his experiences writing the book Googled, as well as his thoughts about Amazon. He talks about some of the shortcoming and conceits of legacy media as compared to how digital media operates.

Bill Duerr of Hatteras on Benefits of the EFI VUTEk LED Printer

Published February 5, 2015

Bill Duerr, President of Hatteras speaks with Cary Sherburne about the Hatteras business and the recent placement of a 5-meter EFI VUTEk LED Printer to support its grand format business.

Esko Expands Its Line of Cutting Tables

Published February 4, 2015

Steve Bennett, VP of Sales for Esko, talks to Richard Romano about Esko's recent product and feature introductions, including a new entry-level Kongsberg cutting table, and identifies current trends in finishing.

EFI’s CEO Guy Gecht: 2015 Bruno Award Recipient

Published February 3, 2015

Guy Gecht talks about receiving the Bruno Award, his background and the strong team that supports him, including this sage advice: “We have to continue to think about where we want to go and continue to evolve the company. We can’t stop. Doing nothing is the worst option for everyone because the market is changing and technology is changing.”

Frank Romano: 2015 Bruno Award Recipient

Published February 3, 2015

Frank Romano joins us from the stacks of books that made up the GATF Library which was recently donated to Cal Poly. Frank is a 2015 recipient of the Bruno Award from the Technical Association of the Graphic Arts (TAGA). Frank talks about receiving the award, the start of the Lithographic Technical Foundation which later became the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) and how Mike Bruno kickstarted research within the printing industry.

John Tenwinkel on the Dscoop University Program

Published February 2, 2015

Cary Sherburne interviews John Tenwinkel, Director of Dscoop University at Dscoop about the Dscoop University program and the resources it provides to the Dscoop community.

GMG's Bart Fret Talks Color Management

Published January 28, 2015

Bart Fret Director of Sales, Large-Format, for GMG talks to Richard Romano about color management challenges for wide-format printing, managing color across multiple printing technologies, and the latest trends in proofing.

HP Makes Bid for Corrugated Market with High-Speed Inkjet

Published January 27, 2015

HP's inkjet web press platform is now in use as a solution for bringing vivid color and graphics to corrugated packaging. David Murphy, in charge of inkjet web marketing and business development for HP, explains the application and the strategy.

Chili Publish Managing Partner Kevin Geominne on Web-to-Print Integration, Mobile, and Helping Printers Find Success Online Chili Publish

Published January 26, 2015

Print Software Section Editor Jennifer Matt sat down with Kevin Geominne, Managing Partner at Chili Publish to find out how Chili Publish approaches integration with other systems. What Chili Publish is doing to support mobile. And how they help printing companies find success with online services.

Guy Gecht on 25 Years of EFI

Published January 21, 2015

EFI CEO Guy Gecht talks to Richard Romano at last October's SGIA Expo about the growth of specialty and display graphics printing, and EFI's 25th anniversary.

CRON-ECRM Joint Venture Brings New CTP Options to U.S. Market

Published January 20, 2015

After 40 years as an independent supplier of prepress technology, ECRM has joined forces with Chinese prepress manufacturer CRON as the master distributor in North America for CRON CTP systems. Rick Black, president and CEO of CRON-ECRM LLC, details the JV's strategy and objectives.

Challenges with Augmented Reality in Cross-media Communication

Published January 15, 2015

In our second video with Sarah Mannone, Vice President of Client Services at Trekk, Mannone shares common challenges with Augmented Reality (AR) in Cross-media Communication and techniques to start using AR within campaigns.

Fresh Artists Uses Digital Imaging to Help Inner-City Youth

Published January 14, 2015

Richard Romano talks with Barbara Chandler Allen, Founder and Executive Director of Fresh Artists, a non-profit organization that creates wide-format digital prints of children's art in exchange for donations from corporations. The money is then used to purchase art supplies for cash-strapped inner-city art education programs.

CRON: Rise of a Prepress Powerhouse

Published January 13, 2015

Established in 1992, Hangzhou CRON Machinery & Electronics Co., Ltd. has become China's leading supplier of computer-to-plate systems. Alex Lee, deputy general manager for sales and marketing, speaks with Pat Henry about CRON's plans to become better known in the U.S. market.

Jim Hamilton's Review of 2014 Corporate Greeting Cards

Published January 12, 2015

Each year Jim Hamilton, Group Director at InfoTrends, collects the corporate greeting cards he receives over the holiday and describes the use of innovative printing techniques, substrates, design, and personalization.

Don Barbour of GSNA on Ryobi MHI Presses, CRON CtP, and Offset Packaging Solutions

Published January 8, 2015

Don Barbour, Chairman & Co-Founder Graphic Systems North America (GNSA) spoke with Patrick Henry at Graph Expo about its dealership network, and its distribution Ryobi MHI presses and CRON CtP systems.

Memjet Wide-Format Printers: Built for Speed

Published January 7, 2015

Mike Puyot, President of Memjet Wide-Format, talks with Richard Romano about the advantages of Memjet printheads, and the important distinctions among the various Memjet models currently on the market.

The Pace of Progress for Digital in Labels and Packaging

Published January 6, 2015

Pat Henry, editor of WhatTheyThink's Labels and Packaging section, discusses what will drive adoption of digital printing in this segment and what will moderate the pace as printers cope with the learning curve.

Is Augmented Reality a Gimmick or Game Changer?

Published January 5, 2015

Sarah Mannone, Vice President of Client Services at Trekk shares insight on using Augmented Reality within cross-media communications.

Brad Kruchten from Kodak on the Latest Developments in Processless Plates

Published December 18, 2014

Kodak recently announced a new organizational structure with a goal of a better customer experience, streamlined corporate functions, and to better leverage of Kodak’s product and service portfolio, scientific and engineering expertise and world-famous and highly trusted brand. Effective January 1, 2015- Brad Kruchten will lead the Print Systems Division as the President, Print Systems, and Senior Vice President, Kodak. In this interview, Kruchten shares a view into the latest developments in processless plates.

HP Graphic Solutions Business General Manager Yishai Amir on Indigo Packaging Printing

Published December 16, 2014

Yishai Amir VP, General Manager, HP Graphic Solutions Business provides an overview of packaging printing on Indigo.

VP Product Management Scott Draeger Shares GMC’s Omni-Channel Strategy

Published December 15, 2014

Senior Editor Cary Sherburne and GMC’s Scott Draeger discuss the challenges of producing fully-funcitonal omni-channel communications, including mobile, and how GMC solutions address those challenges for its customers, as well as trends in conversion from paper to electronic for transactional documents.

HP Graphic Solutions Business General Manager Yishai Amir Shares an Overview of Market Segments

Published December 11, 2014

Yishai Amir VP, General Manager, HP Graphic Solutions Business provides an overview of market segments.

Cal Poly Launches Printed Electronics and Functional Imaging Program

Published December 11, 2014

The Graphic Communication program at Cal Poly has started started a graduate program in Printed Electronics and Functional Imaging. The program offers a Professional Certificate and Master of Science Degree. We spoke with Dr. Malcolm Keif, Professor & Graduate Coordinator of Printed Electronics and Functional Imaging about the program and its degrees. For more information on the program http://printedelectronics.calpoly.edu/

Xerox Technology Business President Jeff Jacobson Shares Thoughts on Xerox Strategy

Published December 11, 2014

Jeff Jacobson, President, Xerox Technology Business, explains the overall business strategy for Xerox and the opportunities for growth that are represented by the Graphic Communications market.

PTI Web-to-Print Integration, Mobile, and Implementation

Published December 10, 2014

As part of a Print Software video series, we are asking web-to-print vendors about three important topics; integration, mobile, and implementation. Forrest Leighton from PTI describes Marcom Central's vision around integration, mobile, and implementation.

Landa Digital Printing Provides Update, Outlook to drupa 2016

Published December 9, 2014

We haven’t heard much from Benny Landa lately. But the team has been at work perfecting the first press, the S10, and lining up customers. A blog post from Landa and a link to a video tour of the press and the factory are highlights of this post.

