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.

The Power of Inkjet Expands with the Launch of Phoenix Paper Premier Inkjet Envelope

Published March 19, 2024

Phoenix Paper is proud to announce the latest addition to their Premier Treated Inkjet Line of quality papers with the release of Premier Inkjet Envelope.

SCREEN Adopts “Creating a Future in Print—Tech x Irodori” as Its Theme for drupa 2024

Published March 18, 2024

Kodak at drupa 2024: groundbreaking solutions for inkjet and traditional offset

Published March 18, 2024

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.

The integrators behind the integrators

Published March 14, 2024

Not all inkjet integration comes from large companies. Often individual inkjet experts can make the difference between success and failure.

Innovations in Inkjet for Packaging - Webinar

Published March 12, 2024

Mary Schilling, Ralf Schlözer, and Elizabeth Gooding discuss the trends and innovations driving the market in 2024

“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.

Kyocera launches new inkjet printhead

Published February 29, 2024

“KJ4B-EX1200-RC” enhances productivity over a wide range of applications, including commercial printing and package printing.

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.

Voice of the Customer: Tidewater Direct's Inkjet Journey

Published February 21, 2024

Geoffrey Eisenberg discusses Tidewater Direct's 7 year inkjet journey, and experience with Screen Americas

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.

SCREEN Develops Truepress JET 560HDX to Deliver Innovation in Print Production

Published February 6, 2024

Screen has finalized the development of its new Truepress JET 560HDX roll-fed digital inkjet press with Truepress SC and SC+ ink sets as a practical inkjet solution for printing directly onto offset coated papers without the need for pretreatment.

Voice of the Customer: JD Graphic's Nick DeBlasio on the Journey from Offset to Inkjet

Published February 6, 2024

In this video sponsored by Screen, Lois Ritarossi talks with Nick DeBlasio from JD Graphic Co. Inc. about the company’s journey as it transitioned from offset to inkjet.

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.

Walker 360’s Taylor Blackwell on the Journey from Offset to Inkjet

Published January 31, 2024

In this video sponsored by Screen, Lois Ritarossi talks with Taylor Blackwell of Walker 360 about the company’s journey as it transitioned from offset to continuous-feed production inkjet, finding some of the biggest challenges in finishing.

Agfa and EFI Forge Strategic Partnership to Propel Digital Print Transformation

Published January 30, 2024

Agfa and EFI proudly announce that they have entered into a global strategic partnership aimed at leveraging each other’s cutting-edge technologies. The collaboration between two industry leaders marks a significant milestone in the wide-format inkjet printing arena.

Wide Format Domination: Strategies to Boost Print Shop Profits

Published January 30, 2024

Learn how software puts wide-format printers on the fast track to growth by optimizing the customer experience, streamlining the processes required to produce the work, managing the many variables that affect timely delivery, and capturing valuable insights and data to steer the business forward.

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.

Ready to Automate Your Print Workflow...Now What?

Published January 23, 2024

A framework for making workflow automation improvements part of your 2024 plan.

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.

Printing Outlook 2024

Published January 19, 2024

The Printing Outlook 2024 report provides detailed analysis of the latest WhatTheyThink Printing Industry Survey, the latest industry economic data and macroeconomic trends, as well as industry and cultural technological trends to look out for in 2024 and beyond. 

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.

Ed Jansen on Canon's Latest Inkjet Innovations

Published January 11, 2024

Elizabeth Gooding talks with Ed Jansen, VP of Marketing Production Printing Solutions at Canon Solutions America and the exciting announcements surrounding the varioPRINT ix-1700 and Labelstream LS2000. These presses expand Canon's portfolio and make it more accessible to a wider group of customers. 

Bluetree Group Orders Second Landa Press to Support Rapidly Growing Book Printing Market

Published January 8, 2024

The largest online printing company in the UK, has ordered a second Landa S10P Nanographic inkjet press.

Mastering Efficiency: Demystifying Wide Format Workflow

Published January 1, 2024

Learn how software puts wide-format printers on the fast track to growth by optimizing the customer experience, streamlining the processes required to produce the work, managing the many variables that affect timely delivery, and capturing valuable insights and data to steer the business forward.

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.

KYOCERA NIXKA Inkjet Systems (KNIS) Launches LENIX 1200 A new modular and scalable inkjet “printbar”

Published December 12, 2023

Following the launch of GENIX 1200, 2 months ago, the KNIS team is now introducing to the market LENIX 1200, a high-quality water-based inkjet printbar, to address packaging, publishing and many other industrial applications.

2023 Production Inkjet from Customer Communications to Graphic Arts - Webinar Replay

Published December 11, 2023

Production inkjet for paper-based applications such as books, customer communications and graphic arts now cover a wide range of productivity, formats and go-to-market strategies.

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.

