Get the trusted insights you need to understand our evolving industry and emerging trends. Become a Premium Member.
Learning more about rigid print materials for flatbed printing can give your business the flexibility to design and develop unique printed products. Eileen Fritsch rounds up some substrates on display at the ISA Sign Expo. Read More
In the latest edition of “Voice of the OEM,” presented in conjunction with Taktiful, Sharp’s Dino Pagliarello talks about how innovation is not just about a specific product, but rather about how you show up in the market, how you position what you do, how you support the people who trust you enough to buy from you, and how consistent you are in delivering on that promise. Read More
In partnership with the Foundation for Graphic Communication Education (formerly the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation), 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 Chans Montgomery, a fourth-year student at the University of Houston majoring in Digital Media. Read More
How the story of a failed university mailer and the accident scene in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” illustrate BPI Media Group’s automation philosophy. Read More
Too often, conversations about Gen Z center on what they lack: experience, patience, or deep technical understanding of legacy systems. That framing misses the opportunity. Gen Z represents the industry’s best chance to rebuild institutional knowledge, modernize workflows, and redefine print as a technology-driven manufacturing career. Doing so requires a shift in how companies recruit, onboard, develop, and retain talent. Read More
A recent article in Apparel DECODED caught Cary Sherburne's attention. It notes that the second-hand apparel market is growing, and highlighted Vinted as an example. In this article, she takes a look at the market, recent changes, and projections for growth among key players. Read More
The Creators Coalition on Artificial Intelligence (CCAI) is a new organization established to define the ethical and artistic boundaries of AI in the entertainment industry. Why are pencils yellow? Japan’s Pentel has just come out with an eight-color mechanical pencil. The exact location of Shakespeare’s London property has been found. A special beanie can allow us to type by mind. A visual illusion called neon color spreading, in which the brain makes up color where none really exists. A $5 Bluetooth tracker gave away a warship’s whereabouts. A clock that “sorts the 43,200 times of day alphabetically.” Mark Twain had a longstanding rivalry with the Postal System. Patient recruitment completed for first-in-human study evaluating its graphene cortical interface. Meet the winner of the recent Beijing robot half-marathon. Prego, the pasta sauce company, is getting into hardware with a device that sits on your table and records dinner conversations. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
March 2026 saw printing industry employment overall generally flat, up 0.3% from February. And while production employment was down 0.8%, non-production employment was up by 2.9%. Read More
Modern businesses are struggling to accomplish more with less due to rising costs, an aging workforce, and ongoing labor challenges. Workflow automation is more important than ever, and robotic solutions can be an attractive way to automate. This article cites recent robotics survey findings to help determine how robots are being used today and how they might be deployed in the future. Read More
No printing business is exempt from hacking attacks and the online con games known collectively as “social engineering.” Technology safeguards, cyber insurance, and relentless vigilance are mandatory for firms that don’t want to risk having to close their doors in the aftermath of a cybercrime incident. Read More
Even if automation and AI transform your business into a much lower headcount situation, the employees you are left with will need a couple of key things: good leaders and the assurance their higher-level needs can be met working for your company. Read on to find out why. Read More
Everywhere you look, new tools are popping up promising to help you gain visibility in AI search and to tell you how visible you are in AI engines like ChatGPT. But there’s a big difference between a clean-looking score and a reliable diagnosis. Heidi Tolliver-Walker takes a look. Read More
While the politics of governments turn a blind eye to these concerning facts, upcoming generations, especially Gen Z and Millennials, tend to treat sustainability as a core expectation rather than a niche preference. Sustainable printing at a very basic level is printing that is produced using environmentally and socially sustainable materials and processes for environmentally and socially sustainable products and services. Read More
HEIDELBERG Days 2026 was held April 15–16, at the Print Media Center, the Home of Print in the town of Wiesloch-Walldorf, Germany. Existing and potential customers from around the world, accompanied by their respective country reps looked at everything Heidelberg has to offer. Dr. Abhay Sharma reports from the event. Read More
About a year ago, we provided an update on Digital Product Passports. While the news on this topic has been somewhat quiet, a recent article published by GlobalData caught my eye—the launch of the world’s first China-EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) for a textile product! Read More
Finishing 360 is returning May 20th & 21st to our National Demonstration Center in Andover, MA! Experience our full lineup of automated Horizon solutions in action and explore innovative technologies from our partners. Read More
