I first attended a print trade show in Chicago. The year was 1980 and I was a high school student. I attended with my graphic arts class and honestly don’t remember much more than that. Five years later, my memories attending as a third year RIT student are much clearer. I’ve attended the print shows held in Chicago almost every year since the mid-1980’s. Had I kept a journal of my three decades attending print shows some of the excerpts might have looked like this.
1985 – I’m attending Print ’85 with fellow RIT students. We are impressed by the sheer size of the show. All the buildings of Chicago’s McCormick Place are filled to the brim on each and every level. There are web offset presses running everywhere. The smell of ink and solvent fills the halls and it feels like being in a printing plant. By night, we discovered Chicago’s Division Street and fun bars like Mother’s.
Late 80’s – I’ve started my own software company and am exhibiting our MeasurePrint software in densitometer manufacturer Gretag’s booth. It feels surreal to be one of the exhibitors at a trade show I used to attend in wide-eyed awe of the manufacturers and exhibitors. Presses are still running everywhere and the smell of ink and solvent remains strong but I’m seeing more electronics. Densitometers are becoming more sophisticated as well as electronic prepress systems.
Mid 90’s – I’m back at GraphExpo as a manufacturer again after starting my second software company ColorMetrix. Our industry is changing. Times are tough and booths are smaller. There’s talk of mergers everywhere. I’m noticing that instead of an entire running web press, manufacturers have brought along one unit for their booth and it’s not running. There are still plenty of sheet-fed presses to be found and electronic prepress equipment is everywhere. Direct to plate, or CTP, is the talk of the day.
September 11, 2001 – Last year I wrote a post about this day which occurred during a print show and the aftermath for our company.
Mid- 2000’s – Inkjet printing is all the rage these days. While our revamped ColorMetrix product line served us well the last few years for inkjet color verification it’s time to unveil ProofPass.com. ProofPass moves us into the cloud where we believe most computers will eventually end up. There are still plenty of offset presses on the show floor but the emphasis is on automation and direct-to-plate technology right on board the equipment. Digital will take over the commercial market soon.
September 2011 – If there is an offset printing press on the show floor, I can’t find it. Booths of digital press manufacturers dominate the prime show floor space. The booths contain complete digital workflow solutions as each manager strives to become a one-stop shop for your imaging needs. By all past standards, the show is small. At what used to be a traditional commercial printing graphic arts show, we find most of our leads coming from a sign printing market.
I wonder what GraphExpo will look like in 20 more years?
Jim, interesting wrap up, “ At what used to be a traditional commercial printing graphic arts show, we find most of our leads coming from a sign printing market.”
Last year I talked to a few people that attended both Graph Expo 2010 and SGIA 2010 and the consensus was Graph Expo was disappointing and SGIA was vibrant.
Adam,
I’ll let you know as we will be at SGIA the entire show exhibiting with Mutoh.
in 20 yrs it won’t exist. I think the last time I attended was maybe 99 or 00 and already the writing was on the wall that traditional ink and water based (manual skill based) printing was on the way out. That’s when I decided to make a transition off the press and into pre-press and large format. Served me pretty well for awhile, but after 08 I couldn’t hang on any more. It’s been sad watching the market contraction throughout the years, but c’est la vie, n’est ce pas? Just another baby thrown out with the bath water 😀