Featured image for “More to Ask for in Your Inkjet Digital Front End”
February 6, 2020

More to Ask for in Your Inkjet Digital Front End

If you run light production equipment, you may not have given much thought to the Digital Front End of your printing device. There is no industry standard for what a DFE should encompass, or even a widely agreed set of guidelines. And, while you may have a choice of features and even vendors for the DFE, there hasn’t been much discussion of what should come next. What should you be asking for and when should you expect it?
Featured image for “In-Plants: Educate your Customers”
February 5, 2020

In-Plants: Educate your Customers

Do your customers know everything you can do for them? Education drives ideas and new applications. In-plants that are growing take the time to educate their customers about all their capabilities by hosting events and taking on marketing to educate and demonstrate the benefits of print to solve business and communication needs.
January 29, 2020

Profiling with Primers and Coatings

In the previous post How to Make an Inkjet Sandwich I talked about the potential different ways that ink can react to a substrate when used in combination with other fluids such as primers or post-coatings. Those interactions make it critical to optimize all the fluids for your entire process, prior to linearization and profiling, to avoid print defects such as color to color bleed and coalescence.
Featured image for “The Top 4 Drying Methods for Inkjet”
January 28, 2020

The Top 4 Drying Methods for Inkjet

Just as there are many types of inkjet printheads and ink, there are many types of processes for inkjet drying. Most printers combine several processes to create a drying solution. Ralf Schlozer discusses the fundamental factors related to drying in document and packaging printing environments including absorption, phase change, radiation and evaporation. It’s dry – but important.
Featured image for “What to Ask for in your Inkjet Digital Front End”
January 23, 2020

What to Ask for in your Inkjet Digital Front End

There is no industry standard for what should be included in a digital front end, and there is no universal template that guides how much control the inkjet DFE should expose to an operator to permit changes in how a job will be processed. As we enter the 2020s, this is something that should change. It’s time for the buyers of inkjet presses to identify their expectations, list the features that make a difference to their operation, and categorize the challenges they may have with their current DFE.
Featured image for “The Intersection of Inkjet and 3D Printing”
January 22, 2020

The Intersection of Inkjet and 3D Printing

What comes to mind when you think of inkjet printing? Do you think of substrates (papers, textiles, electronics)? Do you think of two dimensional applications (direct mail, books, ceramics)? Or do you think in three dimensions (displays, jet engines, medical implants)? Why not 3D?
Featured image for “New Year, New Opportunities with 3D Scanning”
January 13, 2020

New Year, New Opportunities with 3D Scanning

The METIS 3D Scanner creates opportunities for designers and printers think outside the box and expand creative applications for all print markets. Being able to reproduce 3D texture reproductions with existing UV printing equipment or providing scanning services for CGI/PBR (computer-generated imagery/physical based rendering) applications allows designers to not only visualize but customize and develop 3D patterns.
Featured image for “In-Plants, Inkjet and Paper Costing Philosophy”
January 9, 2020

In-Plants, Inkjet and Paper Costing Philosophy

In-plant operations evaluating papers need to take a broader perspective of what cost means in an inkjet environment. There is a potential domino effect on cost when low grade papers are used in high-end devices that corporate procurement teams need to understand.
Featured image for “Can Offset & Inkjet Finishing Live in Harmony?”
January 8, 2020

Can Offset & Inkjet Finishing Live in Harmony?

Pat McGrew with happy new year news on possible compatibility of finishing options across printing processes. Consider the finishing options that can add value in your inkjet environment.
Featured image for “Inkjet Insight Production Inkjet Market Survey on Print Quality Measurement and Paper Qualification”
January 7, 2020

Inkjet Insight Production Inkjet Market Survey on Print Quality Measurement and Paper Qualification

Our latest research surveys production inkjet users on  requirements for print quality measurement when qualifying papers for use on inkjet presses and their satisfaction with OEM services related to meeting those requirements. Executive summary available to all. Premium members can download 18 page report.
Featured image for “What Mattered in Print – Europe in 2019”
January 2, 2020

What Mattered in Print – Europe in 2019

A look at industry trends and events affecting the inkjet industry in 2019 and what to keep an eye on in 2020.
Featured image for “Understanding Quality Inkjet as the Sum of its Parts – Free Download”
December 12, 2019

Understanding Quality Inkjet as the Sum of its Parts – Free Download

Our most recent white paper, sponsored by RICOH, examines the many factors that combine to create a quality inkjet solution for a particular market need. The production workflow and quality sensitivity varies significantly from one application segment to another. While some companies may be replacing one technology platform with another, others are challenged to maintain compatibility between inkjet and toner or offset platforms.
Featured image for “The Inkjet Production Printing Market in Europe – a Look at Direct Mail”
December 11, 2019

The Inkjet Production Printing Market in Europe – a Look at Direct Mail

Ralf Schlozer provides an overview of the direct mail market in Europe and the impact of regionalization, postal regulations and GDPR on inkjet adoption. He also defines trends affecting the market for 2020.
Featured image for “Domtar Paper on Educating Designers to Grow Pages – Video”
December 9, 2019

Domtar Paper on Educating Designers to Grow Pages – Video

Ashley Maydak of Domtar Paper talks to Elizabeth Gooding about helping printing organizations help their customers with selecting papers in order to manage expectations and grow pages.
Featured image for “Five Things to Do (Better) When Evaluating Inkjet”
December 5, 2019

Five Things to Do (Better) When Evaluating Inkjet

According to research published in the Harvard Business Review, 97% of senior leaders said that “being strategic” was the leadership behavior most important to their organization’s success. However, a lot of executives don’t feel that they have time to be strategic. Inkjet purchases are a case excample where strategic intent is often marred by tactical execution. We can do better!
Featured image for “Mary’s Wish List: Scanner to Replicate 3D Textured Objects”
December 3, 2019

Mary’s Wish List: Scanner to Replicate 3D Textured Objects

One of the fastest-growing applications in wide-format and industrial printing is textures, and while a lot has been written about how these kinds of materials are printed, typically using UV flatbed wide-format printers, not much has been said about the front end of the required process when developing inkjet imaged home décor such as flooring and window covering.
Featured image for “Plumb Marketing on Data, Diversification and Inkjet – Video”
November 26, 2019

Plumb Marketing on Data, Diversification and Inkjet – Video

Plumb Marketing charts a course for continued growth through investment in multiple types of inkjet technology and diversification of their services and applications.
Featured image for “Memjet and COASO Announce the iCueLabel Press”
November 25, 2019

Memjet and COASO Announce the iCueLabel Press

COASO utilizes Memjet’s DuraFlex™ printing technology to develop a new class of high-performance label printer
Featured image for “Inkjet the USPS and Getting Ready for 2020”
November 25, 2019

Inkjet the USPS and Getting Ready for 2020

Offering new ideas to your organization while leveraging the USPS promotions may set the stage for positive change in 2020. Using inkjet platforms to enable print mail operations to enhance the usefulness of mail and take advantage of the various USPS promotions, while delivering value to consumers and postage savings to their organizations. A win, win, win.
Featured image for “Xerox Reported to Close French Subsidiary – Impika”
November 25, 2019

Xerox Reported to Close French Subsidiary – Impika

Xerox is closing its “global centre of excellence” in France.  Xerox has announced the closing of the Impika subsidiary privately to French employees but made no public announcement

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