Pressing Into 2000

The infiltration of various digital prepress solutions has also raised offset use, he says. It has allowed shops to offer four-color work cheaper and with shorter runs.

"I think it will get even more automated, even for the less-expensive presses," Dighton speculates. "We are developing quicker ways to run the small 11x17˝ presses—there is still a huge market for that." Dighton notes that many in-plants, Penn State included, utilize both offset and digital gear to become more efficient operations.