A report from www.reportlinker.com says the U.S. demand for printing inks is forecast to reach $4.8 billion by 2013. Lithographic inks will remain the most widely used, but digital inks represent the fastest-growing product segment in the U.S. printing inks industry.

Printing Industries of America, Washington, D.C., says it is encouraged by President Obama’s plan to unlock credit for small businesses. Seventy-five percent of print plants employ fewer than 20 workers. A statement released by the organization says that printers and other businesses need significant incentives, including short-term tax relief, to fuel an economic recovery.

GatorWraps, Las Vegas, prints and installs digital film wraps for cars, trains and buildings. The company recently opened a new, high-visibility showroom to demonstrate its products on a grand scale. “Advances in digitally printable films have allowed us to expand our services to wall graphics and building wraps,” says president Rod Voegele. Company senior designer [...]

By Jan Schieffer If it’s time for your company to “go green,” the Fabric Graphics Association (FGA) wants to help. FGA has developed sustainability guidelines to encourage companies to adopt practices that conserve resources and energy, minimize the use of harmful chemicals, and look for opportunities to apply sustainable practices throughout your organization. To start, [...]

By Jill C. Lafferty Baraboo Tent & Awning is a custom fabric crafter with a number of businesses under one “tent,” so to speak. So what ties several of those fabric applications together? The answer is graphics. The Baraboo, Wis.-based company provides customized graphics on awnings and canopies, umbrella shelters, instant shelters, cabanas, POP displays, [...]

Staying on top of advances in fabrics and techniques for backlit applications offers a promising opportunity for growth. By Sigrid Tornquist If you want to attract attention to something, shine a light on it—or better yet—shine a light behind it. Backlit interior signage has long been a popular and effective advertising strategy, but it’s a [...]

Proper printer maintenance can make or break your ROI. By Maura Keller Most fabric graphic shops and end product manufacturers don’t have a problem remembering to maintain a clean environment to house their textiles. But when it comes to keeping their printing equipment clean, they are the first to admit negligence. Take a look at [...]

When times are tough, don’t cut corners to compete. By Marc Hequet So you’re known for your quality…Great! But how are you supposed to sell quality in this economy? That’s the challenge manufacturers face: persuading discount-seeking buyers to pay a premium for top-of-the-line goods. It’s not so easy. “Prices are really becoming the selling point [...]

Working with 3-D forms to create visual themes. By Jim Cotton High quality graphics printed on fabric are frequently incorporated into three-dimensional designs for retail, exhibit, trade show and architectural installations. Successful installations create harmony and a positive and informative brand experience. Three-dimensional design installations utilize shape, color, size and texture. Design elements relate to [...]

By Tim Greene The most interesting application for fabrics using digital printing I have seen lately is digitally printed leather, available from SIF Technology Corporation, Sarasota, Fla. Printers have been using screen printing and dye-sublimation inkjet printing onto leather for a long time. The SIF technology enables “on-demand mass customization of leather products” by providing [...]