Get the trusted insights you need to understand our evolving industry and emerging trends. Become a Premium Member.
While Seybold focused on new digital technologies, and how they could drive the digital transition, the OPS focus is on the shifting markets and the role of technology challenges and opportunities in print to support those changes. The common thread is that print is a very dynamic industry, and only those that are willing to live with change will not only survive, but thrive. Read More
February 2026 saw printing industry employment increase a scant 0.1% from January, with production employment up 0.2% and non-production employment down by 0.1%. Read More
In 2025, a designer created a new typeface every month. A box that can be assembled and sealed without adhesives or tape. The graphic design of Parker Brothers board games of the 1970s. Press-on acrylic fingernails that change color when an electric charge is applied. A robot worker in a California restaurant went nuts. Researchers at Cornell University have developed a Corporate [BS] Receptivity Scale. How different foods reflected on Shakespearean characters. Two words: liquid gears. Graphene enables biosensing of depression. How familiar are you with the floppy disk music scene? The number one nut in America. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Heidi Tolliver-Walker takes a close look at LiftERP, part of Durst’s Smart Factory portfolio that targets the mid-to-enterprise segment of the print industry. Read More
In this article, provided courtesy of PostPress magazine, Erin Judge looks at how and why companies increasingly are investing in anti-counterfeit packaging technologies—including embellishment technologies like foils and films. Read More
Canva just redrew the creative landscape again, and this time, it’s aimed squarely at professionals. By merging its 2024 Affinity acquisition into a free, full-featured design suite that plugs directly into Canva’s collaborative ecosystem, the company has built an end-to-end environment for creating, approving, and delivering content across every channel, including print. For designers and print providers alike, this shift isn’t just another software update; it’s a fundamental change in how creative work is produced, shared, and delivered, bringing both unprecedented opportunity and new production challenges in the months ahead. Read More
If you’re looking to optimize your website for AI search, hang onto your cowboy hat. It's the Wild West out there. There is help available, but vet the options carefully. Is there a DIY solution? If so, what does that look like? Heidi Tolliver-Walker explains. Read More
In a world where content is abundant and trust is fragile, community has become one of the most practical ways to build brand equity, built through presence, consistency, and connection. It’s created by making space for peers to share what’s working, ask real questions, and validate decisions with confidence. Joanne Gore gives the inside scoop. Read More
Focus on textile recycling has increased around the globe. More than 80% of clothing waste is discarded in landfills. Reju, a leader in textile recycling, is opening a plant in Rochester, N.Y. Is this the start of scaling up textile recycling in North America, which has lagged behind Europe and other parts of the world? Read More
Dscoop Rockies 2026 was firmly directed at the future, with AI, partnerships, and nonstop printing as the major themes, providing the attendees with a view of their direction and the direction of HP going forward. Read More
According to the latest edition of County Business Patterns, in 2023 there were 22,301 establishments in NAICS 323 (Printing and Related Support Activities). This represents a decline of 23% since 2010. In macro news, inflation is still reasonably under control...for now. Read More
Get out your eggs: next week is the vernal equinox. Thousands of authors are publishing an “empty book” to protest AI firms using their work without permission. An AI-generated video purporting to explain Spam ended up creating spam about Spam. Reading can have positive effects on your nervous system. A new collection of 19th- and early 20th-century typeforms that inspired the work of Parisian sign painters. The color of a concert hall can affect how we perceive and enjoy a musical performance. A robotic appendage for humans based on the design of a centaur lets people become their own pack animals. A winter tire with retractable studs that automatically adjust to changes in temperature and surface pressure. A 3D animation of what Pompeii would have looked like before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Graphene-liquid metal sensors unlock 3D force detection for robots. United can now eject or ban passengers who fail to use headphones while listening to audio or video content. Good! “Food grammar,” or how cuisine obeys grammatical rules that vary from country to country. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
The print industry is working to identify where artificial intelligence can deliver the most meaningful value. Most of today’s AI-driven solutions are focused on improving operational performance, but there is more to the equation. This article explores how AI can be used to improve print’s effectiveness, productivity, and ROI. Read More
