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.