You can now buy physical books via Spotify. Swedish schools are reintroducing printed books. Dickens is a new tough typeface for these hard times. In the early 17th century, alphabet cookies were all the rage. Did you know the @ sign dates from the 1500s? A 1962 Japanese law effectively stopped deceptive advertising and packaging. Archaeologists recently unearthed 12,000-year-old dice. Doubling the energy density of a six-minute charging graphene aluminum-ion battery. Steampunk meets haute cuisine in a weird performance art/culinary event in France. A “garage door opener as a service,” because we are truly living in a dystopian hell. An experimental “vaccine beer” uses beer to deliver antigens that target polyomaviruses. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
In a world overwhelmed by digital noise and AI-generated content, print is standing out. It is building trust, creating impact, and driving stronger results. Our research shows, marketing print applications continue to grow, reinforcing the opportunity—but capturing it requires a shift in thinking. Learn how leading print professionals are shifting the way they sell print to deliver more value, stronger results, and lasting customer partnerships. Read More
According to textiles expert and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan, we are currently witnessing the single greatest shift in information retrieval since the invention of the search engine. The internet, once a library of blue links, is rapidly transforming into an oracle of direct answers. The challenge now is not how to use AI to do more—but to use AI to matter more. Read More
Last week’s International Sign Association (ISA) Sign Expo brought the latest in physical, printed, and digital signage to Orlando, Fla. One unique section of the show floor was the Next Gen Tech Zone, a showcase of the next level of technology for signmakers. Read More
In this article, provided courtesy of PostPress magazine and Foldfactory, Trish Witkowski looks at five snazzy ways marketers can up their postcard game. Read More
Even in today’s topsy turvy economy, Independent Graphics (West Wyoming, Pa.) is excited about the installation of its new RMGT 920PF4 LED UV 24 x 36-in. four-color perfecting press, which will expand its offset capacity by 25%. Read More
Employers in every business segment have been told to expect something extraordinary from Generation Z—they are digital natives, born with a device in their hand, tech savvy from day one, intuitively fluent in software, platforms, and tools that previous generations had to learn the hard way. Core software skills were assumed rather than taught. Today, that assumption is unraveling. Read More
The printing industry is shifting from selling products to delivering business outcomes. All powered by predictability and uptime that customers can rely on. At Dscoop Edge Rockies 2026, HP introduced several tangible steps tied directly to that “outcomes” shift. Read More
In part 2 of this two-part feature, Taktiful’s Kevin Abergel talks with Sean Roberts, National Director of Digital Embellishment at Konica Minolta, about the kinds of applications that are seeing the most traction with digital embellishment. Read More
Our own Cary Sherburne talks with Terrance Barkan, Executive Director of the Advanced Carbons Council (né the Graphene Council). A short story written without using the letter I. Wite Out may have been invented 3,300 years ago. Beulah Louise Henry, aka “Lady Edison,” has 49 patents and more than 100 inventions. An overdesigned clock that makes it difficult to determine what time it is. Melting down 300 different-colored crayons and forming them into one, giant, mutant crayon. Remembering forgotten sites from the dawn of social media. Jenny’s famous phone number—876-5309—is now a cancer support hotline. Scientists at CERN have discovered a new fundamental particle of matter. Cloning a mouse one too many times. The horrifying “features as a service” model continues to tempt automakers. Is beer good for lawns? Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
According to the latest, recently released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2023 there were 15,140 establishments in NAICS 323111 (Commercial Printing except Screen and Books). This represents a decline of 31% since 2010. Read More
Is it really true that the U.S. Postal Service could run out of money in the next 12 months? In theory the answer is yes; in realistic terms the answer is no. But the system’s problems are genuine, and without serious intervention, they could prove insurmountable. Read More
Some people (myself included) still prefer to pack a few printed books when traveling, even if it means sacrificing a layer or two. Printed books are facing challenges in today’s digital world, but they are proving remarkably resilient. As discussed in this article, modern readers are finding new and inventive ways to share their love of traditional books. Read More
Manroland Sheetfed Files, BP Print Group Acquires, and more … Read More
Revisiting a previous theme, Wayne Lynn adds new thinking and perspective to the challenge of getting the most out of our people. This article starts a short series on smart leadership focused on unlocking the discretionary energy employees could, if motivated to do so, invest in making your company better, more productive, and more profitable. Read More
How are printers handling “garbage” files, including the growing influx of files from Canva? Another “fly on the wall” peek into a subreddit discussion reveals an industry divided on what best practices should be. 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
The Comexi Offset CI Evolution is a solvent-free hybrid press using EB curing for sustainable packaging. It offers digital-like agility with industrial productivity, reducing costs via low-cost aluminum plates. This solution ensures food safety and compliance with PPWR while maximizing efficiency. Read More
In conjunction with Taktiful, we have launched a new feature called “Voice of the OEM,” in which representatives from industry vendors share their thoughts about leadership from the OEM perspective. In this installment, Sharp’s Dino Pagliarello talks about how to build trust. Read More