Jim Hamilton Shares News Applications Presented during the Xerox Forum

Published December 5, 2014

We spoke with Jim Hamilton, Group Director at InfoTrends, at the end of the recent Xerox Forum in Madrid. Jim highlights the new business ventures and exciting applications that were presented by printers from the Xerox Premier Partner community.

Applications and Opportunities in Printed Electronics and Functional Imaging

Published December 4, 2014

We recently spoke with Dr. Malcolm Keifabout Functional Printing and its applications. Dr. Keif is Professor & Graduate Coordinator of Printed Electronics and Functional Imaging at Cal Poly. Dr. Keif is an advocate for companies in traditional printing businesses to investigate new businees opportunities in functional printing.

Rapid Digital Press Maps Out Wide-Format Success

Published December 3, 2014

Kenneth Hadfield, CEO of Rapid Digital Press, talks to Richard Romano about how his wide-format service bureau helped a large mapping company transition from offset-printed maps to short-run, customized maps, opening up new business opportunities for both print provider and print customer.

PageDNA Web-to-Print Integration, Mobile, and Implementation

Published November 26, 2014

As part of a Print Software video series, we are asking web-to-print vendors about three important topics; integration, mobile, and implementation. Steve Enstad from PageDNA describes PageDNA's company's and product's vision around integration, mobile, and implementation.

Sophie Vandebroek on Innovation

Published November 25, 2014

WhatTheyThink had an opportunity to sit down with Sophie Vandebroek, Xerox CTO and President Xerox Innovation Group during the Xerox Forum last month in Madrid. During our chat Ms. Vandebroek spoke about innovation and how to create a culture of innovation.

Creative Applications That Drive Business Profit

Published November 20, 2014

We sat down with Hubert Soviche, marketing lead for Xerox Graphic Communications in Europe, and Xavier Jouvet, Group Marketing Director at Antalis International during the Xerox Forum in Madrid to hear about the recently launched Applications Kits from Antalis. The Applications Kits demonstrate digital printing capabilities across a wide range of substrates and are part of Xerox's business development program.

Transitioning Your Print MIS

Published November 14, 2014

Jennifer Matt interviews Jane Mugford about what printers need to bring to the table in a Print MIS transition project.

Two Printers Form a Strategic Partnership via the Xerox Premier Partners Global Network

Published November 13, 2014

Mike Peterson, Owner of Gabriel Group in St. Louis and Jeroen van Druenen, Director of Jubels b.v.in Amsterdam sat down with WhatTheyThink to discuss a partnership they formed to service a client’s geographically concentric needs.

Chris Bondy on the Transformation of the Printing Industry Center into Cross-Media Innovation Center

Published November 5, 2014

We recently spoke with Chris Bondy on the transformation of the RIT Printing Industry Center to the Cross-Media Innovation Center and its updated focus on creation and organization of media, analysis of consumer behaviors, and tools and methods used in the distribution of content to all media channels.

Chris Bondy on the Cross-Media Innovation Center Summit at RIT

Published October 20, 2014

Last week the Cross-Media Innovation Center at RIT hosted a two day summit in Rochester, NY. WhatTheyThink spoke with Chris Bondy who runs the Center on how the Summit provides a platform for the research and analyst community to share the latest research and analysis in cross-media.

Aurelio Maruggi on HP Service and Support Announcements at Graph Expo

Published October 13, 2014

Aurelio Maruggi, VP & GM of Inkjet Web for HP, talks to Cary Sherburne at Graph Expo 2014 about the exciting announcements from HP relative to inkjet.

Richard Romano on Wide Format at Graph Expo

Published October 1, 2014

Richard Romano, WhatTheyThink Wide Format Section Editor, gives his impression of Graph Expo relative to the wide format sector and reviews products and applications at the show.

Ralph Nappi Previews Graph Expo; Footprint down, Attendance Up

Published September 29, 2014

Ralph Nappi sat down with Cary Sherburne to discuss Graph Expo footprint, attendance, co-located events.

How Workflow Impacts Digital Print for Packaging

Published September 10, 2014

Jared Smith, President of blue media, talks workflow with Kevin Karstedt and how changes are necessary to do digital print for packaging more effectively.

Opportunities for Printers in the 2014 release of Creative Cloud

Published August 14, 2014

Cary Sherburne talks to Chris Kitchener, Group Product Manager for InDesign at Adobe, about the new things in Creative Cloud 14 that will open up opportunities for print service providers.

A Challenge to the Modern Day Printer Community

Published July 31, 2014

Russell Viers, Speaker - Trainer - Digital Handyman, talks to Cary Sherburne about a challenge he has for the printing community. It's time to take the opportunity to take the lead in helping designers and creatives move to multi-channel and adopt an RGB workflow.

USPS' Every Door Direct Mail Program Declines After Price Increase

Published July 24, 2014

Bringing the Bling to Print with Foil

Published July 17, 2014

Mike King, President & CEO of Eagle Systems, talks to Cary Sherburne about the things they do to enhance printed material using foils.

Jac Garner of Webcrafters on how they are adapting to the changing book manufacturing sector

Published June 12, 2014

Webcrafters has a long history in the Book Manufacturing industry (since the 1800's). Jac Garner discusses how they have changed and adapted in the industry.

Bruce Waterman on how mobile plays into Blurb's strategy

Published June 11, 2014

Bruce discusses how they integrate mobile technology in their business offerings.

Mike Chiricuzio of VDP Direct discusses how HP solutions help their niche

Published June 10, 2014

VDP Direct has a niche in the casino marketing industry. Mike discusses how some of the HP products help them deliver the best solutions for their customers.

Guy Gecht of EFI on the 5 areas they are betting on for the future

Published June 9, 2014

Standing still is not an option. Guy outlines the 5 areas that EFI is betting on for the future of the industry and EFI.

NFIB Small Business Index Still Between Two Recession Bottoms

Published May 22, 2014

Dave Dickson on the Integration between Digital Publishing Suite and Experience Manager

Published May 12, 2014

Cary Sherburne talks to Dave Dickson, Senior Product Marketing Manager - DPS. They talk about the integration between Adobe Digital Publishing Suite and Experience Manager.

Chris Irick of Xerox Introduces the New Versant 2100 Press

Published April 25, 2014

Chris Irick, Worldwide Product Marketing Manager at Xerox, introduces the new Versant 2100 Press. Chris talks about the 4 ways the Versant 2100 allows printers to "do more with more": More performance, more reliability, more flexibility, and more results.

Brooke Carey of Sappi Fine Paper on their new digital line of papers

Published April 24, 2014

Printing Profits per Employee Rise

Published April 17, 2014

Profits per employee increased to higher levels since 2000. Industry consolidation is a big factor in this report. It is not just mergers and acquisitions, but also plant closures and bankruptcies, and the opening of new businesses that absorb the best and most appropriate resources of the closed plants, and also the strategic changes that surviving companies make as they respond and anticipate marketplace changes, absorbing the sales volume of departed competitors.

Lights...Camera...Wait...Is the Camera On?

Published April 1, 2014

Brian Segnit of Xerox on the J75 and C75

Published August 16, 2013

Brian Segnit of Xerox talks about the J75 and C75 presses, giving an overview of the features and functionality. Brian also talks about a new feature called SIQA, or Simple Image Quality Adjustment.

Blaine Gabriel of Ohio University at the xpedx Wide Format Print Summit

Published July 3, 2013

Blaine Gabriel, Director of Ohio University Printing Services, talks to Eric Vessels about attending the xpedx wide format summit in Cincinnati and what's next for his shop.

Infotrends' Tim Greene on Wide Format Trends

Published June 27, 2013

Tim Greene, Director of Infotrends' Wide Format Printing Consulting Service, joins us from an xpedx Wide Format Summit in Cincinnati and gives us a summary of his presentation which includes trends in the wide format segment of the printing industry.

Theresa Vanna of SGP on Sustainability Certification

Published June 14, 2013

Theresa Vanna, SGP Board Member, talks about the organization and what things they look at when certifying facilities.

Xante COO Mark Swanzy talks Inkjet for Packaging

Published June 7, 2013

Mark Swanzy, COO of Xante, talks about the advancements in production inkjet that is allowing more versatility in the print for packaging sector.

