Innovations in Publishing, Printing and Multimedia Technologies

Flexo and screen printing of graphene/ multiwall carbon nanotube hybrid

Vassiliki Belessi — 2023-08-29

In this work, we present the development of conductive graphene waterbased inks suitable for printing of several themes on different kinds of papers based on flexography and screen printing techniques. The inks were prepared by a hydrophilic graphene/carbon nanotube hybrid and suitable mixtures of resins. The as-prepared conductive inks were stable, highly conductive and their printing quality was comparable with that of conventional commercial inks. Especially, for flexography, the relationship between printing quality and the ink-carrying volume of the cells of the anilox roll and the pre-inking was investigated.

Evaluation of fine arts print production with artist’s opinions in contemporary art presentation

Beris Yeter — 2023-08-29

Fine art printmaking is a process that involves creating multiple original artworks through various printing techniques such as etching, lithography, and screen printing. Printmaking has been a significant art form for many contemporary artists, and its value lies in its ability to reproduce artworks in a way that is more affordable and accessible to a broader audience. In the last three decades, rapidly advancing digital technology has caused radical changes in many social, cultural, and economic fields, including the presentation of contemporary art. This has led to the formation of an innovative attitude among artists, which has transformed and triggered the production of new artworks. Fine art prints, which are considered one of the original printing methods, have become increasingly popular among contemporary artists as a means of bringing their works to wider audiences and generating additional income.
Digital technologies offer a new tool for artists, which can be used to create dynamic visual presentations in different spaces and platforms. This innovative attitude that fine art prints bring to the behaviour of today’s artists should be considered alongside other contemporary art presentations. The aim of this article is to investigate the effects of digital printing technology and fine art prints on contemporary artists. To achieve this, in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 participants, including well-known artists and art institution managers, in the contemporary art scene in Turkey. The findings were analyzed using content analysis, a qualitative research method, which helped to identify the concepts and relationships that could be explained with a theoretical expression based on the interpreted data.

Study of the influence of the surface structure of the substrates on the imprints quality

Anna Dovhanych — 2023-08-29

Modern printing technologies allow the use of a diverse range of materials for printing to satisfy the requirements of the most demanding consumers. However, the quality of the imprint is not always satisfactory. Of course, there can be many reasons: non-observance of technological printing modes, problems related to setting up the operation of the main and auxiliary mechanisms of the printing machine, problems of transporting material through printing and inking units, etc. One of the problems of obtaining a high-quality imprint in all printing methods is compliance with certain technological requirements regarding the selection of the properties of the printed materials, in particular their surface. Properties of the printing base surface are one of the most important factors affecting the completeness of the image transfer and the appearance of the imprint.
Based on the methods of system analysis, hierarchical groups of imprint quality indicators in flexographic and digital printing methods, which ensure high imprint quality, are singled out. Accordingly, studies of the surface topography of imprints on paper and cardboard with and without a chalk coating, as well as on film materials (in flexographic printing technology) were conducted.
The surface topography of imprints on various materials was experimentally investigated. A change in the morphological structure of the substrate surface before and after printing was revealed. It has been studied that the presence of a chalked coating, which changes the parameters of roughness and the area of peaks and valleys on papers and cardboards, has a significant effect on the microgeometry of the surface. The method of surface treatment of film materials also affects the topography of imprints surface. It has been confirmed that with an increase in the number of surface coating layers on the substrates, the roughness parameter decreases significantly. The morphological structure of the surface of the materials before printing is preserved on imprints, but its smoothing is observed to a greater or lesser extent depending on the printing method used to obtain the printed image. Also, the indicators of the surface structure of the imprint are affected by the characteristics of inks, varnishes, the method of imprints finishing, for example, by the lamination. This is confirmed by the results of electron microscopy.
Based on the results of experimental studies and taking into account the ISO model, a conceptual model and algorithm for the functioning of imprints quality assurance system were proposed, which take into account the problems associated with the dependence of the parameters of the surface structure of printed materials.

Challenges and opportunities for the development of the graphic and digital media studies in Lithuania

Giedrius Gecevičius — 2023-08-31

The graphic and digital media industry plays an important role in Lithuania and abroad, yet it inevitably faces a lack of specialists in this field. The shortage of professionals in the sector leads to the slower growth of businesses and industry, the lower value of GDP, and, in many cases, unskilled work, poor quality and inadequate presentation of information through different media. These challenges can be attributed to shortcomings of the Lithuanian higher education system. According to the Lithuanian Qualifications Framework, levels 5 (short cycle), 6 (bachelor’s), 7 (master’s), and 8 (doctoral) are classified as tertiary studies. In Lithuania, short-cycle studies in the media industry sector are still not available as the main focus is on the training of bachelor’s and master’s degree specialists.
The article analyses and presents the peculiarities of the Lithuanian education system, competencies, and acquired qualifications in different levels of studies. During the research, Lithuanian higher education institutions were compared, such as universities and colleges – higher education institutions (kolegijos in Lithuanian), which provide study programmes in different field related to the media industry. In addition, the role and potential of vocational schools in training media technology specialists is presented.
The results of the research show that the role of the Lithuanian education system is vital for the media industry. However, the potential is underexploited due to poor students’ career guidance, lack of specific practical skills, or the worsening demographic situation in the country. The significant shortage of specialists can be related to the global pandemic, which had a negative impact on the learning process and, at the same time, forced the search for new teaching methods and tools. The analysis of the education sector’s capacities to ensure smooth, rapid, and efficient training of specialists suggests that more emphasis should be placed on the training of media specialists in the narrow field within a relatively short period time. Such a study concept can be implemented in short-cycle studies when a specialist in specific media is trained through the synergy of a higher education institution and an industrial enterprise within a year and half or two years.

