SAN FRANCISCO, CA and SEWICKLEY, PA -- November 14, 2005 – The Printing Industries of America (PIA)/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF), the world's largest graphic arts trade association, announces that the Digital Printing Council will be established as a core service offering in January of 2006. The move means that members will enjoy several new, as well as expanded, benefits associated with the increasingly in-demand work of the DPC. To celebrate its commitment, PIA/GATF is declaring 2006 as the Year of Digital Print. "The Digital Printing Council has been, and remains, ahead of the curve; and PIA/GATF affiliates and members have benefited greatly as a result," says PIA/GATF President Michael Makin. "Now that so many valid signs are pointing to the long term viability of digital printing, it’s time for us to empower the DPC, and therefore, the industry, to the fullest extent possible; so that all can take full advantage of this exciting evolution." The Digital Printing Council, long regarded as a jewel in PIA/GATF’s array of services, will offer members and affiliates a significantly enhanced level of information and products that will help them at every step of digital printing adoption, from initial exploration through comprehensive implementation. "Our affiliates have long championed this initiative and we agree with their assessment that making the DPC a central resource, and catalyst, for increasing awareness of digital printing benefits for both printers and their customers -- is a strong and progressive, strategic direction for the Association," Makin says. "Digital Printing is here to stay, and PIA/GATF supports and welcomes it as we get ready to celebrate 2006 as The Year of Digital Print." DPC as Core Services Offering Members will have two options for utilizing DPC core services, including a basic level of complimentary, opt-in services for members. "There will be a lot of increased activity as we celebrate the Year of Digital Print and bring DPC services to members as a core benefit," says DPC Executive Director Joanne Vinyard. "We’ll be encouraging printers to explore digital print, expand their current levels of involvement, or embrace the full potential of digital print for their companies." "While ink and paper will definitely continue to be our members' business," Vinyard continues, "digital printing is becoming an integral part of the future business of printers. Companies will integrate offset with digital, and some printing companies may choose to concentrate solely on digital offerings." More details on benefits and levels of participation will be forthcoming over the coming weeks. About Digital Printing Council The Digital Printing Council (DPC) has been a premier program of PIA/GATF (Printing Industries of America, Inc. and the Graphic Arts Technical Foundation) providing its members and the printing industry with informative tools and publications that are designed to help firms be more productive, efficient, and generate more sales with new digital technologies. The Digital Printing Council focuses on research and awareness about digital and personalized printing to ultimately enhance members’ knowledge about the complexities of digital printing—critical applications, industry trends, selling and marketing to customers and customers’ customers. Most of this information comes in the form of publications, newsletters, and other printed products. The DPC also makes available an online archive of materials that can be accessed by the public and by members. As part of their membership, Digital Printing Council members also receive Designing4Digital, a multi-media customer education package series (including 2 CDs, a book, PowerPoint presentation), and more. In 2005, Digital Printing Council research studies included: The Future of Direct Mail; Compensating Your Digital Team; and Compensation, Incentives, and Bonus Plans: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation. For more information, please visit the DPC web pages on: http://www.gain.net/PIA_GATF/DPC/main.html. About PIA/GATF The Printing Industries of America (PIA)/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (GATF) is the world's largest graphic arts trade association representing an industry with more than 1.2 million employees. Located in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, the consolidated organization serves the interests of more than 12,000 member companies. PIA/GATF, along with its affiliates, delivers products and services that enhance the growth, efficiency and profitability of its members and the industry through advocacy, education, research and technical information. For more information about PIA/GATF visit http://www.gain.net