Mayaprin's Juan Pablo Mendez on Getting Into Digital Printing in Guatemala

Published June 5, 2013

Juan Pablo Mendez, General Manager of Mayaprin, talks to Cary Sherburne about their business in Guatemala and getting into digital printing with HP Indigo.

Standard Finishing's David Reny on Industry Disruption

Published May 30, 2013

David Reny, EVP at Standard Finishing, talks to Cary Sherburne about disruptions in the print marketplace and how that creates opportunities for printers.

Martin Bailey of Global Graphics on Cloud Computing

Published May 28, 2013

Martin Bailey, CTO of Global Graphics, talks to Cary Sherburne about the impact of the cloud on the printing industry.

HP's Bob Raus Talks About Dscoop 8

Published May 14, 2013

Bob Raus, Category Manager for HP's Smartstream, talks to Cary Sherburne about Dscoop 8 and integrating vendor partners in a vey unique way at the show.

Horizon's Yoshihiro Oe on Finishing Trends in North America

Published May 13, 2013

Yoshihiro Oe, Export Manager at Horizon, gives Cary Sherburne an update on Horizon in North America and trends he's seeing in the market.

Buzz Apostol of X-Rite/Pantone on the NYU Prism Award

Published May 3, 2013

Buzz Apostol, VP of North American Sales for X-Rite/Pantone, talks to Pat Henry about the upcoming 27th Annual NYU Prism Award. For further information contact [email protected].

Kodak's Will Mansfield Shares Prosper Updates at Hunkeler Innovation Days

Published May 2, 2013

Will Mansfield, Director of Inkjet Product Marketing at Kodak, talks about the importance of Hunkeler Innovations Days and gives updates on the Prosper press.

Tim Arnold of Arnold Printing Talks Business Change at Dscoop

Published April 30, 2013

Cary Sherburne catches up with Tim Arnold of Arnold Printing at Dscoop about what they are doing differently in their business from the last show to now.

Screen's Tim Taylor on Workflow Solutions

Published April 29, 2013

Tim Taylor, VP of Marketing for Screen Europe, talks to Cary Sherburne about workflow solutions and integrating digital and offset workflows with a single solution.

Pitney Bowes' Grant Miller on Strategic Mailing Software

Published April 25, 2013

Grant Miller, VP or Global Product Management at Pitney Bowes, talks to Cary Sherburne about the emerging use of strategic mailing software and the innovation and advancements in print mailing workflows.

Dustin Graupman of Xerox on the market reception to the CiPress

Published April 22, 2013

Dustin Graupman, VP/GM of Inkjet Business Team at Xerox, talks to Cary Sherburne about the market reception to the CiPress technology. They also discuss the different applications for the press.

Gary Peeling on New Dscoop University

Published April 17, 2013

Gary Peeling, Managing Director of Precision Printing in London, talks to Cary Sherburne about a new Dscoop member benefit called Dscoop University.

Ricoh's George Promis on Changes in Continuous Forms Printing

Published April 15, 2013

George Promis, VP of Continuous Forms at Ricoh, talks to Cary Sherburne about the evolution in continuous forms printing and interactivity through clickable paper.

Brenda Kai of EDSF on Their Scholarship Program

Published April 8, 2013

Cary Sherburne interviews Brenda Kai, Executive Director at EDSF, who talks about their scholarship program.

HP's Bob Raus on Smartstream Production Center

Published March 19, 2013

Bob Raus, HP Smartstream Category Manager, talks to Cary Sherburne about Smartstream Production Center.

Jay Sato of Primary Color on Offering Wide Format Printing

Published February 21, 2013

Jay Sato, CTO of Primary Color, talks to Richard Romano about the company and the types of services they provide to their clients including wide format printing.

Kevin Karstedt on commercial printers getting into packaging

Published February 19, 2013

Kevin Karstedt, CEO of Karstedt Partners, talks about how commercial printers can get into the packaging segment.

Allen Ali of InnoMark Communications on Wide Format Challenges

Published February 7, 2013

Allen Ali of InnoMark Communications talks to Richard Romano about growing their business in digital, signage, and packaging. They also talk about the challenges with growing wide format and the types of applications they print for customers.

WhatTheyThink.com Speaker Series Livecast from Graph Expo

Published October 12, 2012

At Graph Expo 2012, WhatTheyThink livecast a speakers series live from the show floor. The WhatTheyThink.com Speaker Series, designed as a "show within a show," featured engaging discussions with industry experts, end-users and seasoned professionals moderated by the editors of WhatTheyThink.com.

Graph Expo Live: Digital Packaging Trends

Published October 10, 2012

This session was recorded live at Graph Expo 2012.
The printing industry continues to change; many areas are shrinking while others are seeing modest to moderate growth. One area that is growing, at lest in pace with GDP, is packaging. Many companies in the commercial printing space are looking at packaging as an opportunity but don't know how to get involved. Couple this interest in packaging with the digital printing capabilities commercial printers and in-plants have embraced and opportunity could be closer than one might think.

Graph Expo Live: Affordable Sustainability

Published October 10, 2012

This session was recorded live at Graph Expo 2012.
In today’s business environment, finding the right balance between environmental responsibility and cost isn’t always easy. The panel will discuss products and procedures they have brought into their facilities to help build a more sustainable business.

Graph Expo Live: Flatbed UV Printing - New Applications and Profits for Commercial Printers

Published October 10, 2012

This session was recorded live at Graph Expo 2012.
Looking to grow your commercial printing business into new, higher margin areas? Large format flatbed printing is a rapidly growing segment that has been finding its way more and more into the realm of commercial print shops. This presentation introduces you to the types of flatbed printing systems available and discusses their strengths and weaknesses. We then discuss the applications common with UV flatbed printing, what you need to succeed plus, examine the ROI that can be achieved in supplying graphics to this exciting market.

Graph Expo Live: Joe Truncale from NAPL on Industry Leaders

Published October 10, 2012

This session was recorded live at Graph Expo 2012.
NAPL recently wrote a white paper, sponsored by Canon, which identifies the trends that industry leaders exhibit, and what they do differently and that makes them more successful than the rest of the market.

Graph Expo Live: The Ideal Color Supply Chain

Published October 10, 2012

This session was recorded live at Graph Expo 2012.
Todays global world is about managing your customers brand and expectations. Join us as we discuss todays challenges and what the ideal color supply chain would look like. This panel discussion will have a slew of representatives from across the supply chain.

Graph Expo Live: Changing Face of Publishing

Published October 10, 2012

This session was recorded live at Graph Expo 2012.
Changes in reading behavior and disruptive technologies are causing the book market to become more volatile and unpredictable. Book publishers are looking for ways to streamline their value chain, and book manufactures must adapt to these evolving demands.

Graph Expo Live: What to Look for in a Business Partner

Published October 10, 2012

This session was recorded live at Graph Expo 2012.
Printing companies need a business partner that understands their unique needs and can architect an end-to-end solution. The value must extend beyond the products and services and include professional support and consultancy that enables faster on-ramping of jobs and expansion into new opportunities and markets.

Graph Expo Live: Materials Matter: Media Flexibility and Opening New Revenue Streams

Published October 10, 2012

This session was recorded live at Graph Expo 2012.
With printing platforms quickly evolving and expanding their media capabilities, print service providers are given an opportunity to stand out and differentiate themselves through higher-value materials. New substrates for digital presses are opening up the possibilities for new applications and new revenue streams. From textured premium stocks to synthetics and beyond, Mohawk has the broadest portfolio for digital in the industry. Application examples, tips on the achieving the add-on sale, and other resources to help printers grow will be showcased in this presentation.

Graph Expo Live: Content Anywhere with John Foley

Published October 10, 2012

This session was recorded live at Graph Expo 2012.
Changes in technology are impacting print. Understanding new outlets including QR Codes, VDP, W2P, Mobile, and Video is imperative to future survival.

Founder President Larry Yang BIn on "re-shoring"

Published August 21, 2012

Founder President Larry Yang Bin talks to Cary Sherburne about the re-shoring of manufacturing back to where it was off-shored originally.

