The Future Of Offset

Such forecasts may initially seem like a haphazard glance into the crystal ball. Most venders, however, note that it's more like a natural progression necessary for the industry to maintain its success than a venture into the realm of Nostradamus.

"If you look what businesses are doing, it makes logical sense that once people have digital infrastructures in place it becomes almost a necessity, not a luxury," says Kenneth Newton, vice president of worldwide marketing at A.B. Dick. "There's really two technologies out there that are evolving and developing: digital print and digital presses. Some say digital print will migrate out and steal the business out of the commercial marketplace. My answer is no. It has always stolen some because of the black-and-white work, but when you get into color printing the properties of ink versus the properties of toner are incredibly important to the value of printed work."