Digitally printed ceramic applications include interior décor.
Non-traditional markets
Some non-traditional markets for large-format printing are growing rapidly, thanks to new innovations in technology.
In particular, new inkjet systems have been developed for textile, ceramic and glass printing. And while much of the industry’s textile printing involves soft signage, apparel printing is also becoming a major component of this type of work.
Other growth areas include packaging and labels, where many businesses are looking to work with fewer suppliers. At the same time, large-format print shops are targeting new revenue streams by striving to do more work for their existing customers.
There has also been enormous interest in three-dimensional (3-D) printing, giving rise to predictions of a surge in additive manufacturing carried out by consumers themselves. The real future of 3-D printing is more likely to involve locally produced short runs of custom applications like packaging. This could be a great opportunity for sign shops, for which folding carton and other packaging-focused design software has been developed in recent years.
Differentiation through specialization
There has also been a transformation at the supply end of the sign and display business. Many manufacturers have started to offer ‘all-in-one’ systems, bringing together printers, inks, software and substrates into the same package for the production of a certain type of application, e.g. traffic signs or interior décor wallcoverings. Similar systems are likely to be developed for the aforementioned non-traditional markets: textile, ceramic and glass printing.
While all of these systems promise to make signmakers’ jobs easier in the future, the most successful will be those signmakers who can differentiate themselves by establishing a strong reputation for providing at least one specialized type of application. While the sign, display and large-format graphics businesses are all growing and full of further potential, the need to add value and differentiate is key to everyone’s success.
Sarit Tichon is senior vice-president (SVP) of worldwide sales for SAi, which provides design, pre-press and production software for the signmaking, digital printing, screenprinting and computer numerical control (CNC) machining industries. For more information, visit www.thinksai.com.
