COMMERCIAL PRINTING Outlook -- Shadows Cast on 2006

It remains to be proven that the format size can be scaled up to become a broad competitor for physical paper. Other questions still to be answered include the cost competitiveness, resolution/visibility, durability and infrastructure requirements of any resulting products.

It could easily be another five to 10 years before any kind of real potential replacement for paper is commercialized, and then an adoption curve of some duration would follow. Given the potential implications of such a sea change, though, it is critical that printers stay up on developments in this arena in the new year—and beyond.