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Digital Printing Council

Landa Nanographic Printing™ Presses Making a Splash at drupa 2012
Posted: 05/09/2012 by Kristina Iorio

One of the major stories developing at drupa 2012 involves the Nanographic Printing™ Presses unveiled by Landa Corporation founder, chairman, and CEO Benny Landa. These presses use water-based inks comprised of pigment particles only tens of nanometers in size. These nano-pigments are reportedly extremely light absorbent and the new process used to print with them—Nanography™—boasts high uniformity, high gloss fidelity, and a broad CMYK color gamut. And here’s the hook that’s getting everyone excited: Nanography is a digital printing process with offset speed.

Landa spoke about the implications of the new process:

“Nanography is a new technology for applying ink to paper. In developing Landa Nanographic Printing we had to re-think and reinvent the printing press.

The result is digital printing with remarkable performance—from a family of presses that share stunning ergonomic design,...

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General

Redefining the Print and Graphic Arts Industry for Tomorrow’s Printers
Posted: 05/03/2012 by Kristina Iorio

This article was contributed by Larry Kroll, Vice President, Development, PGSF, whose ongoing commitment to expanding the printing industry by cultivating the next generations of printers and graphic artists through the PGSF has resulted in an incredibly successful foundation for the past 56 years.

Graphic arts students pose with Ben before a pressroom tour of Printing Industries of America headquarters in Sewickley, PA.

Twenty-eight years ago, long before our current Print and Graphic Scholarship Foundation (PGSF) scholarship applicants were even born, one of this country's leading...

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General

A Passion for Print
Posted: 04/23/2012 by Kristina Iorio

Printing is not just a business for many print professionals. It is a passion. People have made printing an integral part of their lives, and we want to highlight some of these individuals as part of our 125^th Anniversary here at Printing Industries of America.

Watch as Brad performs quality control ink testing.

Few people are more passionate than Brad Evans, Senior Research Technician/Lab Coordinator at Printing Industries of America, who has spent three decades performing various testing to make better, higher-quality materials for print production. One of the ways his department serves the printing industry and our members is by analyzing issues such as ink tack for quality control. He is truly devoted to his trade and to assisting printing companies. Here, he...

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Social Media Field Guide

PrintChat Hosting Changes Hands This Week!
Posted: 04/19/2012 by Ms Mary L. Garnett

Energetic conversations, brief comments, some confusion, and plenty of ideas are exchanged in networking groups and office cooler conversations daily. Virtual gatherings with Twitter chats create the same experience, and, in some ways, are even better. You stay in your office, read the comments, and meet people with passion for the industry who reside all over the country. Meet “PrintChat,” an industry Twitter Chat.

This week marked a milestone—the original host, Quad/Graphics, passed the hosting baton to PrintMediaCentr (www.printmediacentr.com). For over a year, Quad/Graphics has hosted PrintChat on Wednesdays and has done a terrific job introducing many of us to the value and fun of a TwitterChat. Topics change, participation fluctuates, people who have never met make acquaintances and chat. The experience can be odd the first few times. I just watched and became amazed that out of 140 character comments, an actual...

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General

Automation is the way to “Profitization”
Posted: 04/18/2012 by Kristina Iorio
Join us for the Automation Solutions Network meeting hosted by the Japs-Olson Company on September 18-19, 2012, in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. You will have the opportunity to hear from Japs-Olson representatives, along with other industry leaders, about how to increase your profitability through automation. Specializing in direct mail and commercial printing, Japs-Olson Company is continually recognized as a leader in the printing industry.
- Tour this state-of-the-art plant and learn about the history that has helped shape this 512,000 square foot facility. Hear senior management expound upon the benefits of using automation as one strategy to maintain a leading competitive position.
- Learn how to continuously improve workflow while reducing touch points and improving your business model.
- Open Discussion Sessions
  Network with print leaders and peers as they discuss best practices...
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General

Print Is Alive on Pinterest!
Posted: 04/11/2012 by Kristina Iorio

Print is all around us: it’s in the books and magazines we read, on the packages on our shelves, on the fabric of our clothing. Some of the most visually stunning printing have even won Premier Print Awards. Print is alive, and it is to this idea that we dedicate our new social site. If you have not joined Printing Industries of America on Pinterest yet, we would love to share with you our “Gallery of Print.” We are showcasing everything that is important to us—and important to you.