Can something that looks like money be a magnet for raising real money? Bob Bednar says the answer is a take-it-to-the-bank yes. Read More
Do you understand your product mix? Can you describe it in measurable terms? What are the elements of the mix that work in your favor? What elements work against you? Do you have a lot of customers who are a poor fit for your company? As hard as profits are to come by it could be great investment of your time to look into “the Mix.” Read More
Heidi Tolliver-Walker examines a February 2026 UK study finding that two-thirds of women over 50 struggle with mental health issues, with 90% not asking for help. As women increasingly lead print businesses, their well-being directly impacts leadership stability and the bottom line. Fortunately, print employers can take some simple steps to help. Read More
Upstream file problems, standards-based appearance governance, and what can go wrong between design and installation across materials, processes, sites, and seasons. Read More
On February 15 of this year, Paul Brainerd—the father of desktop publishing—passed away at the age of 78. WhatTheyThink contributor Alan Darling takes a first-person look at Brainerd’s life and legacy and the early days of the technology that transformed the printing industry. Read More
Vendor consolidation is reshaping the print industry, as mergers and acquisitions ripple through every corner, from press manufacturers to workflow and consumable suppliers, leaving printers wondering what will change next. Behind every upbeat press release lies a set of practical questions about product support, pricing, and service continuity that can directly impact your operations. Let’s unpack how to read between the lines of vendor deals, identify what questions to ask immediately, and turn industry upheaval into a strategic advantage for your business. Read More
Up 2 Speed Printing evolved from a small garage operation into a growing packaging producer serving food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic markets. Strategic investment in Komori offset and LED-UV technology has increased production efficiency, reduced waste, and positioned the company for continued expansion in folding carton manufacturing. Read More
As industrial print enters a new era shaped by automation, data, and artificial intelligence, leadership is no longer about predicting what comes next. It is about earning the future through consistency, credibility, and shared purpose. The message from Denver was clear: the future of industrial print will not be built in isolation. It will be built together. Read More
Clear Channel Outdoor Sold, Kubin-Nicholson Closes, and more … Read More
November 2025 shipments came in at $7.15 billion, a precipitous drop from October’s $8.08 billion. Read More
Mark Michelson has been inducted into the Printing Industry Hall of Fame. A new traveling exhibition of 300 typefaces created by students from around the world. The smallest QR code ever created is only 1.98-square-micrometers. Saint Rita’s Amazing Traveling Bookstore and Textual Apothecary is an itinerant bookseller. The Pope discourages AI-generated sermons. Liquid Death and Spotify have created the “Endless Playlist Urn.” How heavy was the first ever 1 GB hard drive? Graphene fibers mimicking polar bear fur enable improved thermal management and wearable electronics. Do yourself a mischief with a pair of powered skis. Get in on the latest travel trend: mermaiding. (Mermaiding?) A daredevil, a parachute, and Devil’s Tower: what could possibly go wrong? New research has found that air fryers are safer for indoor use than other cooking methods. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Read about this year’s FASTSIGNS Project of the Year winners: FASTSIGNS of Bend, Oregon, FASTSIGNS of Mobile, Alabama, and FASTSIGNS of Maple Shade, New Jersey. Read More
From December 2 to December 5, 2025, the largest dedicated labels and package printing event in the region was held in Shanghai, China, attracting over 30,560 visitors from 114 countries. WhatTheyThink contributor Oleg Litvinov attended the show, and sums up the digital label printing equipment on display, as well as the expanding market for digital labels. Read More
A Reddit thread that started in late February offers a rare window into what single-operator print shops are experiencing in today’s sometimes brutal print industry environment. Heidi Tolliver-Walker plays “fly on the wall” and reports on what small shops are saying among themselves about the challenges of keeping their doors open. Read More
Shifting consumer market demands and supply chain challenges are changing the way that CPGs are looking at their manufacturing lines. Their goal is modular and super flexible. That includes product decoration—i.e., labeling. Ultimately, they need marketing and manufacturing to close the loop with each other on what the marketing efforts are and the actual manufacturing ability is. Read More
