September 1, 2005 -- Rochester Institute of Technology's School of Print Media will present the Cary Award to Frank Romano, a longtime educator, typographer and prolific author in the printing industry. Romano will accept the award during a breakfast at Print '05 in Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 11. The Cary Award is presented annually to those who have distinguished themselves in the development or application of digital technology in graphic communications. Romano was a leading entrepreneurial force during the inception of digital printing. He wrote the first-report about on-demand digital printing in 1980 and led the first conference on the subject in 1985. Romano was the principal researcher for the book, Printing in the Age of the Web and Beyond. Throughout his career, Romano has written more than 40 books, with most of them about digital printing. "Frank Romano has made countless contributions to advance the knowledge and vitality of the graphic communications industry," said Anne M. Mulcahy, chairman and CEO, Xerox Corp. "He also has helped Xerox refine and enhance our digital strategy, serving as a sounding board and a valuable source of insight and talent. Xerox is a better company and a stronger partner to our production printing customers thanks to the wealth of information and good counsel we have received from Frank Romano through the years." Romano founded more than eight publications including Electronic Publishing, Computer Artist, Color Publishing, The Typographer and EP&P. He writes monthly columns for Electronic Publishing and the Digital Printing Report. Romano began teaching at RIT in 1992 after working in the typographic industry at Mergenthaler Linotype Co., Visual Graphics Corp. and Compugraphic Corp. His work experience mirrored the technological revolution that changed typesetting from hot metal to phototypesetting to digital type. While at RIT, Romano helped establish the Digital Publishing Center and developed seven new courses in digital and multimedia publishing and concepts as well as the world's first online printing degree program. Currently a professor emeritus, Romano continues to teach at RIT and other universities and works one-on-one with students on research projects. "Frank is an institution in the industry," said Frank Cost, associate dean of RIT's College of Imaging Arts and Sciences and co-director of the RIT Printing Industry Center. "Everyone knows him. He's both a prolific writer and a memorable presenter. Hundreds of RIT students have learned from Frank's expertise and many got their start in the printing industry under his guidance. RIT is honored to bestow this honor to one of our own." Romano is continually called upon for interviews, including such distinguished publications as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Times of London, USA Today, Business Week and Forbes. The prestigious Cary Award is named in honor of Melbert B. Cary, Jr. whose life-long love and support of the graphic arts inspired others. Past recipients of the Cary Award include Frank Steenburgh, senior vice president for business growth, Production Systems Group at Xerox Corp.; John Dreyer, chairman of Pitman Company; Dan Gelbart, president and founder of Creo Products Inc.; Amos Michelson, chief executive officer of Creo Products Inc.; and Robert Howard, founder and chairman of the board of Presstek, Inc.