What Is Pinterest?

Some of you may be asking, “What is Pinterest?” It is, basically, a “virtual board” that lets you organize and share interesting photos that you find online. Voted one of TIME Magazine’s “50 Best Websites of 2011,” the new social media craze allows you to socialize with other pinners because you can browse their boards and “re-pin,”” like,” or “comment” on their photos...

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General

For Direct Mail and USPS Regulations, Direct Mail Pal 2012 Delivers!
Posted: 04/03/2012 by Kristina Iorio

Once again, Printing Industries of America is featuring another great title from Printing Industries Press as our Book of the Month for April/May 2012. Direct Mail Pal 2012: A Direct Mail Production Handbook covers all of the changes in postal rules, rates, options, and practices in order to help you navigate through a changing environment and effectively plan and operate while maximizing your profitability.

If you are a direct mail production professional or printer expanding into direct mail, novice or experienced, this handbook is for you. Direct mail personalization, according to recent data, rose 46 percent from 2010 to 2011. With the proper knowledge and planning this book provides, you can take advantage of this growing trend.

This publication is highly recommended by our staff here at Printing Industries of America for its current information and comprehensive scope. Amy Woodall,...

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Social Media Field Guide

Watch for Cash Mobs in a City Near You!
Posted: 04/02/2012 by Ms Mary L. Garnett

Cash mobs are the latest trend in “mobbing” on social media. A cash mob is a positive experience according to people who have been “mobbed.” In a cash mob the purpose is to support local small businesses by showing up and spending at least $20; meet three new people; and have fun. So far cities around the world have been involved. Andrew Samtoy, an attorney, kicked off cash mobs after being exposed to the summer riots in Britain last year where mobs were vandalizing stores and communicating the plan through social media. He wanted to try something positive that would introduce people to a small businesses with limited marketing reach. There is a blog http://prnt.in/Zdg about the cash mobs as well as many news reports. See http://prnt.in/ZdM So far, the owners, who are notified and must agree, are pleased with the results. Cleveland Ohio...

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Digital Printing Council

3D Printing Making Headlines
Posted: 03/30/2012 by Mr Samuel G. Shea

Recent articles in USA Today and Forbes have highlighted the growing 3D printing market. 3D printing, which has roots in industrial prototyping, is the “printing” of objects by devices that function somewhat similar to inkjet printers or plotters. Devices that create 3D models from Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) programs have existed since at least the 1990’s. Basically, 3D printers use plastic or other materials to create models layer by layer. If you’ve never seen one of these devices in action, do yourself a favor and search YouTube for videos of 3D printers.

Traditionally, the major markets for these printed models (or prototypes) have been engineering, automotive, and architectural businesses. Recently, though, this process has been used in applications ranging from toy...

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Digital Printing Council

Do You Have Social Media Kred?
Posted: 03/29/2012 by Ms Julie Shaffer

So you have a Linkedin account, a Facebook Page and a Twitter account. Maybe you check in to your gym or the place you have lunch on Foursquare, post videos on YouTube and try your best to figure out how to fit Google Plus into the mix. In short, you’re doing what people like me have been urging you to do — you’re engaged in social media conversation. Congratulations. Now, what do you know about your social standing? Do you have Kred? Do you have Klout?

Just as a bank uses your credit score to measure your financial soundness, and Google Analytics measures your website’s reach, services Klout.com and Kred.com measure your social media influence. If you haven’t used either of these services, it’s worth the time to head over to each site and check it out. But be warned, once you sign up and see your scores odds are human nature will kick in and you will become obsessed with improving them....

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