This section of WhatTheyThink focuses on emerging trends in wide-format printing. It identifies new business opportunities and provides strategic analysis of new applications, technology, and events.
What do we talk about when we talk about “software” in the context of display graphics production? When it comes to print production, and especially “workflow automation,” what we’re usually talking about is “RIP and print” software—and getting this software to talk to all the other software in the shop. Read More
Here we are in 2023, and one theme in our Fall 2022 Business Outlook Survey was that, for those print businesses that languished during COVID and its immediate aftermath, 2022 was the year they got back in the black. Still, 2022 was a challenging year in many ways. Not as challenging as 2020, thankfully, but still not an easy year to navigate, and there is no doubt that 2023 will present its own challenges—and opportunities. Here are some things to keep an eye on. Read More
It’s that time again, time to sift through the data from our annual Business Outlook Survey for the forthcoming Printing Outlook report. As has become an annual tradition, we break out some wide-format specific data to see what trends we can quantitatively gauge. Read More
A look back at the state of wide-format and signage in 2022—and a look ahead to 2023. Read More
The visual communications industry, covering $37.5 billion in economic impact, employs over 200,000 people in America. An industry that’s attractive to creatives, it offers a long-term, rewarding career with growth potential. To mark this year’s Sign Manufacturing Day, FASTSIGNS celebrated the holiday by showcasing the longevity and excitement of a career in the industry. Read More
Whether you are producing printed signage using the inkjet printing technologies we most commonly write about in WhatTheyThink, or constructing signage from traditional building materials, choosing the right material for the right job is perhaps the number-one consideration for any project. At the same time, there are two (at least) factors affecting the choice of materials for signage: availability and sustainability. Read More
Tomorrow, the winners of the Digital Signage Experience Awards—or “DIZZIES”—will be announced, honoring the cutting edge in electronic signs and immersive multimedia experiences. Our friends at SNA Displays had their LED display technologies used by four nominees in the running. We take a look at these digital signage installations. Read More
If you attended PRINTING United last month, you know that virtually everyone is happy that live events are back. And as many of us have found out, they are not without their risks, COVID-wise. SpeedPro VP of Marketing Danielle Yuthas offers seven tips for hosting events safely and effectively. Read More
Richard Romano and David Zwang tag-team a look at, respectively, wide-format & textiles and labels & packaging at the PRINTING United Expo 2022. Read More
Ross Cartwright collected signs as a kid, so it was only natural he would end up in the sign business. From local independent Cincinnati sign shop designer to FASTSIGNS corporate trainer, he has now come full circle with his acquisition of FASTSIGNS of Spring Hill, Fla. Read More
With cannabis retail locations now popping up in several states, we’re starting to see more and more signage advertising these locations and their products. And just as it is in packaging, regulations pertaining to cannabis signage are still in a “Wild West” stage and, as you can imagine, vary from state to state. Read More
Last month, WhatTheyThink’s Richard Romano and IDC’s Tim Greene presented a wide-format outlook webinar, and a big topic was automation—but not necessarily where you would think. Here are some highlights of that discussion. Read More
Pro Vehicle Outlines Graphics Solution Releases New Vehicle Template Library for 2023
Registration Opens for Inaugural WrapFest Event
Epson Print Academy YouTube Channel Expands Content Across Professional Imaging Markets
Ainsley Signs Invests in Canon Colorado 1650 from CMYUK
Mimaki to Launch Brand New Product During Insightful, Information-Packed Global Innovation Days
Epson Welcomes Dealers to its 2023 InkBoldly Partner Conference
Roland DGA Announces Key Changes to its Leadership Team
Car Wrapping with Mimaki – Is UV the Cure?
Image360 Inks a Spot as a Top Brand On Entrepreneur Magazine’s 44th Annual Franchise 500® List
Introducing HP Production Matte Canvas—The Low-Cost Canvas Solution
Select LexJet Media Is Officially FSC®- Certified
Applied Graphics & Signs Brings Hollywood Blockbuster to Life with Drytac SpotOn
Sign & Digital UK 2023 Is Back for a Celebration of Signage
Roland DGA Announces Major Expansion of TrueVIS Printer Family
ColorDynamics Furthers Growth in POP/POS Investing in Two Jeti Tauro Systems
Florida Gators Training Center Wows Visitors with 32-foot Lobby Video Wall
Quebec-Based Print Provider Champions Epson’s Reliability and Speed
Propelled Brands Announces Andrea Hohermuth as FASTSIGNS International, Inc. President
SAi Launches EnRoute 23 with New Features for More Applications
Renowned Wildlife Photographer Prints Breathtaking Art In Minutes!
Published: January 3, 2023
Kevin Duffy, VP of Sales and Marketing at Vycom, provides an update on Vycom’s Recycling Program, through which Vycom collects waste material from the sign and display graphics production process and incorporates it into the company’s decking materials. Watch Video
Published: December 15, 2022
Stuart Fox and Matt Thackray of Kongsberg talk about the history of the 57-year-old company and showcase some of the precision cutting tables in its own portfolio, as well as that of the recently-acquired Multicam. Watch Video
Published: December 15, 2022
Konica Minolta’s Mike Wildbore talks with Flora Graphics principal Indy Flora. Flora Graphics is an Ontario-based sign and display graphics printer. Starting out in cut sheet and label printing, the company expanded into wide format and recently purchased an EFI Pro 30h to expand its capabilities. Watch Video
Published: December 14, 2022
Rebecca Considine, co-principal of SpeedPro Chicago Loop, talks about how the sign and display graphics provider has expanded by investing in technology—in particular, the EFI Pro 30h wide-format flatbed printer, of which they were the first US installation Watch Video
Published: December 13, 2022
EFI’s Ken Hanulec identifies the top trends affecting sign and display businesses, namely the need for hyperefficiency and lowering costs, as well as enabling new applications using new technologies like clear ink, white ink, and other things they haven’t been able to do before. Watch Video
Published: December 12, 2022
Orbus Exhibit & Display Group’s Jaime Herand talks about the company’s work for the trade show and events vertical markets and how their investment in EFI and EFI Reggiani equipment has allowed them to scale up their print facilities and expand into fabric printing. Watch Video
Published: November 30, 2022
Fujifilm’s Chris Cohara talks about how employee turnover has been a big challenge for firms producing display graphics and how the automation and ease-of-use features on Fujifilm’s wide-format equipment have helped mitigate this challenge. Watch Video
Published: November 30, 2022
Zünd America’s Bill Richards talks about the challenges of keeping employees, and how the automation features on Zünd’s wide-format cutting equipment can help streamline workflows through data integration, metadata manipulation, and robotics. Watch Video
Articles by Richard Romano | Contact
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