Industry Trends

3 Hottest Print Design Trends of 2020

By Sabine Lenz, president, PaperSpecs “The book’s design is beautiful but look at the production values – it’s basically falling apart.” Designers always want to know what is fresh and impactful – trends are indeed an essential part of design – from typography to logos to the big reveal of Pantone’s Color of the Year. It is vital for designers, printers and finishers to … [Read more...] about 3 Hottest Print Design Trends of 2020

Greeting Card Popularity Still Shines

By Hallie Forcinio, contributing writer PostPress Americans spend between $7 and $8 billion on approximately 6.5 billion greeting cards each year, according to Facts & Stats 2019 from the Greeting Card Association. With prices from $0.50 to $10, there’s a price point for every consumer. Cards at the top of the scale typically employ special techniques, intricate designs … [Read more...] about Greeting Card Popularity Still Shines

What’s Next for the Bindery?

by Hallie Forcinio, contributing writer PostPress Bindery operations face numerous challenges. Whether a trade binder/finisher or a department within a commercial printer, binderies must combat a proliferation of shorter runs, growing demand for product differentiation and shortages in skilled labor, plus the need to make a profit and deliver jobs on-time with a faster … [Read more...] about What’s Next for the Bindery?

Finishers Explore New Opportunities in the Cannabis Industry

by Katy Ibsen, managing editor PostPress The rise of cannabis legalization in the US and Canada has made way for auxiliary industries to capitalize on increased needs from cannabis brands – including packaging. “It’s a ‘Wild West’ scenario with many jumping on cannabis’ momentum, which creates a surplus of emerging brands, especially in the CBD space which already is legal … [Read more...] about Finishers Explore New Opportunities in the Cannabis Industry

Five Key Trends Disrupting the Paper and Board Market

Article courtesy of Smithers Pira The paper and board industry is diversifying and responding to an increasingly globalized marketplace. Global megatrends are reshaping the market faster than ever. Smithers Pira’s new report, “Ten-Year Forecast of Disruptive Technologies in Paper and Board to 2028,” pinpoints the top 20 disruptive technologies that are impacting the evolution … [Read more...] about Five Key Trends Disrupting the Paper and Board Market

Direct Mail Success

By Hallie Forcinio, contributing editor PostPress The world of print communication has changed, and mail volume has declined, but direct mail remains an attractive, widely used method to contact customers and prospects. Although the number one sender is the credit card industry, direct mail is used across virtually all industries by the biggest (and smallest) brands in the … [Read more...] about Direct Mail Success

Trade Finishing: Change, Challenge and Opportunity

by Melissa Larson, contributing writer PostPress Keeping up with the changes in finishing is challenging, and finishers are approaching it with a variety of strategies. Due to the rapid advances in digital print, equipment requirements are accelerating. While finishers in the past have been able to simply update existing equipment to keep on pace, they now are confronted with … [Read more...] about Trade Finishing: Change, Challenge and Opportunity

The Soft Touch: Haptics Enhance Print and Packaging

by Chris Davis, IST America, and Volker Selg, IST Metz Haptics and sensory effects have gained popularity. Why? Sensory experiences are very prevalent in how we interact – even more so on items that we buy. Explained in another way, sensory inputs influence our purchasing decisions. The combination of what we see, smell, hear and feel creates emotions. Consumers often choose … [Read more...] about The Soft Touch: Haptics Enhance Print and Packaging