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Announcing SGIA’s First Garment Edition of the Journal!
May 24th, 2013
The 2013 Printed Electronics & Membrane Switch Symposium Will Open One Day Early!
May 15th, 2013Registration for the 2013 Printed Electronics and Membrane Switch Symposium (Orlando, October 22–23) is now open! Due to increased demand after a successful experience alongside the 2012 SGIA Expo, the Symposium will open a day earlier to give attendees the best of both worlds.
Attendees who register* for the Symposium can take advantage of two days of essential Symposium programming and networking opportunities, as well as access to the 2013 SGIA Expo (October 23–25) reduced early registration fee, hundreds of specialty imaging exhibitors on the show floor, a Printed Electronics and Membrane Switch community reception with industry peers and the SGIA Keynote Breakfast.
The Symposium features high-end educational programming commonly regarded as the best of the best, delivering relevant, near-future technical information, with sessions including:
• Better Methods of Screen Printing
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Light Guide Panels (LGP’s)
• Mesh Selection & Stencil Preparation
• Finishing with Cutting Technologies
The Symposium serves as the industry’s gathering point for printed electronics and membrane switch professionals looking for the latest technology updates and new innovations from leaders in the industry.
Register now for the 2013 SGIA Printed Electronics and Membrane Switch Symposium!
*Registration for the 2013 Symposium is facilitated through the 2013 SGIA Expo registration system.
If You See Something, Say Something
March 27th, 2013In today’s fast-paced environment, whether or not your clients have a full editorial staff or even just an “editing tree” (in which copy goes down a line of people who glance over it and write “approved”) everyone can benefit from another eye on the printed product — before it’s printed. Here are a few reasons your client might benefit from you saying something if you see something:
- No matter how many people read through it, there might be one thing missed. The project you are working on for your client has likely already been edited 27,368 times before going to press. All the hands (and brains) on the project are possibly sick to death of looking at it, because they’ve gone over it again and again to get it right. And when you go over something again and again, you might be seeing what you want to see, instead of what’s actually there. A fresh pair of eyes on the final product can be a life-saver (or a job-saver).
- Great representation. Your client already loves the work you do — I mean, you have the job, right? Showing your attention to detail on the job you’re printing could further solidify future business. Finding that one pesky typo might be just the ticket to winning the next job and/or a great referral!
Do you tell your clients if you see something spelled wrong or a font that looks wacky? Comment below!
Quick Questions about Dye Sublimation with Johnny Shell
March 13th, 2013Dye Sublimation is currently one of the fastest expanding markets in digital printing – but why? You can find all kinds of information about the process, equipment, supplies and products, but no straight answers about why this new process in digital printing is so awesome. So I went straight to a trusted source – SGIA’s Johnny Shell, one of our technical experts.
Why would someone choose Dye Sublimation over any other process?
Are there Pros and Cons?
Why is it popular right now?
Soft signage is viewed as sustainable due to reduced shipping costs vs. rigid signs, so companies are moving away from anything that costs more to produce/ship and toward projects/substrates that are viewed as less harmful to the environment.
Dye sublimation offers versatility and durability, making it a real contender for new businesses looking to jump into the specialty imaging industry. SGIA has great dye sub education available to specialty imagers – SGIA Subscribers can view past dye sub Webinars through our Webinar Archive. SGIA also offers fun and innovative, hands-on dye sub Workshops:
Introduction to Dye Sublimation
Covers the full spectrum of small-format dye sublimation
May 15-16, 2013
If you are a company that has integrated dye sub into your business, how has it changed your business? If you’re a new dye sub business, what has your learning curve been like and what do your customers think of the results compared to past projects? We want to hear from you!
Graphic Arts Students and Educators, SGIA’s Student Printing Competition is Now Open!
March 7th, 2013The Tom Frecska Student Printing Competition is now accepting submissions!
In memory of one of the strongest supporters of the screen print industry, the Academy of Screen and Digital Printing Technologies has dedicated its Student Printing Competition to Tom Frecska, the late editor of ScreenPrinting Magazine. Tom, who passed away suddenly in 2009, recognized the importance of and supported the education of students in the screen printing process. This award places a spotlight on the next generation of imagers and is a great opportunity for students to have samples of their finest work evaluated by ASDPT experts. Winning submissions will be displayed to industry leaders from around the world at the 2013 SGIA Expo, Orlando, FL, October 23-25, 2013.
Highly sought after by graphic arts students, ASDPT awards honor superior imaging work within a variety of categories. Entrants represent secondary (high school and vocational) students and post-secondary (technical school, college or university) students. Show the imaging community that you have what it takes to excel in this industry with an esteemed Tom Frecska Student Printing Competition Award.
Entries must be submitted by July 31, 2013. For more information, visit the Tom Frecska Student Printing Competition page, contact sgia@sgia.org or call 703.385.1335.
How Well Do You See Color?
February 21st, 2013Color is everything — when you’re working with a customer that has a specific brand, color can make or break the job. Who doesn’t know Target red or Girl Scout green? Do you think Facebook is concerned about their precise shade of blue? Of course they are — because if that blue doesn’t match up on a monitor, a printout or a plastic gift card, it’s not going to work.
Color can be tweaked through the tools you use, but what if it’s your own eyes that are holding you up? Did you know that, according to X-Rite, Inc., one out of 255 women and one out of 12 men have some form of color vision deficiency?
Everyone sees color a little differently, some more extreme than others. Check out this fun Online Color Challenge, based on the official FM100 Hue Test by X-Rite, to see where you land on the color spectrum. Let us know how you score in our comments below!
After you take the test, check out our sponsored G7 training with M&R companies and sign up! Learn how to control color across multiple platforms and keep your projects color consistent.
G7: One Method. Huge Payoff.
January 31st, 2013G7 is an innovative calibration methodology developed by IDEAlliance that enables different proofers, screen presses and digital printers to produce a very similar appearance regardless of substrate, line count, ink type or printing condition. It can also serve as a competitive advantage for speciality imaging companies who need to meet increasing demands of customers.
To help imaging professionals get a handle on G7, SGIA has teamed up with IDEAlliance to offer a four-day G7 Expert/Professional Training class on March 12-15, 2013 at M&R Companies facility in Niles, Illinois. The training includes a lecture on G7 methodology, lab instruction and a demonstration of G7 certified systems. G7 will be demonstrated across both screen and digital output devices, including:
- M&R Screen Press Insignia
- HP DesignJet Z3200
- Epson 9890 for film output
This class is intended for color management professionals looking for certification as a G7 Expert or G7 Professional. Best of all, SGIA members receive a $150 discount off their registration. For more details about this exclusive training class, visit IDEAlliance’s website. To receive the $150 discount, SGIA members should contact SGIA for the coupon code at 888.385.3588.
For information about G7 methodology and additional resources, visit SGIA.org, Keyword: G7.