Friday, January 6, 2006
Moments in Print 2005
I got an email suggesting that I compile a top ten list of printing headlines/innovations etc from the last year. This got me thinking about the events and trends effecting the graphic communications industry in 2005.
Michael H. Bruno Passes Away
The print community was hit with a major loss at the beginning of 2005 with the passing of Mike Bruno. Mike devoted his career and life to the print industry. Besides his work at the Lithographic Technical Foundation (which became GATF, which is now PIA/GATF), Mike co-founded the Technical Association of the Graphic Arts.
Offshore Outsourcing
The offshore outsourcing of print manufacturing starts to hit home as the volume of print being produced overseas continues to increase and printers are forced to close their doors due to aggressive overseas competitors.
Adobe acquires Macromedia
Adobe makes great products for print media. Macromedia makes great products for new media. With this acquisition, Adobe now has the ability to integrate some great tools that will make it easy to create and publish using traditional print and electronic media. Let the cross-media publishing begin.
Kodak acquires Creo
Another big acquisition in the print industry. Kodak is betting on Creo to give them an innovative digital prepress product portfolio.
PRINT 05
Last year's PRINT was the first major trade show since the US print industry went into recession in 2001. Many companies are touting successful equipment and product sales after the show. Being at the show for the entire length, I was somewhat surprised by the lack of attendance (Which according to GASC, was 62,000).
GRACoL 7 work begins
At the end of 2004 GRACoL announced that the committee was planning five press runs to create a printed project that reflects the finest standard on a Number 1 sheet. Completed last August, these runs provided the necessary data to develop a new specification and working guidelines for consistent, high-quality commercial color printing with a comprehensive view of how to print a color managed press sheet to optimize visual appearance.
Printing across borders
What good are standards if no one knows about them or knows how to implement them? The Printing across borders initiative was formed to answer these questions.
CIP4 Publishes Interoperability Conformance Specifications
JDF is the data exchange method of choice when building automated printing systems. With the introduction of the Interoperability Conformance Specifications, vendors now have a guide for improving open connectivity and interoperability of their products using JDF.
What moments defined print for you in 2005?
Posted in: Printing Industry
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