Shaping the European future with books (facts and thoughts regarding a conference)

Csaba Horvath — 2023-08-31

The authors – who have been working in the world of printed books for decades – tried to formulate the challenges and trends that characterize the future coexistence of European people with printed books by analyzing recently published scientific publications, conference presentations and expert reports.

The technology is not the problem, but the people

Christian Greim — 2023-08-31

We actually in printing-industrie have almost everything we could wish for in terms of printing technology. We have the possibility to match the colours to a large extent beforehand and to print in such a quality that the customers are satisfied. Everything is actually there.
The problem, however, is the complexity of the solutions. Suppliers suggest the exact opposite of complexity. The common programmes that are used to create the PDF files that are then sent to the printers for printing, initially give the impression of being child’s play to use. The graphic agencies, the largest group of customers of the printers, also think that everything is very simple. In the courses for graphic designers, printing technology is often not even taught as a separate subject. The idea prevails: “If the file looks good on the screen, my job is done!” That this is only about half the job, is known to anyone who has to rework PDF files in the graphic arts industry. And so we have the problem that from the outside everything in the printing industry is quite simple, almost trivial. But if we look more closely, the enormous choices in prepress and production, ultimately create an enormous complexity of all processes, that is difficult to oversee and deal with. Colour management, for example, requires very extensive knowledge. CIP3 cannot be mastered without in-depth IT knowledge. The temptation is to buy in the knowledge from suppliers. As a result, printers have equipment that has been set up once by suppliers and is then only to be operated in a comparatively mindless manner. The slightest error means that technicians have to be called in.
This article examines the real problems in the day-to-day work of printers, in opposite to the problems that manufacturers tell us are a problem. It gives principled suggestions on what should be changed in training, it formulates questions that responsible people in the printing industry should ask themselves. And finally he gives practical advice on what could be done differently in concrete terms.

The new U.S. graphic communication curriculum: an expanded taxonomy

Kenneth L. Macro — 2023-09-04

Survey and analysis of changing curricula of existing Graphic Communication programs within various degree granting educational institutions within North America. While some programs have closed, others have shifted curricular focus to adapt to newer disciplines entering the traditional graphic communication space, most specifically in User-Interface (UI) and User-Experience design. This phenomenon has changed the direction of the Accrediting Council for Collegiate Graphic Communications (ACCGC), an accreditation body in North America that reviews and provides accreditation to any participating programs in Graphic Communication. As such, the ACCGC has developed a Taxonomy of Disciplines that assist in determining criteria for accrediting newer and evolving Graphic Communication programs.

Women in print: a special case study

Katalin Orgován — 2023-09-04

The author - who is a woman, a printer and senior manager holding several positions - was recently influenced that motivated her to examine the situation of women in the printing industry more deeply and scientifically. Initially, she focused on Patria Printing House, the company she managed as CEO. The research puts emphasis on examining the proportion of women working at the company in total, and also in management positions. There was a question as to whether this diversity influences the company’s effectiveness, so the subject of investigation is whether the development of balance sheet profit is related to the activities of female managers. Over the past 10 years, the ratio of the printing company’s balance sheet profit to sales revenue has consistently increased. From this, it is not possible to draw the conclusion that this was due to the positive effect of the proportion of women in management, but it can be concluded that efficiency has not deteriorated. The question of equal pay for the same position, without gender discrimination, is important. It was also established that gender discrimination does not apply in manager positions at the company. While for the company as whole, the average salary of women is below that of men. This may also be explained by the fact that men occupy different positions from women.

Peculiarities and methods of students’ creative project activities

Dovilė Vilkienė — 2023-09-04

The aim: To analyse the factors that reveal students’ creativity in the project activities.
Project activities promote students’ responsibility, cooperation and creativity. Each project faces certain constraints, including scope, goals, and available resources. Working within a specific and defined project activity format, students look for ways and opportunities to reveal and express their ideas within a specified period, using particular materials, in order to achieve the goals set. The article presents insights on how to help students collaborate and engage in the creative process and methods how to encourage, motivate and unleash everyone’s potential. The article analyses the peculiarities and methods of creative project activity, and the role of the teacher in involving and encouraging students to cooperate, work towards common goals, delegate tasks, and take responsibility.

Defect “ghosting” as a result of the interaction of paper and printing ink. from science to production

D. Vanaga — 2023-09-04

The result of the paper and the quality depends on various interconnected mechanical, physical and chemical processes what are affected by material properties, reset technologies, equipment and the condition of the production premises in the Print industry especially in the printing processes. Due to the complicate technological processes different defects can appear during the printing process which reduces the quality of production and causes financial loss. One of the main leading Printing company of Latvia “Livonia Print” initiated to explore and find solutions – to reduce or eliminate the risk of GH. GH has not been sufficiently studied so far. Consequently, there is not much specialized, professional literature available. Research sample of printing is taken from a real order, album, and it was printed under real production conditions. The result of the research is to reduce or completely eliminate risk of GH occurrence in the production of high-class printed works (albums, catalogues, etc).