Professionals from all segments of the graphic communications industry will find a comprehensive slate of educational sessions, in addition to the latest hardware and software technology solutions, at GRAPH EXPO 2012. The 50-plus seminars and workshops will cover 12 diverse market segments of the graphic communications industry to provide actionable information that attendees can use to improve their businesses and increase profitability.

GRAPH EXPO 2012, the largest graphic communications exhibition in the Americas, will be held October 7-10 in Chicago's McCormick Place South.  However the educational opportunities will kick off at noon on October 6 with the high-powered pre-show EXECUTIVE OUTLOOK conference.  Themed "Using Marketing and Technology to Innovate and Thrive," the half-day pre-show event will feature an impressive lineup of top industry experts and conclude with presentations of the 2012 MUST SEE 'EMS "Best in Category" awards and recognize, too, the Positively Print program awardee.  Also held on Saturday afternoon will be the first of several computer labs, this one focused on "PDF File Preparation for Success in Color Printing."

The seminar sessions will begin in earnest on Sunday morning and continue through Tuesday October 9, featuring presentations and workshops by top industry professionals and educators.  The sessions will span the interests of 12 market segments including: commercial printing, in-plant printing, transactional printing, quick printing, packaging and specialty printing, photo imaging, mailing and fulfillment, book printing and publishing, wide-format printing and imaging, newspaper printing and publishing, marketing and creative services, and media/print buying.

"Many years ago, education options at the show were limited to ink-on-paper topics," said Ralph Nappi, President of the Graphic Arts Show Company. "Our current seminar sessions reflect the expanded 'print integrated' nature of our businesses that today encompass print, online and mobile.  GRAPH EXPO 2012's education program now provides an important variety of tactical and strategic learning opportunities that span the diverse segments of the graphic communications industry-and covers all aspects of the changing technologies that drive them."

As a preview of the seminars that will cover a broad range of subjects, just some of the essential topics include:  profitability, branding, e-book production, workflow, postal reform and regulations, in-plant branding and development, packaging, social media, new media, lean manufacturing, sales management, UV curing, growth strategies, offset/digital integration, color management, advanced selling, SEO optimization, niche markets, production inkjet, direct mail design, cloud computing, leadership, website design and development, marketing, managing key accounts, and many more.

A few selected highlights of the seminar program are:

* "The New Breed of Print Buyers and How to Reach AND Teach Them"

* "Inside ROI: Tracking the Metrics of Marketing Success"

* "Wondrous Workflow: A Printer's Perspective on Optimized Automation"

* "Growth Strategies for Quick/Small Commercial Printers and Corporate/Education/In-Plant Print Centers"

* "Digital Press Color Management Mastery"

* "Hybrid Printing: Integrating the Power of Offset and Digital"

* "How to Talk 'Marketing" With Your Customers and Prospects," and

* "USPS News: The Status, the Legislation, the Grassroots Effort and YOU."


Along with the full schedule of seminars, each day will offer a lunch session. Topics will be: "Your Digital Services Business Plan: A 'How-to' Guide to Marketing Success" on Sunday; "Follow the Money: Introducing the NEW World of Print Commerce" on Monday; and, "Profitable Prospecting: Captivating and Cultivating Today's 'New Breed' Customer" on Tuesday.

Another highlight of the educational program at GRAPH EXPO 2012 is the slate of computer labs covering PDF file preparation, color matching, Adobe Creative Suite, Photoshop, New Media, InDesign, and content creation for E-readers and tablets.

For additional information about the GRAPH EXPO 2012 conference program or to register visit: www.graphexpo.com.