Making a wish list

Published December 5, 2023

It's the time of year when 2024 budgets are being finalized and drupa dreams are glazing your shop manager's eyes. How can you really know what to put in that budget amidst a continuous flurry of new press, software and finishing announcements? We have some ideas!

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.

Kyocera’s Expanding Footprint

Published November 15, 2023

Kyocera is moving into the production print industry with 30 years of expertise in developing ink and material jetting solutions.

Automation-focused RICOH Pro VC80000 rewrites inkjet economics for customers

Published November 14, 2023

Advancements in press startup, print speed, quality control, color management, media changeover, and predictive maintenance increase production capacity and return-on-investment.

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.

Web-to-Pack at the Speed of Retail – Part 2: Challenges and Solutions

Published November 8, 2023

Breaking down web-to-pack solutions, approaches, and challenges. Part 2 of 2.

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.

Engage your B2B Customers

Published November 1, 2023

In a continuation of how to interview customers, Dan Adams discusses how to engage your B2B customers. You have a few objectives when interviewing: customer insight and customer engagement. The best salespeople ask questions that engage customers about their needs. 

Web-to-Pack at the Speed of Retail – Part 1 – Driving Demand

Published October 31, 2023

Growing demand for quick-to-shelf packaging drives web-to-pack adoption. Part 1 of 2.

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.

E-commerce Opens High-Revenue Opportunities for Inkjet

Published October 26, 2023

Smithers reports packaging jobs in North America related to digital print e-commerce will be worth $1.26 billion in 2023.

All in One vs. Hybrid: Living in Perfect Harmony

Published October 25, 2023

A modular hybrid solution will provide the widest range of process adaptability to address shifting packaging market requirements.

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.

Printware’s New iJetColor1175 Envelope Press Delivers Affordability, Profits with Low Interest Rates.

Published October 18, 2023

Printware will introduce its most affordable HP® powered iJetColor Envelope Press at PRINTING United in Atlanta, Georgia, this week. The 2023 commercial release of the iJetColor tm1175 delivers profitability with this next generation of benchtop envelope system. Visit booth B1455 to see it deliver speed, reliability, profitability and special financing options.

World’s first B2 perfecting sheet-fed aqueous-based inkjet press accelerates digital transformation for print service providers seeking new ways to engage customers

Published October 18, 2023

RICOH Pro Z75 Digital Press offers businesses a clear path from offset to digital with global availability after driving efficiency, adding production flexibility, and expanding application opportunities for beta customer

Fujifilm and Kao Collins Focus on Interoperability between FUJIFILM’s 42K Printbar System and Kao Collins’ X-BAR Universal Controller

Published October 16, 2023

Product compatibility benefits will be highlighted for the first time at the 2023 PRINTING United Expo.

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.

Canon Announces Expansion of its Series of Highly Successful B3 Sheetfed Inkjet Presses with the varioPRINT iX1700

Published October 12, 2023

Canon Announces the Expansion of its Label Printing Portfolio with New LabelStream LS2000

Published October 12, 2023

Buying Inkjet Part 2: Defining the Meaning of “Can”

Published October 12, 2023

When evaluating inkjet presses, it’s not enough to learn that the equipment “can” do certain things. You need to know what happens when you do.

KYOCERA NIXKA Inkjet Systems KNIS) Launches GENIX 1200 A new generation of color and monochrome inkjet print engine

Published October 11, 2023

KNIS team is proud to announce t he official launch of its first product called GENIX 1200, a smart inkjet print engine addressing a large range of applications.

Persuade customers to be interviewed

Published October 10, 2023

Dan Adams is back with the latest in his innovation video series - getting your customers to talk.

Screen announces cooperation with KYOCERA on new press

Published October 6, 2023

The prototype Screen Truepress JET S320 prototype will make its debut at PRINTING United Expo

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.

Kyocera announces Commercial High-Speed Inkjet Printer 

Published October 5, 2023

Kyocera announces the TASKalfa Pro 55000c commercial inkjet production printer that supports a wide range of media including offset coated paper.

Buying Inkjet Part 1: Does This Printer Make Me Look Good?

Published October 4, 2023

Where does IWCO go to narrow the field for their inkjet evaluations?

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.

The Realities of Generative AI in the Printing Industry Today

Published September 13, 2023

A free, practical guide to the most realistic applications of generative artificial intelligence tools for printing organizations.

Kodak announces KODAK EKTACOLOR Inkjet Inks and OPTIMAX Primers

Published September 12, 2023

The Production Inkjet Evolution: Xeikon

Published September 12, 2023

A look at the inkjet journey of Xeikon, Flint Group and their customer Label Source.

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.

The Production Inkjet Evolution: Ricoh Production Inkjet

Published August 29, 2023

The journey from Riken Sensitized Paper to Ricoh production inkjet.

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.