Presstek Chairman Stan Freimuth Kicks Off a Tour of their drupa 2012 Stand

Published June 26, 2012

Chairman Stan Freimuth joins Joe Demharter in walking us through their drupa 2012 stand. The 75DI is featured in Europe for the first time commercially and Joe gives an overview of it's capabilities and new enhancements. The 52DI is also featured in the tour along with plate enhancements.

Océ Customers on drupa 2012 and the Canon/Océ Combination

Published June 22, 2012

Océ customers share their views about drupa 2012, the Canon stand, and some specific events they attended as guests of Océ. They also share their views about the combination of the two companies and what it's meant for their businesses.

Jan Hol of Océ: drupa demonstrates Canon and Océ combination successful

Published June 18, 2012

Senior VP of Communications at Océ Jan Hol talks about the Canon stand at drupa and how it represents Canon and Océ working together and gives an overview of the reasons for the successful combination of the companies.

Jan Hol of Océ gives an overview of their wide format equipment shown at drupa

Published June 15, 2012

Michael Poulin of Océ on the Capabilities and Applications of the ColorStream Inkjet 3000 Series

Published June 11, 2012

Theo Pettaras of Digitalpress shares a collaborative project

Published June 8, 2012

Theo Pettaras, CEO of Digitalpress in Sydney Australia shares a unique project that was done in collaboration with designers that showcases their work in a creative way using different substrates and printing methods.

LinkedIn Member Passwords Compromised

Published June 7, 2012

LinkedIn has confirmed that a hacker had gained access to its user database.

Randy Seberg on some of the processes dmh Marketing uses to produce over 2 billion direct mail pieces a year

Published June 5, 2012

Jeroen van Druenen of Jubels on what he has seen at drupa

Published June 4, 2012

Imprinting solution designed for easy integration. Full color. 600 x 600 dpi. Up to 800 fpm.

Published June 1, 2012

Click here for more about HP Print Module Solutions

Japs-Olson: Standing out in a crowded marketplace (Sponsored Video)

Published June 1, 2012

AGS Opens New Frontiers for Book Publishers (Sponsored Video)

Published May 31, 2012

Jay Mandarino of CJ Graphics gives his impressions of drupa 2012

Published May 22, 2012

Cary Sherburne interviews President, CEO, and "Head Oyster Shucker" of CJ Graphics and gets his impressions of drupa 2012. Jay is most impressed with the global nature of the show and talks about featured technologies at the show.

Armando Zagalo de Lima of Xerox on the things that printers need to focus on for growth in the future

Published May 22, 2012

Cary interviews Xerox President of Technology Business Armando Zagalo de Lima and gets his perspective on what it will take for printers to enter the new era and succeed as the industry shifts from ink on paper to multi-channel content curation and creation.

Latest Information on Landa's Nanographic Printing

Published May 7, 2012

Catch up on the latest information, videos and exclusive reports about Landa's nanographic printing platform.

Canon Gives Customers Insight into the Future

Published May 1, 2012

European Professional Print Director for Canon Europe, David Presket shares some information about the recent white paper reports detailing the challenges and opportunities in the industry and unveils "The Bigger Picture" report.

Can You Retrain Your Sales Staff?

Published April 27, 2012

The question on many printer's minds is, can you retrain your sales staff? Kathi Woolsey with ImageSet seems to think so as long as you have a serious commitment within the company an you fully utilize to tools to avoid cetrain common pitfalls and challenges.

Hank Brandtjen Answers What is so Important About drupa

Published April 27, 2012

Cary Sherbrurne and Hank Brandtjen of Brandtjen & Kluge discuss the olympics of the printing industry, drupa.

What to expect from Canon at drupa

Published April 26, 2012

David Preskett from Canon Europe shares some of the debates about what people think this drupa will be and offers some insight to what can be seen at the Canon booth.

Canon and Oce Presenting Together at drupa

Published April 24, 2012

David Preskett from Production Printing Business for Canon Europe and Nick Klitsie Vice President for Office and Print Room at Oce share together the success of the two companies since the acquisition.

Ken Gronbach on Direct Mail Isn't Dead

Published April 24, 2012

Chad Skelton at Oce Direct Mail Summit

Published April 24, 2012

Mike McCombs on the Oce Direct Mail Summit

Published April 24, 2012

Oce's Francis McMahon Reviews a Strong 2011 and Looks Forward to 2012 and drupa

Published April 23, 2012

Océ's Vice President of Marketing, Francis McMahon highlights the company's Q1 2012 performance and offers a look ahead to drupa.

John Foley: QR Codes and Other Ways Your Audience Interacts with Print

Published April 20, 2012

John Foley owner of interlinkONE and Grow Socially gives a few tips and tricks on QR Codes, mobile marketing, and other ways you can get your audience to interact with printed pieces of all shapes and sizes.

Owner John Rosenthal on Adding Mailing and Fulfillment to Digital Color Graphics

Published April 19, 2012

John Rosenthal, Owner of Digital Color Graphic tells why their mailing and fulfillment center has been such a huge asset to the company.

Becoming a thought leader with Think Patented's David McNerney

Published April 17, 2012

Think Patented's Director of Sales David McNerney discusses why their clients look to them for answers first as the area thought leader.

Val DiGiacinto: "Print is Changing"

Published April 16, 2012

Vice President of Interactive Solutions for DG3 Val DiGiacinto gives an update one year after the acquisition of the Ace Group and what the Interactive Solutions group has been up to.

How is Cloud Computing Impacting Print Production?

Published April 12, 2012

CEO of Caslon Rab Govil answers the question of cloud computing's impact on the printing community. and how printers should look to incorporate the cloud into their business.

Allegra is Excited About Opportunities that Exist for Print Services Providers

Published April 6, 2012

Vice President of Marketing for Allegra Network Jessica Eng updates us on how Allegra keeps their franchisees up to date on potential jobs.

Willie Brennan: Why Not be a Transformed Print Company

Published April 3, 2012

Founder of Custom Print Now Solutions Willie Brennan adapts the company into a full service custom print facility

Print Innovator Theo Pettaras Gives Insight to the Australian Print Market

Published April 3, 2012

Theo Pettaras, CEO and Managing Director of Digitalpress talks about the Australian print market and its challenges.

Transformation for Your Business with John Foley

Published March 27, 2012

John Foley of Grow Socially and interlinkONE shares some key tips from his book, Transformation: A New Path to Profit for the Printing Industry, and it all starts with a business plan.

Herron Printing & Graphics Builds Customer Base with Loyal Customers

Published March 23, 2012

Randy Herron of Herron Printing and Graphics talks about getting new customers in a touchy economy.

Direct Mailing Company Masterworks Looks to Better Personalize Mailing with New Technologies

Published March 16, 2012

Masterworks's Caleb Atkinson reflects on how they can incorporate the technology shown at the pre-drupa HP Inkjet First Look event at O'Niel Data Systems in Dallas.

UK PODi AppForum is Fast Approaching

Published March 16, 2012

Tony Hodgson with PODi UK looks forward to the return of the AppForum event in the UK March 29th.

Universal Healthcare Group Leverages O'Niel Data Systems Experience

Published March 15, 2012

Universal Healthcare Group's Print Production Manager Lynor Romer contributes on how they make use of O'Niel Data Systems experience for their complex material.

Colour Expert Karin Weiss Offers her Experience at HP's Inkjet First Look

Published March 13, 2012

Karin Weiss, Marketing & Colour Expert at Salmat shares her takeaway from the recent pre-drupa HP Inkjet First Look at O'Niel Data Systems.

King Printing's Opinion of HP's Inkjet First Look

Published March 12, 2012

Managing Director of King Printing Adi Chinai shares his thoughts and opinions of HP's pre-drupa sneak peek at HP and O'Niel Data Systems event in Dallas.

The Drive of Offset to Digital is HP's drupa Theme

Published March 9, 2012

Manager of HP Inkjet Press Solutions Steve Welkley continues our coverage of the O'neil Data Systems/HP pre-drupa event and shares a little about HP's drive from offset to digital for its customers.

