INNOVATIONS IN THE GRAPHIC ARTS, MEDIA AND PACKAGING FIELDS

Abstract

In recent years, some have predicted that printing and graphic arts will be eliminated by electronic and digital media. Within these predictions there was no future physical carriers of communication and paper would be replaced by monitors and screens, tablets and mobile devices. Back at DRUPA 1982, the introduction of the so-called “Desktop Publishing” has led to an exhibition under the title “Goodbye Gutenberg”, predicting also that print was under threat by new electronic technologies. Hence, until today, graphic arts industry, printing and publishing and most of all packaging, present a continuous positive development, together with structural changes in the entire spectrum of research, industry and education. Graphic Arts today is characterized by rapid technological developments, restructuring of design, management and production processes, and the application of various innovations. One of the most important indicators is the integration of basic and applied research in many fields, which leads to a new shape of the sector. In the present paper, issues concerning the following will be addressed (among others): – Typography and its importance in the digital media domain – Evolution, Innovations and main trends in the graphic arts, printing and packaging industry – Digitalization and printing production (Industry 4.0, 3D printing) – The concept of Industrial Printing In this keynote paper, effort will be given to illustrate the trends and developments in graphic arts fields. Further, the parameters confirming that printing, paper, typography, bookbinding and packaging will stay alive in the digital era will be analyzed. In addition, the graphic arts sector and its positioning in the so-called “post-industrial” society, will be investigated and the new directions for the graphic arts research, industry and business as well as the requirements for education will be identified.