March Graphic Arts Employment A Mixed Bag
Overall printing employment in March 2024 was generally up—+0.4% from February—with production employment down -0.2% and non-production employment up +1.5%.
Frank Makes Book
Frank waxes nostalgic about books and the future of books.
Around the Web: Color Caution. Kicky Keyboard. Dyed Dairy. Bread Beanie. Polaroid Poems. Domestic Droid. Mutant Mouse. New Nebula. Bison Bashing. Marvelous Moody.
The color “magenta” has been designated the “worst and deadliest” of the heat threat categories. RIP author Paul Auster. In an old movie musical, a couple dance on a giant typewriter. Just in time for Star Wars Day, dairy producer TruMoo has introduced Blue Milk. Just in time for Kentucky Derby Day, Panera has introduced the “Bread Hat.” A camera that uses AI to compose a poem based on a picture it has just taken. We’re still trying to get true 5G wireless, but over in Japan, 6G is on the way. A domestic robot capable of performing a variety of household tasks. Scientists in Portugal accidently created a six-legged mouse. The James Webb Space telescope zooms in on the Horsehead Nebula. “Man accused of kicking a bison at Yellowstone National Park,” for some reason. RIP Mike Pinder. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany.
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Industry News
- Konica Minolta Celebrates Customer FSEA Award Wins
- SCREEN Americas Hosts Executive Preview Event for Future Customers of the Truepress JET 560HDX
- Apex Underlines Commitment to Sustainability with EcoProven GTT at drupa 2024
- The Plockmatic Group Celebrates 50 Successful and Innovative Years
- Durst Group Announces the 1,000th Customer Installation of Durst Workflow Software
- Kodak Honored as Gold Stevie® Award Winner in 2024 American Business Awards®
- Burgopak and Planning Unit Win Gold at the FSEA Gold Leaf Awards 2024
- DuPont Celebrates 50 Years of Cyrel Flexographic Solutions Success at drupa 2024 with a Suite of New Offerings and Service Innovations Backed by Sustainability
- Siegwerk Publishes Human Rights Policy
- AD Procerta™ Received ISO 17025 Accreditation, Recognizing the Credibility, Accuracy and Reliability of its Label Testing
- C.P. Bourg Inc. Names James Tressler Executive Vice President of the Americas Operation
- GV Group Is Growing in the USA; After Acquiring Lake Book Manufacturing, It Has Now Acquired P.A. Hutchison
- Drytac: Setting Up for Success. How to Prepare Surfaces for Wall Graphics
- Sustainability – The ‘Megatrend’ Requiring Commitment, Collaboration and Continuous Innovation
- PPWR Rollout Provides “Golden Opportunity” for Packaging Industry Evolution, Says PHD Marketing
- Brush Your Ideas is Now PrintXpand - Unveils Fresh Identity, Commits to Advancing Printing Industry
- How Can Packaging Combat Organised Crime?
- New Reporting Period: KHS Reports Annually on Its Sustainability Achievements
Creative Collaboration and Industry Highlights from London Design Week 2024
London Design Week 2024, held at the iconic Chelsea Harbour, is an event filled with innovative, fresh ideas for textiles, wallcoverings, lighting and flooring, furniture and beyond. It's a chance for designers to showcase their work to a broad audience and to especially feature sustainable designs. Debbie McKeegan, textiles expert and WhatTheyThink contributor, explains.
HubSpot’s State of Marketing 2024: Don’t Like AI? Get Over It
According to HubSpot, marketing has moved from the Age of Information to the Age of Intelligence. With so much information out there, the ability to filter and analyze data in ways that provide meaningful insights has become increasingly difficult. So if you don’t like AI, it’s time to get over it.
Offset Lithography: Never More Relevant to Printing than Now
A printing process born in the 19th century remains the most-used method of graphic reproduction in the 21st. This is because of the tremendous technological advancements it has made and the rich profit opportunities its users continue to enjoy. A new editorial section, debuting here, will chart offset’s ongoing innovations and market success.
How Offset Ink Rises to the Challenge of High-Output Print Production
Technical advancements in offset lithographic ink typically don’t attract much notice. But they’re real, and they are as essential to quality as everything else that goes into offset litho presswork.
Navigating the Print Industry Community: User Groups vs. Customer Advisory Councils
There are many ways to learn about the latest changes in the print and e-communication industry. Industry associations and the events they host are a good start. The next most valuable sources are the user groups and vendor customer councils. They let you dial into the specific information that will help you grow your business.
Industry Data
Printing Outlook 2024 - The WhatTheyThink Overview of the Current State of the Printing Industry
The Printing Outlook 2024 report provides detailed analysis of the latest WhatTheyThink Printing Industry Survey, the latest industry economic data and macroeconomic trends, as well as industry and cultural technological trends to look out for in 2024 and beyond.