HP Teases drupa Announcements at O'Neil Data Systems

Published March 8, 2012

Vice President and General Manager for HP Indigo Yishai Amir highlights some of the coverage a select number of customers got to see at the recent O'Neil Data Systems grand opening at their new Plaxo Texas facility.

Get to know Australia's Digitalpress with Founder Theo Pettaras

Published February 27, 2012

Theo Pettaras Founder of Digitalpress shares some background on his Sydney based business.

From Gutenburg to Zuckerberg - Print in the Mix

Published February 20, 2012

Bart Foreman President of Group 3 Marketing comment on how print has evolved to be apart of the mix with new technology mediums.

Bob Berland on Transforming a Print Company into a Communications Provider

Published February 14, 2012

Bob Berland, President of Berland Communications discusses how they transformed their legacy company into an integrated communications provider.

CEO Rab Govil Comments on Business Process Outsourcing Trend

Published February 13, 2012

CEO of Caslon Rab Govil comments on the trend of business process outsourcing as businesses review their marketing and product chains.

Greg Cholmondeley Pushes Caslon and PODi Forward

Published February 2, 2012

Caslon's Director of Web Services Greg Cholmondeley discusses new services in their portfolio to help marketing service providers further their business.

EFI's new offering to the textile printing market

Published January 31, 2012

Cary Sherburne and Strategic Project Manager Mike Wozny discuss EFI's capabilities in textile printing with the introduction of the TX3250R

Habitat for Humanity Cross Media Campaign Case Study

Published January 31, 2012

CEO of Whitestone Marketing Group Alex Marchetti shares an interesting case study on the cross media campaign they built for Habitat for Humanity

Irrelevant Print Trends with Robert Carrier

Published January 27, 2012

Cary Sherburne and Pulp's Robert Carrier discuss the driving forces behing Pulp's change and how some trends are irrelevant when compared to the solutions you can bring the customer.

AppForum 2012 Highlights and Takeaways with Dave Erlandson

Published January 27, 2012

PODi/Caslon General Manager Dave Erlandson highlights 4 key points attendees picked up at this year's AppForum

AT&T's Valerie Vargas Speaks on Direct Initiatives as the AppForum Comes to a Close

Published January 26, 2012

AT&T's Valerie Vargas shares what a major corporation is looking for when reaching their customers through direct initiative at the PODi's AppForum 2012.

Ken Schmidt Shares His PODi AppForum Keynote Thoughts

Published January 25, 2012

Former Communication Director for Harley Davidson Ken Schmidt shares the highlights from his keynote speech at PODi AppForum.

PODi AppForum Kicks Off in Las Vegas

Published January 24, 2012

President of PODi Rab Govil highlights just some of the key features at this year's PODi AppForum.

Kodak President & COO Phil Faraci on Recent Bankruptcy Announcement

Published January 20, 2012

Phil Faraci, Eastman Kodak President & COO shares some answers to common questions they've been receiving about the recent bankruptcy protection filing.

How to Win a $500,000 Multi-Channel Contract with a Nonprofit

Published January 20, 2012

Alex Marchetti, President, CEO of Whitestone Marketing Group shares an interesting case study where a very good professional relationship helped multiple entities land a $500,000 contract.

Kodak's Jon Bracken at GUA 2012

Published January 18, 2012

Richard Romano and Jon Bracken, General Manager of Unified Workflow, chat about the partnership between GUA and Kodak at the 2012 GUA conference in New Orleans.

Herron Printing & Graphics Shows Customers the Value in QR Codes

Published December 16, 2011

Randy Heron of Herron Printing & Graphics shares a case study involving a long term client and how the brought QR Codes into recent campaigns.

Hatteras Extends into Cross Media Services

Published December 13, 2011

Hatteras Director of Cross Media Marketing Jason Eagleson offers advice from his experience jumping into the cross media marketing arena.

Triangle Printers Helps Clients with Web-to-Print Solutions

Published December 8, 2011

Allison Rickett, Sales Manager for Triangle Printers, shares about the company and some of the current solutions they are implementing for their clients.

Digital Innovations Seeks to Make Social Impressions

Published December 6, 2011

Kate Dunn with Digital Innovations Group talks about how they incorporate social media into their direct marketing campaigns and how those tactics can differ for B to C or B to B target audiences.

No more metal ink cans! Long awaited ink blending system is here…

Published November 24, 2011

Herron Printing & Graphics Keeps in Touch with Clients with Social Media

Published November 22, 2011

Randy Herron of Herron Printing & Graphics shares a little information about their social media ventures.

A Case Study in Cross Media Marketing with Mike Kyle from Pace

Published November 17, 2011

Mike Kyle with Pace shares an interesting cross marketing promotional campaign proving that they can walk the new media market talk.

For Consolidated Graphics Color is Key in Photo Books

Published November 11, 2011

Cory Sawatzki, Director of Operations for Consolidated Graphics, shares some of the key things CGX is focusing on with their venture into the photo book niche.

GFI’s President Rob Luehrsen on how the Mx-Series is shaking things up

Published November 9, 2011

LithExcel's Waleed Ashoo's Advice on Partnering with Advertising Agencies at a C-Level for ROI

Published November 8, 2011

Waleed Ashoo of LithExcel shares a case study of spreading out a campaign over multiple ad agencies to create ROI for their customers.

CEO Mark Sarpa Outlines Progressive Solutions

Published November 7, 2011

Cary Sherburne interviews CEO of Progressive Solutions Mark Sarpa about the company's recent ventures.

Why Pulp Eliminated Print

Published November 7, 2011

Cary Sherburne interviews Crackerjack at Pulp Robert Carrier about the company's change from B&B Printers into the rebranded Pulp that we know today.

Cory Sawatzki Talks About CGX's Venture Into Photo Books

Published November 4, 2011

Consolidated Graphics Director of Operations, Cory Sawatzki discusses their recent venture into the niche photo book market and comments on the shift in the industry as a whole.

Consolidated Graphics Gives Their Staff IT Confidence

Published November 3, 2011

Cliff Hollingsworth, Vice President of Workflow Systems for Consolidated Graphics, shares how CGX alleviates customer's concerns in securing their data.

From the Horse’s Mouth: CGX Exec. VP and owner of Garlich Printing share GFI success stories

Published November 2, 2011

Allegra Marketing and Print is Focused on the Importance of IT and Securing Your Data in the Cloud

Published October 31, 2011

Ted Raymond with Allegra Marketing and Print shares how they've learned from their early mistakes with their IT strategy and how they are putting increasing efforts in planning their IT infrastructure and securing their cloud services.

James Michelson of JFM Concepts Talks About Cross Media Marketing

Published October 25, 2011

James Michelson shares details about his book Cross Media Marketing 101 and shares how his 10 years of cross media campaign experience can help your business.

Strategy Partners Share European QR Code Use

Published October 21, 2011

Partner Oscar Dubbeldam with Strategy Partners in the Netherlands shares with Cary Sherburne the use of QR Codes in the European market and how quickly they're seeing the adoption rate versus in the U.S.

GFI’s spokesmodel demos the revolutionary Mx6 robotic ink technician

Published October 19, 2011

A Social Tool Discussion with Rick Littrell of Magicomm

Published October 18, 2011

CMO Rick Littrell of Magicomm and Cary Sherburne chat about the social tools that are indispensable in their daily grind.

CGX Constantly Seeks Good Talent to Sell Digital Solutions

Published October 14, 2011

Vice President of Workflow Systems at Consolidated Graphics Cliff Hollingsworth chats a bit about finding good talent beyond the industry.

Ted Raymond of the Allegra Network on Attracting Talent

Published October 10, 2011

Ted Raymond Allegra Network explains how they entice good new talent through multiple channels.

Latin America Market Update with Hamilton Costa of AN Consulting

Published October 7, 2011

Cary Sherburne and Hamilton Costa of AN Consulting chat about the current status of Latin American printers and his prediction of their future market.

Jim Rosenthal: What Printers Need to Know

Published October 7, 2011

Jim Rosenthal VP and COO of Digital Color Graphics discusses two topics that are important to the survival of the industry.