We’ve been following the progress of wearables since beginning our formal coverage of textiles and apparel in 2018, and it is amazing the progress that is being made. This article highlights two examples that demonstrate that progress. Read More
Industry leaders choose swissQprint to grow faster and smarter. Our UV LED large format printers unlock new revenue, boost throughput and deliver proven reliability. Raise margins and gain full control. Contact swissQprint America and start your success story. Read More
“Flong Time, No See: Forgotten Stories of Printing and Labor” is a collection of essays about printing history. Recognizing the inventors of the cardboard stencil. How to write a cat font alphabet. Turning unusable, unrecyclable printed money into furniture. 3D-printed batteries could revolutionize product design. Know why you hate QR code menus? Because you *really* want AR menus. One of Thomas Edison’s least successful inventions was a “spirit phone.” A new process produces graphene from waste peanut shells. Egads, kids are bringing back archaic expressions. A man accidentally gains control of 7,000 robot vacuum cleaners. One small business owner is taking on so-called food influencers. Call the cardiologist: Dunkin’ is test-marketing new, 48-ounce Beverage Buckets. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany—bet on your enjoyment of this feature at Kalshi! Read More
Wide-format printing no longer competes on capability alone. As production grows more complex and expectations rise, advantage depends on how deliberately technology and workflow are aligned to deliver consistent execution. This report explores automation, data, and AI shifts redefining efficiency and profitability in 2026. Read More
2026 Issue 1 This issue of the WhatTheyThink Quarterly is all about “appearance,” perhaps the most important facet of printed materials, with an emphasis on embellishments, one of the hottest and growing ways of improving the appearance of printed materials. Read More
Ready for some good news? Sustainable packaging has moved from a nice talking point to a real, monetizable premium. That shift isn't just about swapping substrates. It's about understanding which groups of consumers will pay more, how much more they'll pay, and where printers can reasonably charge for added value. Heidi Tolliver-Walker looks at the numbers. Read More
Estimating may be the most natural application of artificial intelligence to the business end of printing and packaging. Here, three providers of AI solutions for estimating explain how the technology works and why the industry should embrace it. Read More
As digital media continues to dominate, PSPs must diversify their offerings to stay competitive. The photo book market continues to experience growth, driven by consumers’ desire for personalized and tangible representations of their memories. This article explores the market potential of photo books and considers how PSPs can benefit from adding photo book printing to their offerings. Read More
Business leaders usually allocate their time by lining up potential tasks according to their perceived importance to strategy and crucial priorities until they run out of time. Wayne Lynn explains why this thinking is flawed and how to resolve the dilemma. Read More
In partnership with the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF), each month we profile a promising student in a graphic communications or related program. The goal is to raise awareness of graphic communications programs, as well as help students get a “leg up” on entering the industry after graduation. This month, we profile Kyla Vargas, a fourth-year student at the University of Houston majoring in Digital Media. Read More
A well-planned open house can turn curiosity into commitment, transforming casual visits into lasting customer relationships and measurable sales. When printers design events with clear intent, authentic demonstrations, and thoughtful follow-up, they give buyers the proof and confidence needed to act. Done right, an open house becomes far more than a tour. It’s a strategic sales accelerator and a showcase of the people, technology, and trust that define a successful print business. Read More
Have you ever wondered if your interior is toxic? The industry is known for its use of toxic chemicals, unfortunately. Perhaps there's a way to create healthier homes while eliminating toxic chemicals from interior design. This article, provided compliments of Texintel CEO Debbie McKeegan tackles that possibility. Read More
In this article from the Printing & Manufacturing Journal, Nessan Cleary discusses the potential acquisition of wide-format equipment manufacturer Mutoh by officer machines giant Brother, and how this bid is part of a wider strategy from Brother Industries to expand into the industrial print market. Read More
January 2026 saw printing industry employment decline 2.7% from December, with production employment down 1.8% and non-production employment down by 0.9%. Read More
