In Q4 this year, most likely in time for Graph Expo, Epson will roll out two new Stylus Pro models: the 24´´ 7900 and the 44" 9900. First announced at drupa, the series, which features an 11-color ink system, is not a replacement product for the fourth-generation 7880/9880 printers, say Epson officials. Their wide-gamut, High Dynamic Range (HDR) inkset yields more vivid spot colors as well as black density and gray balance. Next-generation HDR pigments add orange and green to the mix.

Seiko piezo heads

Preliminary testing shows raw print speeds are up nearly twice as fast—thanks to the combination of a new rotary cutting system coming off of advanced printhead technology from Seiko Epson Corp. The Mi...Read More

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We all receive them in our mail at home—those letters and offers that simply don't apply to us or our interests. You know, like the golf catalog sent to the avid tennis player who hasn't hit the links in over 15 years. Or, the insurance pitch to the "newlywed" who has been married for at least that long.

There goes the groom ...

I got one a few weeks ago: An official-looking form letter from Matt Mundy, a partner at New York Life's branch in Illinois, who congratulated me on being recently married. "Getting married is a blessed, joyous event," it began. I agree, Matt, but I haven't exchanged any wedding vows lately. 

Now I don't know Mr. Mundy personally, but a quick Google search revealed that he has children about the same age as ...Read More

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I ran across this true story of an Illinois casino that wanted to do something special for its most loyal customers, so it mailed 11,000 coupons, a few of which were to feature a $525 cash prize.

But the printer goofed and included the cash offer on all the coupons—to the tune of a $5.8 million payout. Despite a legal disclaimer giving the casino the option to change or cancel the offer, the state's Gaming Board ordered that each coupon be honored.

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Bill Bonallo, new director of sheetfed sales and business development at UV curing systems manufacturer IST America, makes an interesting point:

“Since the introduction of what we now call hybrid UV technology in the mid-1990s, there has been consistent growth in the sheetfed UV market. The concept and now the reality of bridging the gap between conventional ink print quality and runability with inline UV coating has made UV or energy-curable inks the highest growth segment of the global printing ink business, exceeding 10% growth per year.

"Although the latest generation of hybrid UV inks should, in most cases, not be called hybrid at all, the on-press performance these inks consistently provide has generally proven to be outstanding. The ink manufactures that make ...Read More

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I read Bill Farquharson's SalesCall article ("Why VDP Just Won't Work") this morning and found it to be one of the most honest and perceptive assessments of VDP that I have seen to date. True, there has been a tidal wave of hype and false expectations associated with VDP, and few companies can honestly say they're thriving because of it. Nonetheless—and given the declining state of print as a communication medium—shouldn't we as industry observers and opinion-makers take the initiative to tout the successes that HAVE occurred with VDP? I'm afraid that if we don't, VDP, PURLs, cross-media and other forms of targeted direct mail will become nothing more than SPAM—reviled by consumers and printers alike. 

Dan Freedland, VP Business Development
PRIMARY COLOR LOS ANGELES 

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An article published in Graphic Arts Monthly of May 2008, "On-press Color Control," deals with technique of closed-loop color systems and also a summary is given of several suppliers. 

Q.I. Press Controls is one of the global leaders in the supply of innovative and revolutionary closed loop control equipment for all types of web offset printing presses. We offer a total solution for full automated press control. Q.I. One of our products is the first closed-loop color system that can run in a markless mode. The IDS (Intelligent Density System) is a fully automatic colour measuring and control system for web offset presses. A digital camera ensures that the measured data is processed in real-time. The camera can use both the printed image or a printed colour bar as its reference. When the IDS is run in “mark-less” mode, it uses the ...Read More

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Linda Hines, a print production manager at an agency in Minneapolis, writes:

"Our favorite column is always 'How'd They Print That?' This month, you write about a big poster that we didn't get and would like to see. 

P.S. - That insert for the nextdayflyers.com has obscured something that I wanted to read for 3 months in a row. You would think that a magazine that talks about printing would have better bindery than that. Get the insert out of there!"

GAM executive editor Mark Vruno responds:

Thank you, Linda, for the kind words about our "How'd They" column. Readership studies consistently show that it is one of the most popular pages in the magazine.

The large-format poster about whi...Read More

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Dear Mr. Esler:

I'm writing in regards to a recent article in GraphicArts Monthly entitled, "How Green is Your Process?" [GAM's June issue, page 31.] I enjoyed reading about the improvements in green printing and agree that "going green" is a multi-faceted endeavor, but feel that our company was overlooked in your recognitions.

Williamson Printing has been an environmentally conscious printer since 1988 and has remained on the forefront of the eco-movement. We are currently FSC and SFI certified and have continuously improved processes throughout our plant with a focus on sustainability. We are ISO 14001 registered, 100% wind-powered, and use thermal oxidizers to limit VOCs.

I would love to send you a brochure featuring our efforts, "Williamson Printing: Green From the Ground Up."

...Read More

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Although I've been in around the U.S. printing industry for more than two decades, like most North Americans I never had the occassion to actually go to the drupa trade show—until now. I've heard about it and I've read about it, but seeing truly is believing in this case. The sheer scale of the event is like no show we have in America: We're talking some 2,000 vendors and 40 acres to cover!

Sore Feet Already

There's LOTS of walking at drupa. It's only my fourth day in Dusseldorf, and my feet started aching yesterday despite wearing a pair of my most broken-in dress shoes. Today is Sunday, so the pace is a bit slower—but not much. (Look, I found time to write a quick blog entry!) Blisters aside, the experience has been well worth the pain so far. The environment here is so charged and exhilarating that it's difficul...Read More

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Sustainability and automated productivity are on the docket as nearly 7,000 printers and mailers gather for the National Postal Forum (NPF), ending tomorrow at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. Postmaster General John Potter addressed the topic of the U.S. Postal Service’s Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMB) and its new Flats Sequencing System (FSS) in a keynote address on May 19. “Despite the challenging economy, one thing that hasn’t changed is America’s confidence in the mail,” Potter said. (Click here for the full news release.)

The annual mailing industry trade show, with more than 140 educational workshops, is devoting full-day symposia to the ...Read More

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Special Report by Darin Painter, owner of Cleveland-based Writing Matters and editor-in-chief of Graphic Communications World's “Greensheet” newsletter.

In 2000, Kodak generated $10 billion from its traditional film business. This year, it expects to bring in 1/20 of that amount ($500 million) from the segment, said Phil Faraci, the company’s president and COO, during the keynote address of the Kodak’s 2008 Graphic Users Association (GUA) North American Conference. “It’s a good thing we had the insight to change,” he said. “Today, I’m pleased to announce that our major restructuring is over. We have created a new Kodak.” 

The firm, which spent about four years and $400 million reshaping its identity and organizational structure, is now better suited to bring digital technolog...Read More

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An advanced copy of the Federal Register notice proposing the use of Intelligent Mail Barcodes (IMBs) on automation mailings of letters and flats is now available on Postal Explorer. This notice includes revised mailing standards for the use of IMBs effective May 2009 concurrent with the date that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will implement the mailing services price change.

The comment period will extend 30 days from the date the notice appears in the Federal Register. Printers who mail are encouraged to review and comment on the USPS proposal as soon as possible—you may submit additional comments any time within the comment period.

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