The Future of Print

Published October 6, 2011

Cary Sherburne and Coleman Kane, CEO of PTI sit down to discuss the recent requests for jobs and technologies in the commercial print space and also how they're helping customers delve into the performance of the campaign.

COO Dave Zamorski on Touching the Job Less

Published October 4, 2011

Associates International won the 2010 CIPPI Award for biggest improvement in process management and customer responsiveness and that couldn't have been done without a strong partnership with vendors to reduce the manually going through job after job.

An In-Depth Look at Universal Millenium

Published September 30, 2011

CTO John Sisson and Cary Sherburne chat about Universal Millenium's interesting start leading up to where they are today.

Digital Solutions Provide Graphic Tech with More Versatility

Published September 27, 2011

COO of Graphic Tech Jim Blee sits down with Cary Sherburne to discuss the transition to include digital printing solutions but not fully replace their analog solutions.

A CGX Update with CEO Joe Davis

Published September 26, 2011

CEO Joe Davis provides Cary Sherburne with a recent update on Consolidated Graphics from an executive perspective.

GAP Intelligence Sees In-House Printing with Shorter Runs

Published September 23, 2011

Senior Analyst for GAP Intelligence Jake Fishman tells Cary Sherburne about the tactical market research firm and details some of the findings on how some enterprises are keeping print in-house.

Canon's Revgen Program gives Marketing Teams the Confidence to Sell

Published September 22, 2011

In part 2 of our Educational Video Series we speak with Frances Cicogna, Manager of Production Systems and Product Marketing at Canon, about the success of their at Triangle Printers with the launch of the Revgen Program. successwithprint.com.

Triangle Printers Builds Confidence with Canon's Revgen Program

Published September 20, 2011

In part 1 of our 2 part Educational Video Series we learn about Triangle Printers, some of the services they offer and how they've reached their full potential with Canon's Revgen Program. successwithprint.com.

The Unisource Truck

Published September 19, 2011

Cary Sherburne sits down with Ed Farley of Unisource at GraphExpo to ask, what's up with the truck?

2011 Print CEO of the Year Finalist John Lacagnina

Published September 16, 2011

Cary Sherburne presents John Lacagnina, CEO of SoftPrint Holdings with his nominee award for the 2011 Print CEO of the Year Award.

Triangle Printers Looks for New Talent at Graph Expo

Published September 16, 2011

Sales Manager Allison Rickett of Triangle Printers shares that she's not only looking for new equipment and workflow solutions, but also hopes to recruit future industry leaders.

Carl Gerhardt Print CEO of the Year Nominee

Published September 15, 2011

Cary Sherburne sits down with Carl Gerhart, Chairman and former CEO of the Allegra Network to present his nominee award for the 2011 Print CEO of the Year Award.

Hatteras's J. Eagleson Seeks Software Solutions at GraphExpo

Published September 15, 2011

The Director of Cross Media Marketing for Hatteras, J. Eagleson, shares a little about what he's looking for at this year's GraphExpo.

Kevin Cushing is 2011's Print CEO of the Year

Published September 14, 2011

Cary Sherburne interviews CEO of AlphaGraphics Kevin Cushing about what where the driving factors behind launching him to the top to be named this year's Print CEO of the Year.

Heidelberg's Advice at GraphExpo

Published September 14, 2011

CEO Bernhard Schreier and President James Dunn of Heidelberg sit down in front of the WhatTheyThink camera to not only discuss the new showings of Heidelberg at GraphExpo but also to discuss the printing situation today and offer advice to printers.

Joe Davis Congratulates 2011 Print CEO of the Year Kevin Cushing

Published September 13, 2011

Last year's inaugural Print CEO of the Year and CEO of Consolidated Graphics Joe Davis shares with Cary Sherburne the honor of winning Print CEO of the Year and talks about 2011 Print CEO of the Year Kevin Cushing.

William Arthur Comes to GraphExpo 2011 for Fresh New Technologies and Applications

Published September 13, 2011

J. Saunders, Manager for William Arthur, chats with Cary Sherburne about what the greeting and wedding card company is looking for at the GraphExpo this year.

More Changes at Mimeo

Published September 12, 2011

Continuing a previous conversation, Cary Sherburne and Charlie Corr resume their discussion of recent changes at Mimeo.

Cliff Hollingsworth of Consolidated Graphics on Migration from Offset to Digital

Published September 9, 2011

Vice President of Workflow Systems for Consolidated Graphics Cliff Hollingsworth focuses on the local operating level for migrating from offset to digital and highlights an example of reaching that goal.

Digital Color Graphics Transformation from Offset to Digital

Published September 8, 2011

C.O.O. Jim Rosenthal outlines Digital Color Graphics' digital processes they've included as the technology advanced and why they may well never buy another offset press.

Kodak Enables Printers to Work in a Hybrid Model

Published September 6, 2011

General Manager of Prepress Solutions Doug Edwards discusses Kodak's approach to a printer's digital/offset hybrid model.

The Problem with European Postal Mail

Published September 2, 2011

Netherlands Partner Oscar Dubbeldam with Strategy Partners discusses the different struggles European postal systems are struggling with versus here in the U.S.

Mike Kyle talks about Pace's drastic shift to Marketing Support Provider

Published September 1, 2011

Mike Kyle gives an overview of how Pace transformed a 36 year old printer to Marketing Support Provider by adding a suite of new in house and technological services.

Kodak Grows Business Services

Published August 30, 2011

Cary Sherburne sits down with Vice President of Marketing Judy Pribe to discuss some of the changes Kodak has done to their Services Organization division.

2011 Cross Media Trends

Published August 29, 2011

InfoTrends Group Director Barb Pellow takes a few minutes to discuss some critical trends that will impact the printing and publishing market.

Charlie Corr Discusses Some of the Changes at Mimeo

Published August 26, 2011

Cary Sherburne and Chief Strategist Charlie Corr sit down and discuss recent changes for Mimeo.

A Look at PreCycled Full Service Environmental Services

Published August 25, 2011

Cary Sherburne talks with Dan Horkan, Owner of PreCycled Inc. about the business's background and where they see the future with an increased customer demand for fast turnarounds.

GMC CEO Renee Muller Offers His Advice on Transitioning Your Company

Published August 23, 2011

As the industry sees more print service providers transition to offer other services, choosing what's right for your company can be challenging. Renee Muller, CEO of GMC offers his expertise and advice on successfully making that transition.

Franklin Event is Currently Accepting Reservations

Published August 22, 2011

Co-Chairs of the Franklin Event Gary Dolgins and Marty Maloney share with Pat Henry details about the upcoming event in New York City on September 21st, 2011. For reservations visit www.PIAlliance.org.

Communication Services Provider LithExcel provide social fundraising

Published August 19, 2011

Waleed Ashoo with LithExcel discusses the social media campaigns currently utilized as well as a look at the future for digital printing.

Mercury Print Productions adds Kodak Prosper Press to their book printing lineup

Published August 16, 2011

President of Mercury Print Productions John Place and Vice President of Book Printing Operations Christian Schamberger share with Cary Sherburne their why they chose Kodak's Prosper Press to add to their educational book printing

Digital Color Graphics' social media experiments in business development

Published August 15, 2011

Jim Rosenthal Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Digital Color Graphics explains how they're playing with social media not just for adding sales as a way of raising brand awareness and prospecting.

Take your post mail digital

Published August 12, 2011

With the global success of secure digital document delivery Senior Consultant for Infotrends Matt Swain discusses how the U.S. is approaching digital post mail.

A tour of the Océ JetStream series with Michael Poulin

Published August 11, 2011

JetStream Product Manager Michael Poulin highlights some of the features and functions of the new JetStream 1400 and 3000 series.

An inside look at U.S. vs EU analog to digital adoption

Published August 9, 2011

Strategy Partner Oscar Dubbeldam sees all sides of the international business coin that is printing. Oscar offers his insight into the adoption of digital over analog and how the two markets compare.

North American strategy for Hunkeler

Published August 8, 2011

Cary Sherburne interviews CEO of Hunkeler Stefan Hunkeler about owning a third generation Swiss company and their plans for the U.S. market.

