Category: Tech Knowledge

Sustainable Substrates

The wide-format industry isn’t known for printing to environmentally friendly media, but there are now a number of more sustainable substrates around.

There's a lot of talk about environmentally friendly printing, but not so much in the wide-format sector because of the nature of the substrates typically in use. However, it's striking that many of the newer materials coming to market are being hailed as more sustainable offerings for this arena.

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Show and tell

With the main trade shows of 2012 done and dusted it’s time to assess the technological trends they highlighted in the wide-format arena.

So, we’re midway through the year and we’ve had three big exhibitions – Fespa Digital, Sign and Digital, and Drupa – with all their attendant announcements and product launches, but have we seen anything that's really new in terms of technology for the large-format display graphics sector? Rather than simply list the various announcements, which we’ve already covered through the previews and the news pages, here we’ll look at the bigger themes and trends highlighted by the events.

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Getting the really big picture

Nessan Cleary reports on the technical trends and developments related to superwide inkjet printers.

There’s wide-format and then there’s superwide – but it can be hard to define exactly what a superwide printer should be. Obviously these are going to be wider printers, but how wide? 

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All change?

Things are happening that will push through the barriers wide-format has with VDP adoption. Nessan Cleary explains.

Variable data is one of the great promises of digital printing, making it possible to vary parts of a job across a complete run. We’ve all seen examples of variable data printing because it’s a core technology in transactional printing on things like our bank statements. 

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Make a difference

Your customers want print with a ‘wow’ factor? You can give it to them. John Charnock, director of Print Research International, looks at the special effects you can now incorporate.

‘Special effects’ is such a generic term that it could cover almost any type of print beyond four-colour output. But for the sake of this article let’s take a look at three key areas of development: effects with inks, with substrate and with software – or indeed the combination of any of the three.

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29 September to 1 October, 2026
The Print Show

https://www.theprintshow.co.uk/

Where?

NEC Birmingham, UK • Hall 1

What is it?

The Print Show is committed to helping visitors discover new opportunities for their business, demonstrating that print is so much more than simply putting ink on paper. With access to exhibitors from all corners of the industry, all free of charge, The Print Show is an event that cannot be missed.

Now in its 10th anniversary year, The Print Show is established as the most important and best-attended industry event in the UK, and is still the only exhibition entirely dedicated to the UK print sector. The Print Show is the primary meeting point for the market, offering visitors the opportunity to see the latest technological developments, meet and network with peers, and access advice from some of the leading experts in print.

30 September 2026
The Print Industry Awards

Where?

National Conference Centre, Birmingham.

What is it?

The Print Industry Awards celebrate excellence across the print and visual communications sector, recognising the achievements, innovation and talent that drive the industry forward. From outstanding print businesses and suppliers to individual professionals, the awards highlight the very best in print, digital and visual communications. Backed by decades of industry expertise, the Print Industry Awards provide a platform to showcase success, raise standards and honour those making a real impact.