InfoTrends Reviews 'The Inkjet Edge'
The latest offering from thINK and Canon Solutions America is "The Inkjet Edge: How to Transition Your Business to Inkjet," a new book that will be a valuable tool for print service providers of all types. The book follows in the footsteps of "The Designer’s Guide to Inkjet," which was published last year. While "The Designer’s Guide to Inkjet" addressed the practical application of inkjet technology with a focus on design and prepress, "The Inkjet Edge" takes a more business-oriented approach in an effort to help print service providers that are considering, or are in the midst of, an inkjet transition. The book is heavily illustrated and packed with market data and statistics from InfoTrends and I.T. Strategies. It also offers perspectives from a range of print service providers and solutions partners. A concise 11 chapters cover everything from the opportunity and the justification process to the use of color, paper, finishing, and workflow across a range of applications. Also important are two chapters dedicated to data-driven messaging.
Particularly valuable are the many quotes from experienced inkjet print service providers. Here are a few examples:
- Lori Messina, Access Direct: "Full color makes it possible for us to deliver mail pieces that cut through the clutter. We made the commitment to expand our high-speed digital inkjet services to help our customers achieve higher response rates from their mailings while also achieving cost and time savings.”
- Mark De Boer, Darwill: "Start training the salespeople before you get the press. When the press arrives they will already have a good idea of what it can do so you’re not catching up while you have this asset sitting on the floor untapped."
- Dave Johannes, IWCO Direct: "The easiest part to underestimate is the workflow. You’ve got to have a workflow that allows you to effectively process, solve, and deliver print-ready files to your presses."
The book is beautifully produced and demonstrates the strong quality levels possible with inkjet. The stocks come from Glatfelter for the cover (9-pt. Pixelle Superior Matte) and book block (65-lb. Pixelle Superior Matt Text). The cover is laminated using a D&K Laminator with a finish that gives it an appealing soft texture. The easy-to-read design provides a color-coded visual along the edge of the book block that indicates where chapters begin and end. The book was printed using pigment inks on a Canon Océ VarioPrint i300 using an Océ PRISMAproduction workflow. It was finished on a Horizon Cab 5000 perfect binder.
"“The Inkjet Edge" is a great example of the continuing impact of the thINK user community (for more see www.thinkforum.com). Canon Solutions America production print customers should definitely consider attending the second annual thINK conference, which will take place Oct. 10-12, 2016, at the Waldorf Astoria resort in Boca Raton, Fla. In the meantime, thINK members can keep up to speed with a new magazine called "thINK Forward" that will be delivered quarterly.
Those interested in getting a copy of “The Inkjet Edge” can purchase it through the thINK website or alternately for $25 through the Printing Impressions Website.
A video version of this review is part of Jim Hamilton’s YouTube series on print samples. Another recent video of interest is one on some Canon Solutions America media catalogs and a booklet that highlights the new ColorGrip feature of the VarioPrint i300. You can find it at this link. A video review of "The Designer’s Guide to Inkjet" from February 2015 can be found here.
