Classic Wins “Best of Show” in the 2018 PICA Awards

Charlotte, N.C. – The Printing Industry of the Carolinas (PICA) has announced that Classic of Charlotte and Raleigh is the winner of the coveted Mac Papers “Best of Show” award in the 2018 PICA Awards Competition. The announcement was made March 30, 2019, during the 2018 PICA Awards Banquet in Charlotte, North Carolina, with more than 265 industry professionals in attendance. The PICA Awards competition is celebrating its 53rd season and continues to be one of the largest printing contests in the nation.

This year, the PICA Awards attracted more than 590 entries from 42 printing companies, along with more than 125 entries from 5 graphic arts high schools and 6 college graphic arts programs from across the Carolinas.

In addition to the Mac Papers Best of Show, Classic was also awarded the Printers Service Prisco Best Printing Division D (60 or more employees), the Manchester Best Process Color and the Veritiv Best Catalog Award. This is Classic’s 6th “Best of Show” win in the PICA Awards. Classic won 5 Best of Category Awards, 6 Special Judges Awards and 5 Awards of Excellence.

Only one “Best of” may be given in each category. One or more Special Judges Award or Award of Excellence may be given in each category, limited to no more than one third of total entries per category.

A panel of out of state judges with extensive experience in printing and print production was brought in to examine the work. Each entry was judged on its own merit in a category with similar printed pieces. The judging criteria included: registration, crossovers, clarity and neatness, sharpness of halftones and line drawings, richness and tonal qualities of color, paper and ink selection, ink coverage, difficulty of printing, effective contrast or softness, finishing, bindery, and overall visual impact.

For a complete list of winners in this year’s PICA Awards, contact Carrie Epps of PICA, 704-357-1150.

Since 1931, The Printing Industry of the Carolinas, Inc. (PICA) has been dedicated to advancing the success of the Carolinas’ printing and imaging industry. Working together with Printing Industries of America, the world’s largest graphic arts trade association, PICA provides training, resources, and a voice of advocacy on both a state and national level.

PICA is a trade association representing the graphic communications industry in North and South Carolina. North Carolina ranks as the 16th largest state print market in the United States with $3.78 billion in sales, 1,215 total printing establishments and 20,050 employees. South Carolina ranks 30th in the nation, with $1.48 billion in sales, 501 establishments, and 8,357 employees. PICA is headquartered in Charlotte, NC. For more information, visit www.picanet.org. 

The PICA Awards Competition, owned and managed by The Printing Industry of the Carolinas (PICA), is an annual event established in 1966 that recognizes and rewards printing and imaging companies who combine fine craftsmanship with technology in order to produce outstanding finished products. The award-winning companies are honored each year at the PICA Awards Banquet.