Benefits and things to consider when choosing a web-to-print solution

Let the photos do the talking. The full photo gallery of sights and highlights from Graph Expo 2010.

PRINTING PLATES

Back in the 1800s during the early days of offset lithography, limestone slabs were used as the original "printing plate." Nowadays, printed images are transferred from a thin plate (usually aluminum or polyester), onto a blanket, and then to the substrate. Plates can also be made of metal, plastic, rubber or even paper, depending on the process used. These plates are attached to a press cylinder and are used to transfer the inked image that will appear on the printed material. In general, metal plates are more expensive, but they usually last longer and have greater accuracy. As run lengths are decreasing, the latest developments in plate-making increasingly revolve around ways to make the process more environmentally-friendly by reducing or eliminating the chemicals used in the imaging process. This section will take a closer look at some of the most recent developments in printing plate technology.

We just returned from Graph Expo in Chicago. It was a very good show with a constant stream of visitors roaming the aisles and plenty of business transactions taking place. Agfa, Xerox, Konica Minolta, HP, Fujifilm, EFI and many others too numerous to mention, launched new products and showcased many innovations.

TransPromo printing has received a fair amount of attention in the past few years, and continues to be promoted by vendors and industry consultants as an excellent growth opportunity for printers in times of diminishing revenues. However, it seems that while opportunity is knocking for both printers and marketers, not many are answering the call just yet.

Print World: The World of Shorter-Run Printing is the biggest show of its kind in North America. Especially with the expanding implementation of digital presses, the shorter-run market is rapidly growing. In 2008, the show welcomed nearly 10,000 attendees. This year, from November 20-22, Print World will be presented at the Direct Energy Centre in downtown Toronto with over 125,000 square feet of exhibition space.

This month I had the opportunity to chat with renowned industry expert Frank Romano to discuss the future of printing trade shows, and what opportunities and challenges lie ahead for printers.

What are you most looking forward to seeing at Print World?

Consumables: Paper & Substrates

Many people involved in the world of print have a special relationship with paper. Be it the designers, the production coordinators, the printers themselves or the end-user, the selected stock for any job is carefully considered, and inevitably faces tough scrutiny. They will carefully judge its thickness and weight, its brightness and its opacity; they may even smell it and caress it lovingly. I, for one, enjoy stopping by the paper supplier booths at trade shows to see the vast array of colours and textures available, and maybe even snag a sample or two. This passion for paper is well justified though. After all, it is an integral piece in the print puzzle; it is the substrate that carries the printed message.

There are many variables to consider in the area of proofing and, unfortunately, much of it gets forgotten in the busy world of printing. Let's look at the options and the areas of concern.