Whitestone Marketing has 12 years of consulting experience

Published August 5, 2011

CEO Alex Marchetti talks about his firms 12 years of consulting experience in a rapidly evolving technological race.

Demonstration and overview of the ColorStream 3500

Published August 4, 2011

Thomas Hoffman, International Product Manager of the ColorStream 3500 gives us a demonstration of the latest addition to the Océ portfolio.

Kodak's Jon Bracken on workflow

Published August 2, 2011

Jon Bracken, General Manager of Unified Workflow with Kodak, chats with Cary Sherburne about what kind of workflow automation printers should be looking at.

The flexibility of Océ inkjet

Published August 1, 2011

Brian Dollard, Director of Product Marketing for Océ North America, discusses the advantages and flexibility of inkjet as more and more printers transition from offset to inkjet.

World Bank looks to the future of digital

Published July 29, 2011

Jane Bloodworth Manager of Printing Graphics and Map Design with The World Bank shares her views on the future transition to digital and the battle of toner versus inkjet.

Océ's view on the future of inkjet

Published July 28, 2011

Richard Romano sits down with Océ's VP of Technology and Solutions Guy Broadhurst to discuss the Océ inkjet strategy and where the newly announced ColorStream 3500 fits in the picture.

Francis McMahon highlights Océ's recent inkjet printing event

Published July 25, 2011

Francis McMahon, VP of Marketing discusses with Richard Romano the recent inkjet event hat showcases how all of Océ's solutions fit into their inkjet initiatives.

Allegra Marketing uses social media for target practice

Published July 21, 2011

Ted Raymond with Allegra Marketing shares some insight on how they leverage social media not only promote Allegra Marketing but to also target specific jobs.

CEO Alex Marchetti transformed Whitestone Marketing back into a marketing service provider

Published July 19, 2011

Whitestone Marketing was created to help business colleagues needing marketing consulting and direct mailing services. CEO Alex Marchetti talks about losing focus and getting back on the path to marketing services provider.

A discussion with Stefan Hunkeler on the future of feed and finish

Published July 18, 2011

Cary Sherburne asks CEO of Hunkeler Stefan Hunkeler where he sees the future of feed and finishing products in an automated work flow.

Kodak's Aaron Tavakoli on their evolving integrated campaign management workflow

Published July 15, 2011

Unified Workflow Product Manager Aaron Tavakoli discusses the strategy change to Kodak's ICM from a standalone product to a suite of services that customers need.

COO Jim Rosenthal talks about IT services and cloud computing

Published July 14, 2011

Part of Jim Rosenthal's responsibility as COO at Digital Color Graphics levies his experience in IT to look forward to the cloud.

Kodak talks about current graphic market trends

Published July 12, 2011

Chris Payne, Director of Business to Business Marketing for Kodak shares insights on some of the current trends in the marketplace.

Cloudy with a chance of IT

Published July 11, 2011

Barb Pellow with Infotrends shares how cloud-based services are on the rise in the marketplace today and the future impact on dollars in the printing industry.

Don't forget about print

Published July 8, 2011

In a rapidly expanding market towards mobile and electronic print, Jason Ellis of the EF Group reminds us to not forget about print as a service, not just something we give away to get business.

Kodak PROSPER 5000XL ribbon cutting at Mercury

Published July 7, 2011

Pat Henry steals a few minutes with the CEO of Kodak, Antonio M. Perez to discuss the ribbon cutting of Mercury's new PROSPER 5000XL and what it means for the industry.

GMC CEO Rene Muller wants people to be Inspired by their new software platform

Published July 7, 2011

Cary Sherbrune and Rene Muller discuss the rebranding and restructuring of their software line as a way looking forward with advancements in technology toward the cloud.

A discussion on the future of feed and finish with manager Yoshihiro Oe

Published July 5, 2011

Yoshihiro Oe, General Manager at Horizon, talks about how they are bringing inline finishing even closer to help reduce the costly errors of finishing mistakes.

Oscar Dubbeldam on Strategy Partner's offerings in WhatTheyThink's Marketplace

Published June 30, 2011

Oscar Dubbeldam with Strategy Partners outlines some of the European document communications research that is available in our marketplace

VP of Post Press Tech Bill Graushar on the future of feed and finish

Published June 28, 2011

Cary Sherburne grabs VP of Post Press Technology Bill Graushar from Quad Graphics to discuss what's going on in the future of the rapidly developing post press technology during a recent conversation at Hunkeler's Innovationdays.

President of the EF Group Jason Ellis talks about branded QR Codes

Published June 27, 2011

The EF Group offers more than just print, they offer whole marketing solutions for their customers. One of the ways their going beyond print is with branded QR codes.

drupa is less than a year away!

Published June 24, 2011

With everyone eagerly anticipating drupa next year, Cary Sherburne sits down with Manual Mataré for an exciting look at what we can expect in May at Messe Düsseldorf.

RR Donnelly receives 25th Annual Prism Award

Published June 23, 2011

Thomas Quinlan President and CEO of RR Donnelly chats with Pat Henry about receiving the Prism Award as well as what they look for in potential candidates graduating from graphic arts programs.

CTO Jeff Stewart gives update on Trekk Cross Media

Published June 23, 2011

Trekk Cross Media's CTO Jeff Stewart sits down with Cary Sherburne to chat about the recent updates on the company, how they're structured now, and where the stand going forward.

Gasch Printing uses Océ equipment to bring the WOW in their bookprinting

Published June 21, 2011

Gasch Printing's Director of Marketing Jeremy Hess shares their experience printing with Océ equipment to bring book printing to the independent publishing market.

Standard Register wins Sustainability and Your Processes

Published June 20, 2011

Steve McDonell, VP of Engineering and Sustainability for Standard Register, shares info about the Carbon Disclosure Project which propelled them to win the Sustainability and Your Process award at the third annual Environmental Innovation Awards.

CMO of Magicomm Rick Littrell on what printers should be doing with social media

Published June 17, 2011

Magicomm really brings the magic on social media services. CMO Rick Littrell shares how printers can bring a little magic of their own to social media markets.

Barb Pellow: Communicating with your audience is only a pocket reach away.

Published June 16, 2011

Barb Pellow, Group Director for Infotrends shares about one of the biggest needs they see, integrating print with mobile technology.

EarthColor is this year’s Beyond Sustainability Award winner

Published June 13, 2011

Dave Podmayersky, Director of Sustainability for EarthColor shares with Richard Romano just how they won the award for Beyond Sustainability at the Third Annual Environmental Innovation Awards

Xerox's Toni Schottenhammer shares a NY Mets customer case study

Published June 10, 2011

Toni Schottenhammer Market Development Manager for Xerox talks about their case study with the NY Mets and the challenge they faced filling in the seats in their new larger stadium.

IT Manager Jerry Young utilizes EFI's Digital Storefront in their end-to-end solutions

Published June 9, 2011

Johnson Anderson's IT Manager Jerry Young talks about how their end-to-end solutions start with EFI's Digital Storefront for seamless integration with Monarch in their envelope business for not only business to business but also a retail storefront for anyone.

Océ brings the Wow to transactional and book printing

Published June 7, 2011

Francis McMahon and Richard Romano chat about some of the exciting things covered at Océ's recent Wow customer event for book and transactional printing.

Ed Marino President of Wilde on the Universal WIlde merger

Published June 6, 2011

Wilde President Ed Marino discusses the merger of Wilde with Universal and the new opportunities from his perspective.

Monroe Litho wins Environmental Innovations Thought Leader Award

Published June 6, 2011

Steve Whittaker VP of Sustainability at Monroe Litho talks overviews some of the 56 sustainability initiatives that led them to win the Thought Leader award at the 3rd annual Environmental Innovation Awards.

Universal Millennium acquires Wilde

Published June 3, 2011

CTO/CMO John Sisson reveals to WhatTheyThink that Universal Millennium is acquiring the Wilde Group. Cary Sherburne interviews John for more info.

VP of Business Development Rob Blakely on successfully transitioning to a cross media provider

Published June 3, 2011

Echo Communicate's VP of Business Development Rob Blakely shares his company's experience on successfully transitioning from a forms distributor to a cross media services provider and some of the common pitfalls to lookout for.