Ringing in the Year of the Horse. “Why should I bother to read something someone else couldn’t be bothered to write?” A romance author used AI to produce more than 200 romance novels, each one no doubt a classic. IBM will triple entry-level hiring for roles “we’re being told AI can do.” An artist is transforming a wheatfield into a giant photographic image. Weird inventions from 1940s science magazines. Thomas Edison’s 1879 light bulb has been turned into a mini graphene reactor. Waymo is paying gig workers from DoorDash to close the doors of its robotaxis. Bubble Wrap as inexpensive window insulation. MTV Rewind is an archive of the channel’s music video shows. Young men are turning to dog food for meal inspiration, for some reason. A french fry box with a built-in ketchup pocket. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
With 14 tracks and 152 sessions, 40 of them focused on packaging, attended by over 518 attendees and 16 partners, this 26th year of CONNECT continues to be a unique and valuable users conference. Product roadmaps along with industry trends, automation, and AI were at the top of mind for the enthusiastic crowd. Read More
In many parts of the country, this has been an exceptionally cold winter, and cold weather impacts not just our utility bills, car performance, and general sick-of-winter-ness, but also negatively impacts display graphics—specifically, the films and other consumables used for window, vehicle, and other graphics. Richard Romano speaks with Avery Dennison about some cold- (and hot-) weather installation tips. Read More
Explore Kodak’s step-by-step plate-making process with this interactive demo. Read More
In this article, provided courtesy of PostPress magazine, Erin Judge explores how the increasing demand for environmentally conscious packaging solutions is making waves across the entire supply chain—raising critical questions about responsibility, collaboration and clarity. Read More
After last week's column on AI search optimization, the author received a phone call from a printer who wasn’t seeing the results that the article seemed to promise. His company is investing heavily in AI search, but he wasn't seeing evidence that AI referrals were producing higher-margin or more complex jobs than any other marketing channel. Thus, he questioned the conclusion. What happened? Read More
Traditional printing markets have been shrinking as a result of an increase in online technologies, and shifting consumer demands. Diversification in the printing industry is the deliberate expansion beyond a shop’s traditional core applications, markets, or business model to create new, more resilient revenue streams and reduce dependence on shrinking legacy work. Read More
Komori’s J-throne 29 B2 UV-LED inkjet press blends offset DNA with digital efficiency. Installed at 1Vision in Houston, the press delivers high-speed productivity, reliable sheet handling, and compact footprint performance. Designed for commercial and packaging printers, it offers consistent quality, push-button operation, and a competitive edge in modern print production. Read More
Can the fashion industry make the move from disposable to durable, reducing volumes but maintaining profitability? A recent Sourcing Journal fireside chat made the case that it is not only possible, but necessary. Read More
The labels and packaging market is entering a phase where momentum alone is no longer enough. As digital print, software, and automation are judged more on performance than promise, technology and investment decisions are becoming more consequential. Keypoint Intelligence’s 2026 Labels & Packaging Predictions highlight the forces shaping this next phase, offering a clear view of how industry participants can turn insight into direction. Read More
Victorian valentines featured elaborate, mechanical paper cobwebs. This year, why not send Lego roses? The mass market paperback looks like it’s being phased out. Who coined the term “cloud computing” and when? Archaeologists uncovered evidence of an ancient culture thought mathematically—before numbers were invented. Happy 100th birthday, Schrödinger wave equation! What happened to the Mona Lisa’s eyebrows? Waymo’s Autopilot is just a bunch of guys in the Philippines. Japan’s office chair racing competition is as awesome as it sounds. A new approach to plastic surgery: “corpse fat injections.” A new option for a waffle maker. The Wild Cherry Pepsi SPF 30 Tinted Lip Gel. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s Friday the 13th miscellany. Read More
It’s a nearly invisible trend that nevertheless damages many aspects of American life: the struggles of adults who can barely read or in some cases can’t read at all. Patrick Henry explains how this affects printers. Read More
In late 2025, Keypoint Intelligence conducted its annual customer communications research of nearly 300 business respondents in the United States. Concurrently, it also conducted a related survey of 1,480 consumer respondents. This article provides a brief overview of the results of these surveys. It also explores how organizations will likely build their communication strategies in the coming year based on this data. Read More
Whether or not you have built a strong strategy is often not apparent until you have accumulated a few years of successful achievement of short-term goals. Wayne Lynn explains how the groundwork done in creating strategy results in the setting of long-term visionary goals—but unless you break them down into successive short-term goals, you don’t stand a chance of getting there. Read More
