Do you know of kit/consumables vendors that are supporting creatives - and thus helping grow the interest in, and demand for, large-format digital inkjet print - by giving products and specialist know-how to schools, colleges etc.? Or perhaps you are? Let me know and I’ll do my bit to help raise awareness too.
Blogs
Technicolour dream job
Just look at what SignAway has done with London Bridge! We need more of these ‘statement’ jobs to get the message out there that large-format inkjet print has fabulous creative potential. Let me know if you’ve completed anything with such a public ‘wow’ factor.
Drupa bound?
Figures released by Fespa on the number of international visitors to its show in Cologne this past May, has me wondering whether we Brits are up for two mainland Europe shows next year. Some of the wide-format PSPs I’ve been speaking to seem to be questioning whether it’s worth going to Drupa when they think they will have seen most of what they want to see at the preceding Fespa Digital.
What are your intentions?
Stretch and flex
How flexible are you in your approach to diversification? And are sensor embedded textiles on your radar? Perhaps those of you thinking of getting in on the action when it comes to supplying the growing customised printed sportswear market should note the name BeBop sensors – see the news item below and all will become clear!
Seeing red?
The ISO colour standard development story prompts me to ask if – in the wide-format space in particular – colour management remains a headache, and if so, what needs to happen to alleviate it?
On the brink
If you were at Fespa 2015 you can't fail to have noticed the emphasis on digital textile print technology. For once, the Fespa Textile part of the exhibition was a hub of activity – even if that had as much to do with its positioning as content – and many of the inkjet printer vendors were showing off textile kit on their main showfloor stands too.
More to come
I see that Canon has now included wide-format in new business analysis audit tool for general commercial printers. Do you see many ‘traditional’ cut-sheet PSPs still moving into this sector, or do you think we’ve seen the main influx?
Springwatch 2016
Get the diaries out and get the new date for Sign and Digital 2016 in it. And I’d plan a good Christmas break this year as you won’t be getting another until the end of June next year by looking at the trade events calendar!
Get out there, because they’re getting in
The news item in this mailer about Babywise completing an order for 40,000 printed PVC changing mats for supermarket giant Aldi using Roland wide-format printers equipped with Lightbar solvent-UV ink technology, prompts me to wave the ‘Think Bigger’ banner for closer co-operation between PSPs and creatives to build business in new and profitable markets. That’s it. Enough said!
Fespa feedback
Now that a full week has passed since Fespa 2015 closed its doors and everyone has had time to reflect, I’d love to hear what key ‘learnings’ you came away with. If the show raised points you would like to see investigated/discussed further within Image Reports, let me know.
More of the same please
It’s good to see Hybrid Services doing its bit to get wide-format career opportunities in front of youngsters. When Image Reports launched its ‘Turning on the Talent’ campaign last year to highlight vendors, PSPs and industry bodies working to this end, it became clear quite quickly that one of the reasons the sector was having trouble in recruiting enthusiastic and talented youngsters was because it wasn’t doing enough to promote it as an attractive option. If you are, let me know!
And the show goes on…
..but I’m back in Blighty after a great trip to Fespa 2015 in Cologne. News from the first few days is below – no doubt there’ll be more in Monday’s enews.
Hello from Cologne
Perhaps you are reading this as you head into the opening day of Fespa 2015. The next couple of days are jam packed with press events so just to say we’ll keep you up to speed as the week progresses. Say hello if you see me on the showfloor – I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on what you see.
Get in on the action
The new Print Power website (www.printpower.eu) hosts a new Case Study Library, a searchable resource featuring global brands and solutions highlighting the value and return on investment that print media brings to modern communications campaigns. But guess, what, wide-format doesn’t get a look-in. Come on, get the sector’s voice heard!