President Jim Lucanish details the O'Niel Data Systems background

Published June 2, 2011

O'Niel Data Systems started as an in-house printer for the stock market but Jim Lucanish, President of O'Niel Data Systems, shares how far they've grown and talks a little about their recent expansion.

CGX Emerge from a end users point of view

Published June 2, 2011

Nathan de Paz Creative Services Coordinator for Mattress Firm, shares his experience at Emerge learning about how the printing industry works and where we are headed. He highlights some of the new technology, like QR Codes, that his business is currently looking into.

Patient News is the recipient of the environmental Innovation Award for Sustainability in Your Community

Published May 31, 2011

Patient News is the 3rd time winner of the Sustainability in Your Community award at the 3rd annual Environmental Innovation Awards. Holly Patrick, Product Manager for Patient News, chats with Richard Romano about the innovations they're making to stay ahead of the sustainability curve.

Lofton Labels Mike Petrulo talks about how their MIS implementation is integral to their business

Published May 26, 2011

Cary Sherburne interviews Mike Petrulo of Lofton Labels about their implementation of EFI's Radius.

CEO Joe Davis talks about a successful Emerge conference

Published May 26, 2011

CEO of Consolidated Graphics Joe Davis talks about the success of their second annual Emerge conference and highlights some of his favorite moments.

Paul Garner talks about the Emerge conference

Published May 24, 2011

Consolidated Graphics hosts the Emerge conference every year. It is a place where leaders in the print industry can get together and discuss the advances in technology. Paul Garner, Chief Technology Officer at Consolidated Graphics highlights some of the events at Emerge

Printing for Less wins Sustainability in Your Plant Environmental Innovation Award

Published May 23, 2011

Emma Fuller, Director of Manufacturing at Printing for Less shares some of their innovations that led them to win the Sustainability in Your Plant award at the 3rd annual Environmental Awards.

Barb Pellow on social media trends

Published May 23, 2011

Understanding social media is a tricky task and Barb Pellow offers some insight and trends to help your business leverage social media.

E.F. Group President Jason Ellis offers advice on transitioning to a Marketing Services Provider

Published May 20, 2011

President of the E.F. Group, Jason Ellis, offers up some solutions their using at the E.F. Group and advice on circumventing common road blocks.

VP of York Label Chris O'Brien on the challenges of multiple companies, one brand

Published May 19, 2011

York Label is a collection of over a dozen companies and building them together as one entity is no small task. Chris O'Brien, VP & CIO, discusses the value of bringing EFI Radius into their business standards to create one branded entity.

Handbook for adding value services with New Path to Profit by John Foley

Published May 17, 2011

John Foley, CEO of InterlinkOne, enters the publishing world with his new book Business Transformation: New Path to Profit. John sits down with Cary Sherburne to discuss the experience he's had in helping printers transition to marketing services that was the inspiration for the book. For more information visit New Path to Profit.

EFI releases Fiery Command WorkStation 5.3

Published May 16, 2011

Toby Weiss discusses Fiery Command WorkStation free update to 5.3 and some of its key new features included in the release.

Mobile Printing with EFI PrintMe and Xerox

Published May 16, 2011

Toby Weiss unveils PrintMe, EFI's lateset advancement in mobile printing, to Cary Sherburne and its integration into Xerox's Mobile Print Solution to bring cloud and mobile printing together.

President Herberto Pachon tells us what's new at Nipson

Published May 13, 2011

President of Nipson Herberto Pachon gives Cary Sherburne an update on the company's advancements with their latest generation of presses.

Jim Tomblinson of Modern-Litho Print talks about using EFI for a unified end to end workflow

Published May 12, 2011

Jim Tomblinson Director of Operations at Modern-Litho Print goes over the company background and how they utilize EFI's toolset to unify their workflow from end to end.

John Foley talks about added value services

Published May 10, 2011

Printers can expand upon their current offerings with added value services such as mailing and warehouse fulfillment. John Foley, CEO of InterlinkOne has a background in added value services and offers his advice on how to approach bringing these services into their print house.

VP of Business Development Rob Blakely talks about Echo Communicate's transition to a cross media provider

Published May 9, 2011

Vice President of Business Development for Echo Communicate, Rob Blakely shares with Cary Sherburne their experience as they transitioned their business model from a forms distributor, to augmenting their business to include fulfillment and comercial print services, to their recent change as a cross media provider while trying to stay ahead of the curve.

Francis McMahon of Océ and Vic Stalam of Kodak announce information for the upcoming Prism awards at NYU

Published May 6, 2011

Franics McMahon, Vice President of Marketing for Océ and Vic Stalam, Vice President of Commercial Sales at Kodak about the upcoming Prisim awards June 21 at Gotham Hall in New York. For more information and registration information visit tinyurl.com/4ob6o8.

CEO Guy Gecht welcomes Cary Sherburne to Connect

Published May 5, 2011

Cary Sherburne sits down with CEO of EFI Guy Gecht to talk about EFI's Connect 12 conference in Las Vegas and gets an earnings update that Guy is very happy with.

Grow Socially's John Foley on social media for printers

Published May 3, 2011

John Foley of Grow Socially is back with Cary Sherbrune this week to talk social media as it relates to printers. John also offers his advice on best social media practices and it all starts with a plan.

Benoit Chatelard of InfoPrint talks about the European markets

Published May 2, 2011

InfoPrint's Senior Vice President and General Manager Benoit Chatelard updates Cary Sherburne about the current happenings of the European market.

CEO of Mound Printing Dennis Riggs shares his EFI experience

Published April 29, 2011

Cary Sherburne interviews Dennis Riggs, President & CEO of Mound Printing about what he's looking for at EFI Connect and what his take-aways are, and how EFI's solutions integrate in his workflow.

EFI's Marc Olin shares some features and releases talked about during EFI Connect 12

Published April 28, 2011

Marc Olin, Senior Vice President of EFI, and Cary continue their chat to discuss some of the announcements and breakout sessions covered during EFI Connect 12 at the Las Vegas Wynn Resort.

Senior Vice President of EFI Marc Olin talks about upcoming events at Connect 12

Published April 27, 2011

Marc Olin and Cary Sherburne discuss the post fireside chat and tease events to come at this year's EFI Connect

John Foley of Grow Socially on integrated marketing

Published April 26, 2011

John Foley, CEO of Grow Socially and InterlinkONE talks with Cary about the importance of integrated marketing strategies, some of the benefits it offers, and the new solutions it can provide.

Rick Littrell of Magicomm LLC on marketing strategies

Published April 25, 2011

Rick Littrell CMO of Magicomm LLC offers some magical advice on social media and marketing strategies.

InfoPrint's VP of Continuous Forms George Promis talks about the InfoPrint 5000

Published April 22, 2011

George Promis, Vice President of Continuous Forms at InfoPrint, talks about the worldwide success they've had in the inkjet marketplace with their InfoPrint 5000.

HP's Steven Goddard talks about their initiative in the Deinking Alliance

Published April 21, 2011

Part of our continuing Going Green coverage, Steven Goddard, Environmental Leadership Program Manager for HP shares how HP is leading the charge for green deinking initiatives.

HP's Steven Goddard shares efforts to reduce the carbon footprint in the industry

Published April 21, 2011

Going Green week continues with a clip from Steven Goddard, HP's Environmental Leadership Program Manager speaks about how the carbon footprint isn't as big as everyone thinks it is but still argues we should continue with reduction efforts.

QR Codes bring mobile to web but what brings web to mobile?

Published April 19, 2011

John Foley CEO of GrowSocially talks about QR Codes and mobile website integration with his service iFlyMobi.

Ed Farley talks about Unisource's green initiatives

Published April 18, 2011

Ed Farley, VP of Marketing and Corporate communications at Unisource, kicks off our green week by bringing us up to date on the most recent green initiatives Unisource is working on.

Toni Schottenhammer of Xerox shares a case study for their One to One Lab program

Published April 15, 2011

Toni Schottenhammer, Market Development Manager, shares a case study of their proof of concept test called One to One Labs for BPT Communication Solutions and their client the Miami University.