SEARCH

In an intriguing pairing of the old and the new, students at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) have created a virtual reality (VR) application of the letterpress printing process. In tandem with RIT faculty, the students modeled their work on the Kelmscott/Goudy Albion press that is housed at the Cary Graphic Arts Collection at RIT. The goal was to create a digital twin of the press. The application is called the “19th-Century Printing Press Experience VR” and is free on the Steam digital distribution platform.   Starting with the Old The name “Kelmscott/Goudy Albion” reflects the heritage and ownership of this 19th Century cast iron hand press. The word “Albion” is the maker’s brand. This type of printing press was designed by Richard Whittaker Cope and was produced in London. Manufactured for more than a century, RIT’s Kelmscott/Goudy Albion press was built in 1891 by Hopkinson & Cope. It is believed that Cope chose the name “Albion” because of its use as a poetic name for …

The American Revolution started about 250 years ago on April 19, 1775. Another significant anniversary is coming up next year—July 4, 1776 is the date of the Declaration of Independence. As we mark these important milestones, it is worth considering the role that print played in helping get our country out from under colonial rule by the British.   The Most Lethal Weapon In a radio interview with WGBH Boston, Museum of Printing President Frank Romano called the printing press “the most lethal weapon of the American Revolution.” That same sentiment is on a sign at the Museum next to a replica of an 18th century English Common Press, one of the most common printing presses in the colonies at the time. As Massachusetts celebrates the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution, that replica press is on loan to the Museum of Printing. For many years previously, that press was part of the Printing Office of Edes and Gill, located near the Old North Church in Boston, where …

Here’s how one production inkjet service provider found $100,000 in “easy money.” Most print sales professionals understand how powerful a 1% price change is.  (If the “power of 1%” is new to you or you wish to socialize the idea with your team, check out this  animated short .)  And most print salespeople I meet assure me that they are already doing everything they can to maximize pricing. Maybe. And then again, maybe not. In our pricing programs, my team will often ask salespeople to bring the last ten deals they won.  Then we’ll ask them to sort the deals into two piles: NO:  Increasing the price of this deal by 1% would have seriously jeopardized this deal.  I can’t be sure, but I think it is very unlikely that I could have asked for even 1% more and still have been able to close the deal. YES:  Increasing the price of this deal by 1% probably wouldn’t have made any difference to closing this deal.  I’m reasonably confident that the customer still would have said yes, even at a …

Did you know that there are an estimated 5.9 million Google searches per minute across the globe? That translates to roughly 3.1 trillion Google searches per year. Given that Google is the most used search engine, it's mission-critical to ensure your website is equipped to capture this organic search traffic to help potential customers get to know your brand, products, or services.  Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of ensuring your website is designed to display as close to the top of a Google search page as possible. This makes it faster and easier for your target audience to engage with you, convert on an offer, or even complete a purchase. The question becomes: What can you do right now to help increase the SEO value of your website? Here are a couple of practical, hands-on things  you can do right  now  to boost the SEO value of your website and help enhance the user experience of those who visit your site.   First things first: Conduct a SEO audit of your website …

Never reduce your price without reducing your offering. Production inkjet print providers face price pressure every day. A customer gets your quote for a beautifully printed, personalized direct mail campaign and responds with: “Can you do it for less?” Or, “This is more than my last printer charged me.” Or, “This is outside my budget.” You’ve heard it all. It’s tempting to shave a little off the top to win the job, but be careful. Dropping your price without adjusting your offering is one of the fastest ways to erode your margins and your credibility. If your original quote was $50,000 for a multi-segment campaign and the client counters with $44,000, don’t just say yes. Instead, reduce the offering accordingly. That might mean fewer pieces, a longer turnaround, fewer personalization layers, or a simpler format. Maybe it means digital-only proofs or pickup instead of delivery. But the bottom line is this: if you reduce your price, reduce your offering. Why it Matters There are two …