Discussion

By Mark Vruno on May 24, 2024

TRIVIA - I'm sure Frank knows this: The word "drupa" is short for druck and papier: print and paper. But in what year was the very first drupa held, my friend? (No "Googling" allowed!)

By Alvaro Mantilla on May 24, 2024

Automation + Integration + Embelishments... according to Frank, the things to see in Drupa. Stop at Hall 17 and you will see all three... plus many more!

By Patrick Henry on May 24, 2024

Frank, the brat vendors at the Messe who give you the sausage and the bun separately must have missed your point about integration! But thanks for a nice, upbeat introduction to the show. It's going to be memorable.

By Mark Geeves on May 24, 2024

Thank you Frank

By Dov Isaacs on May 27, 2024

I strongly agree with Frank's comments. Some additional notes:

(1) Although DRUPA's name implies paper, it is important for the industry to recognize that “printing” is increasingly using substrates other than paper and that there are unique workflow issues as well as opportunities there.

(2) There certainly is an ongoing de-emphasis on teaching of printing per sé. However, the challenge is to teach content creators basic principles of graphics such that the content they create can be fully and properly rendered whether on computer screens, telephones, billboards, textiles, signage, or even (gasp!) paper. Providing degrees in graphic communications (or whatever) to students who don't have a reasonable understanding of color, imaging, typography, etc. is a crime!

(3) PDF certainly provides the file format “container” for content and that has fortunately been embraced by the vast majority of the industry. The issues of production as noted by Frank are still a major problem (or maybe a better term would be opportunity). That having been said, over the last twenty years there has been tremendous work by groups such as CIP4, ISO TC 130, the Ghent Workgroup, and the PDF association to provide mechanisms via standardized job tickets and especially metadata within the PDF file itself to specify such parameters. THE GREATEST PROBLEM is not that there aren't available solutions, but rather, that too many vendors continue to “differentiate their products via incompatibility” to lock customers into their proprietary solutions. (We also have encountered that with variable data printing where PDF/VT provides a perfect solution, but some major vendors – and you recognized who you are – continue to push their vendor-specific solutions!)

(4) In terms of “good eats” at DRUPA, although you typically won't find this dish on the show floor itself, be aware that this is spargel (white asparagus) season, especially in Germany!

- Dov