In conjunction with Taktiful, we are launching a new periodical feature called “Voice of the OEM,” in which representatives from industry vendors share their thoughts about leadership from the OEM perspective. In this inaugural installment, Sharp’s Dino Pagliarello talks about lessons he learned from his family’s winemaking business. Read More
Why bother investing in AI search engine optimization when most businesses still just Google “commercial printer near me” or call someone they know? Because SEO only works…until it doesn’t. Here’s when it doesn’t. Read More
In this two-part feature, Taktiful’s Kevin Abergel takes a deep dive into the complex psychological underpinnings of how and why tactile experiences such as print embellishments are so effective. In Part 2, Kevin delves into the brain’s reward circuitry, and explores how we can design materials to take advantage of the brain’s desires. Read More
Across the business-to-business world, companies are rediscovering the impact of opening their doors and showing customers how work really gets done. Research proves what many instinctively know—when buyers see operations firsthand, trust grows, and sales follow. For the printing industry, open houses offer a powerful way to demonstrate technology in real conditions, strengthen relationships, and turn transparency into a lasting competitive advantage. Read More
The ultimate goal of dappas is to help facilitate design and eliminate the entire prepress production, so all the converters who are working with them get a stream of work that is ready to go to press and converting. Read More
Multi-Color Corporation Files Prepack Chapter 11, Marking a Turning Point for the Label Industry, and more… Read More
According to County Business Patterns, in 2010, there were 2,378 establishments in NAICS 54185 (Outdoor Advertising). This NAICS 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, but it has climbed back up to 2,549 establishments in 2022. In macro news: Retail sales for November 2025 were up 0.6% from October, and up 3.3% year-over-year. Read More
During Sunday’s Super Bowl, the NFL is testing a new system for giving vision-impaired fans the ability to “feel” the game. Dial-a-Poem is back! The American Sign Museum in Cincinnati is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a lavish book. Celebrating the New Deal’s post office mural project. Creating fabric fibers that are themselves computing circuits. “This page intentionally left blank” has been around for 500 years. The Zerowriter Ink is an E Ink-based electronic typewriter with an electrophoretic screen, a physical keyboard, and nothing else. Putting data centers in space is a bad idea. “Alaska Art Student Arrested for Eating Another Student’s AI-Generated Art in Protest.” Giant binder clips as fashion accessories. Lego and Crocs have introduced the Brick Clog, for reasons passing understanding. Uber Eats lets you create your own Super Bowl commercial. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
ISA International Sign Expo 2026 will be held April 7–10, with the tradeshow open April 8–10, at Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Find out what attendees can look forward to at this year’s Expo. Read More
Roland DG announced that it had entered into a global distribution partnership with LSINC, a manufacturer of high-productivity direct-to-object printers, a move that continues Roland DG’s interest in exploring adjacent and complementary markets. Read More
Print embellishments work. Not just because they look nice, but because they trigger the same behavioral principles that have been driving retail sales for decades. Read More
One of the issues holding back further development of direct-to-film (DtF) textile printing is that current solutions rely on applying a powder on top of the still wet ink. In this article from the Printing & Manufacturing Journal, Nessan Cleary explains how vendors are working on powderless solutions—with Matsui ahead of the pack at this stage. Read More
Sun Print Solutions has evolved from a traditional offset printer into a diversified print provider serving packaging, commercial, and digital markets. By investing in new technology, workforce development, and hybrid production capabilities, the company has doubled revenue in six years while improving speed, quality, and operational flexibility. Read More
In this Product Spotlight, David Zwang takes a deep dive into Fiery JobFlow Pro, a new and innovative workflow platform based on intelligent automation. Read More
In this two-part feature, Taktiful’s Kevin Abergel takes a deep dive into the complex psychological underpinnings of how and why tactile experiences such as print embellishments are so effective. In Part 1, the attraction to the shiny is a product of human evolution. Read More
Efforts to return apparel manufacturing back to the U.S. at scale has been stymied by the lack of sewing talent at scale. CreateMe’s Founder and CEO Cam Myers explains how bonding technology—using adhesives—can replace thread for some garment applications. This could be a game-changer for reshoring. Read More