The Graphene Council, now renamed as The Advanced Carbons Council, has been a key source of information about graphene, often called a miracle material. As graphene, which was discovered in 2004, has matured and is less of a niche material, this expansion of the group’s focus signified by its renaming creates a unique entity, as explained by its Executive Director, Terrance Barkan, in this interview. Read More
March 10, 2026, was the 150th anniversary of the invention of the telephone. Using skull vibrations as passwords. When in Las Vegas, check out the Neon Museum. An office desk with built-in cat compartments. AI-integrated smart glasses for people with dementia that projects visual prompts onto the lenses. How did the elements get their names? Do sick addition with a high-end luxury calculator. Graphene-coated aluminum foil. An unlikely ally in the fight against climate change: beavers. Who knew that “ant trafficking” was a thing? When in China, take the world’s longest escalator—or, potentially, flight of stairs. The world’s largest Cadbury Mini Egg. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
December 2025 shipments came in at $7.21 billion, a slight rebound from November’s abysmal $7.11 billion. Read More
Last May, the PRINTING United Alliance hosted its first Legislative Fly-In, gathering about 45 print business owners and other industry representatives to meet their elected representatives in Congress and discuss pending or proposed legislation that affects the printing industry. Richard Romano attended as part of the Media Team. Read More
Two printing giants, one shifting landscape. Sean Smyth, consultant and analyst at Smithers, breaks down the technology trends, growth markets, and competitive pressures reshaping the industry to 2030. Read More
Digital marketers cite fragmented tech stacks as their top barrier to personalization, yet consumers say even “personalized” digital experiences still feel generic. For print, that's an opening. But technology alone won't close that gap. Read More
In part 1 of this two-part feature, Taktiful’s Kevin Abergel talks with Sean Roberts, National Director of Digital Embellishment at Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. (Konica Minolta) about the latest trends driving this market, from the rise of embellished direct mail to innovations on the horizon. 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 Audrey Walch, a third-year student at CalPoly majoring in Graphic Communication and minoring in Packaging. Read More
Is your printing press a Millennial or even a Boomer? Is it older than the people running it? Is the cost of printing plates cutting into your bottom line every time you fire up the press? Let’s look at how you can get a little relief without ditching the technology you know and love. Read More
According to the latest, just-released edition of County Business Patterns, in 2023 there were 21,354 establishments in NAICS 32311 (Printing). This represents a decrease of 21% since 2010. In macro news, 2025 Q4 GDP growth revised down to 0.7%. Read More
A postmark no longer indicates the date a piece of mail was deposited with the USPS. What is “treasure binding? A publisher pulls a horror novel after it was found it was written with AI. The author of a book on grief, written after the death of her husband, turns out to have murdered him. A wall-mounted bookshelf with an integrated, adjustable bookend. Cryptic billboards are going up around the Bay Area. Aquarium staff name rescued sea turtles after fonts. A new spray-on powder that immediately seals wounds. The Wall-Lift allows a single person to raise a stud wall all by him- or herself. The plan to launch massive mirror satellites to reflect sunlight onto darkened portions of the Earth. An opera based on Adam Smith’s “Wealth of Nations.” Kraft’s PowerMac and cheese. Welcome to WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Marketers and printers haven’t run out of innovative ways to infuse print with digital content with the help of augmented reality, an if-you-can-dream-it, you-can-do-it technology if there ever was one. Read More
Since the beginning of our post-COVID world, the printing industry has been undergoing a structural shift. Office printing has declined, commercial printing has plateaued, and OEMs across the industry are searching for the next area of growth in response. For many, packaging has become that area. This article explores packaging’s appeal and discusses the complexities of the three OEM worlds that are simultaneously entering the packaging market. Read More
As industry consolidations continue, Wayne Lynn takes a look at the thought process that guides the dynamics of companies looking to acquire print businesses. Read More
Are you ready to learn from TikTok? Your buyers are on TikTok, and TikTok is shaping their expectations about how you communicate, what you communicate, and how you find them in the first place. TikTok is an important laboratory for teaching us all a lot about how reel those customers into the net. Read More
The print industry has continuously evolved through reinvention, but today’s next move requires more than a new press or clever idea. As margins tighten and customers demand new forms of value, many printers are eyeing fresh markets like packaging, labels, or décor, only to discover that crossing segments means rethinking everything from workflow to sales strategy. Here are the five strategic considerations that separate smart diversification from costly distraction, and guidance on how to expand your print footprint with purpose, confidence, and long-term success. Read More
The water footprint of a single pair of jeans is surprisingly high, primarily because of the "thirsty" nature of cotton and the intensive chemical washes required to get that classic denim look. Plus cotton growing requires a lot of pesticides and herbicides. Is hemp a possible cotton replacement? Fashion for Good believes so. Read More
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