March Graphic Arts Employment A Mixed Bag
Overall printing employment in March 2024 was generally up—+0.4% from February—with production employment down -0.2% and non-production employment up +1.5%. Full Analysis
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portal Establishments—2010–2021
According to County Business Patterns, in 2020 there were 8,947 establishments in NAICS 51913 (Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals). This category saw a net increase of 66% since 2010. In macro news, Q1 GDP is much lower than expected. Full Analysis
February Shipments: Well, At Least It’s Seasonal
February 2024 shipments came in at $6.01 billion, down from January’s $7.04 billion—and right between February 2021 and 2022. Full Analysis
WhatTheyThink Magazine
WhatTheyThink Magazine is the resource for the Commercial Printing, Visual and Graphic Arts Industries. Industry experts share their ideas and technical knowledge on ways to improve operations.
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Around the Web
WhatTheyThink's weekly miscellany
Around the Web: Color Caution. Kicky Keyboard. Dyed Dairy. Bread Beanie. Polaroid Poems. Domestic Droid. Mutant Mouse. New Nebula. Bison Bashing. Marvelous Moody.
The color “magenta” has been designated the “worst and deadliest” of the heat threat categories. RIP author Paul Auster. In an old movie musical, a couple dance on a giant typewriter. Just in time for Star Wars Day, dairy producer TruMoo has introduced Blue Milk. Just in time for Kentucky Derby Day, Panera has introduced the “Bread Hat.” A camera that uses AI to compose a poem based on a picture it has just taken. We’re still trying to get true 5G wireless, but over in Japan, 6G is on the way. A domestic robot capable of performing a variety of household tasks. Scientists in Portugal accidently created a six-legged mouse. The James Webb Space telescope zooms in on the Horsehead Nebula. “Man accused of kicking a bison at Yellowstone National Park,” for some reason. RIP Mike Pinder. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Around the Web: Color Culture. Bard Birthplace? Control Controversy. Planetary Puzzle. Jukebox Johnny. Aldi Aisle. Crustacean Crash.
A new book explores “the implications of color and its cultural impact.” Was Shakespeare really born in the “Shakespeare Birthplace” in Stratford-upon-Avon? If you’re ever in Philadelphia, be sure to visit the largest typewriter company in the world. Reading The Hobbit à la the BBC’s Shipping Forecast. Do you prefer touchscreens or tactile controls? A new wireless lamp design uses rechargeable bulbs. Could a ninth planet be hiding behind Neptune? A reconstruction of a three-hour Dr. Johnny Fever radio show from episodes of “WKRP in Cincinnati” is the best playlist we have ever heard. 20% of Aldi’s revenue comes from its “Aisle of Shame.” Red Lobster may file for bankruptcy. All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Around the Web: Met Medics. Type Tenets. Bend’s Blockbuster. Insurance Inflation. Follicle Fashion. Humdrum Handset. Bee Bandits. Clever Cutlery. Collaborative Condiment.
Inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s book conservation lab. A new book lays out the Universal Principles of Typography. 11 signs from around the country that evoke “pure Americana.” Mattel releases a team-based version of Scrabble. Physical media’s last stand. Car insurance premiums have sure kicked into overdrive. Textiles made from human hair may not be as creepy as they sound. HMD and Heineken introduce the Boring Phone. Battling the West’s “bee rustlers” would make for an interesting John Wayne film. Horatio Nelson’s “Knork.” Heinz and Mattel team up to launch “Barbiecue sauce.” All that and more in WhatTheyThink’s weekly miscellany. Read More
Recent Discussion
Joe Treacy on Frank Makes Book
Frank, thank the stars that you’re preserving the books arts, and fervently believe in them and their future. I love them too, and believe they’ll always be with us. And, ever more creative in design and production. Love the shirt! Joe Treacy Tre… Full comment Reply
Eric Vessels on The Road to drupa: Next Age Content Program Featured in Hall 7
@Deb meant to have that link included under the video. Added it. Reply
Deborah Corn on The Road to drupa: Next Age Content Program Featured in Hall 7
See who is exhibiting and speaking at #drupaDNA here: https://www.drupa.com/en/Program/Forums/drupa_next_age Reply
Deborah Corn on The Road to drupa: Next Age Content Program Featured in Hall 7
Robert!! I am with you on point 1. A few companies I saw exhibiting in Hall 7 at drupa 2016 are now global players. You got to be IN IT, to WIN IT! As for the craft of printing, we have always been on the same page. The need for speed to market and a… Full comment Reply
Special Report
drupa 2024 Coverage
WhatTheyThink is the official show daily media partner of drupa 2024. More info about drupa daily programs
- Inkjet driving insourcing for state in-plants
- Real World AI for the Printing Industry
- Harnessing the Power of Synergy: HP High Speed Inkjet and Indigo Liquid Toner Technologies
- KYOCERA NIXKA INKJET SYSTEMS (KNIS) INTRODUCES BELHARRA, THE NEW WAVE OF PHOTO PRINTERS
- New RISO Printing Unit Offers Easy Integration for Package Printing
- March 2024 Inkjet Installation Roundup
- Inkjet Integrator Profiles: Integrity Industrial Inkjet
- Revisiting the Samba printhead
WhatTheyThink is the official show daily media partner of drupa 2024. More info about drupa programs
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Gordon Pritchard on Frank Makes Book
Totally agree. I have some books that you might be interested in. Is there an email link that I can send photos to so that you can decide if you want them? My email is pritchardgordon (@) Gmail (dot) com Reply