Make your next vacation destination a “book town.” A unique piece of furniture that is functional and serves as a love letter to books. A company that restores vintage posters. A gallery of lettering found on pencils. An elaborate Lego typewriter (another one). The Doomsday Clock has now been set to 85 seconds to midnight. A faster-charging, safer alternative to Li-ion batteries. An autonomous robotic snowblower. Japanese researchers are developing an “ocean-safe” plastic. The dangers of the forever chemical “dihydrogen monoxide.” An artist created an animated interpretation of Genesis’ classic 1974 concept album “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.” Coming this May: the Second Annual Wienie 500! Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
October 2025 shipments came in at $8.00 billion, up from September’s $7.55 billion. Read More
Offset lithography may no longer predominate in the printing industry in the same way it used to. But one company’s loyalty to the process demonstrates that its value as a service offering remains undiminished. Read More
In partnership with the Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation (PGSF), each month we profile a promising student in a graphic communications or related program. The goal is to raise awareness of graphic communications programs, as well as help students get a “leg up” on entering the industry after graduation. This month, we profile Mira Shupe, a fourth-year student at Cal Poly studying graphic communication, with a concentration in graphics for packaging. Read More
Today’s consumers receive information through a wide range of channels, including e-mail, print, text/SMS, mobile apps, account portals, and in-app notifications. While digital channels are widely used, print continues to play an important role. This article provides a brief overview of consumers’ preferences and behaviors regarding transactional and direct mail. It also discusses how these preferences and behaviors vary by age/generation. Read More
Heidi Tolliver-Walker reports from a Digital Embellishment Designer Meetup, sponsored by Taktiful, in which designers come together to learn both from the presenter and from each other. Read More
The hardest thing to get your arms around in running a business is reliably forecasting the future sales needed to grow the business. Wayne Lynn explains why this is so complicated, and offers some suggestions for improving sales projections. Read More
Using inkjet for book manufacturing enables ultra-fast turnaround, critical for Amazon, educational publishers, and self-published authors, so books can be printed as orders arrive, drastically reducing unsold inventory. Inkjet book production will continue reshaping the publishing landscape, making it possible to efficiently print, personalize, and deliver books at nearly every scale from bestsellers to niche specialist titles through 2030 and beyond. Read More
In a recent masterclass hosted by The Fashion Network, leading experts discussed the critical changes required in fashion-related supply chains, noting that in a post-pandemic world, it’s no longer a question of if your supply chain will face disruption, but when, Provided compliments of Debbie McKeegan, CEO of Texintel, the discussion provides actionable strategies to future proof operations. Read More
Trade shows have roared back to life, proving that no digital substitute can match the energy, trust, and tangible proof found on a bustling show floor. Across industries, and especially in print, attendees are arriving with intent, exhibitors are closing more deals, and the focus has shifted from counting badge scans to measuring meaningful engagement. In a world where technology, relationships, and opportunity converge face-to-face, trade shows have reclaimed their place as the most potent catalyst for progress in the printing industry. Read More
A fully cellulose-based paper battery. 3D printing polymer microstructures inside a human cell. An Italian design agency on how to use AI responsibly. Analyzing stains on Renaissance manuscripts to see what folk medicine practitioners were experimenting with. The “Penguin Donkey” was an unsuccessful book storage unit designed in 1939. Researchers develop 3D graphene-derived blocks for improved conductive inks. On August 12, 2026, will the Earth will lose gravity for seven seconds? Custom print your own retro Blockbuster VHS inserts. A musical road in Hungary that plays a song when a car drives at the posted speed limit. Highlights from the 35th Annual Housekeeping Olympics. When did pie-throwing become a staple of slapstick comedies? “The most popular Super Bowl snacks across the US, according to Instacart.” Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
At the Impressions Expo in Long Beach CA, Epson announced an addition to its G-Series family of Direct-to-Film printers, the SureColor® G9070. WhatTheyThink spoke with product manager Paul Morales to get all the details. Read More
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, but dipping a little in 2020, and then back up to an all-time high of 5,910 in 2022. In macro news: Q3 GDP grew at an annualized 4.4%. Read More
Rochester, N.Y.’s Flower City Group has launched a new substrate for plastic signage that has been specially developed to biodegrade exponentially faster than traditional plastics used in sign applications. Meet DegraTECH®. Read More
In this article, provided courtesy of PostPress magazine, Jeff Peterson looks at the current state of greeting cards—and how specialty finishing effects and embellishments are helping keeping this segment of the industry resilient despite the rise of the internet and digital communication. Read More
As commercial print volumes decline, folding carton packaging offers a powerful path forward. Commercial printers can repurpose existing sheetfed offset equipment to enter a sustainable, high-demand market. This article explores the opportunity, real-world success stories, and Komori’s solution-first strategy to support a seamless transition. Read More
As AI search gradually overtakes traditional search for both business buyers and consumers, printers are increasingly looking to AI search optimization to save them. But if your marketing fundamentals are broken (or non-existent), your AI search efforts will flop. Read More
The most practical AI wins in print do not happen on the pressroom floor. They happen earlier, where sales, CSR, estimating, and admin teams translate customer intent into production reality. This article explores how generative AI reduces friction, rework, and risk before ink ever hits paper. Read More
As the apparel manufacturing industry left the United States in the 70s and 80s in search of cheaper labor, it left the sewing talent we had in search of new careers, or moving on to retirement. Now we are trying to reclaim that talent pool in order to bring at least some of that manufacturing back here. Michael McDonald, President of SPESA, shares his thoughts on this challenge from the perspective of the suppliers to the industry. Read More
Print isn’t fading away, and digital isn’t taking over the way many expected. New research from Keypoint Intelligence shows how customer behavior and regulatory realities are reshaping the communications landscape and challenging long-held assumptions about channel preference. Here we examine what that shift means for organizations working to modernize customer communications without losing trust. Read More
Are mobile phones with physical keypads are starting to make something of a comeback? The haptic Momentum Calendar is “a physical manifestation of time.” Iceland’s rich graphic design tradition. A drone-based flying umbrella that automatically follows you. When in Burlington, Vt., visit the world’s tallest filing cabinet. We want these: new glasses can change their prescription on the fly depending on what you’re looking at. New 3D graphene nanomaterial for batteries. The 2020 pandemic lockdowns had an impact on birds’ beak size. An astrophotographer travels across the US to photograph the Milky Way at every level of light pollution. A startup is looking to build the first hotel on the Moon. A sushi roll that functions as a handheld snack à la push pop candy. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Those of us in the printing industry love what we do, enjoy our industry colleagues, and are proud of the printed materials we produce or use. But what DON’T you know about printing? Read More
On an annual basis, Pantone selects a Color of the Year after careful trend analysis by experts to inspire design and conversation about how culture and color interact. The 2026 Color of the Year, Cloud Dancer, is an airy white. In addition to discussing Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year, this article provides a brief history of the colors that Pantone has chosen in recent years. Read More
The edges of bound books can be decorated, and publishers are finding plenty of good reasons to ask their printers and binders to add this extra dimension of visual appeal. Patrick Henry talks with several providers of edge printing services. Read More
Are sunk costs sinking your profits? Heidi Tolliver-Walker looks at what sunk costs are, the dangers of they hold, and offers a challenge to identify—and address—your own. Read More
One of my favorite employees of all time had a saying he used when things weren’t going well, and nobody seemed to have any idea of what to do about it. His saying was, “We have a whole lot of knowledge, but not much understanding.” Using the thorny issue of product mix and its impact on performance, Wayne Lynn begins a series of articles on how to dig out the nature of the problem, how to analyze it, and, finally, how to do something positive with your new found knowledge. Read More
HP reports that exceptional growth across commercial print, labels, and packaging underscores HP’s leadership in nonstop digital print production. Read More
Friesens was started by D.W. Friesen in 1907 as a one-man operation in a 20-foot-wide store on Main Street in Altona, Manitoba, Canada. Today, Friesens Corporation is 100% employee-owned and has a campus, still located in Altona, that has grown to encompass four divisions (Book, Yearbook, History Book, and Packaging) and employ about 600 people across North America with annual revenues well in excess $125 million Read More
