Are there any knowledgeable prognosticators of the Printing Business?

Question

I have been in the small offset field for over 25 years. I have seen many changes over the last 5-10 years with the advent of digital technology. Now there are fewer jobs for press operators and many shops are even choosing to reduce equipment and staff and farm out much of their work.

Is there a future in this business for a top-knotch press operator, or should I consider changing over the next few years? Or, is there a change I can make within the field? Is it possible that my career may continue for the next 20 years? My experience ranges from running little old AB Dick duplicators to a Ryobi 3304 (small 4 color press).

What would you say is the future for the small commercial printing business?

Answer 1

Forget your experience. It is your skill and knowledge that is important. Does that make sense?

In a nutshell all printing is, is getting an image on the page at the correct register. Then things get a little more complicated if colour is involved. In short it is much easier to get it wrong than get it right.

It is this knowledge of the balance of tone and colour and so on which is more important than reminiscing on the machines you have used.

You see if you say you are an operator, you go out with the machine. You have to be better than the machine. The machine has to be something you choose, not something to which you attach yourself.

The only way to go is to embrace the new technology. You are part of the industry, basically you need to know what you want to print and go out and get the work.

There are hundreds of punters clicking away with their digital cameras who have not got a clue how to get a good picture printed, or if they do have a clue may not have the time or inclination to bother about getting it right. Whereas bothering about getting it right is what you have been doing everyday of your working life.

You may have to be prepared to get your laptop and put your printer in the back of a van and go to peoples places of work and their homes and set about producing their flyers, and menus and business cards and invoice sheets and family photo Christmas cards and promotional T shirts.

Answer 2

The good news is there is a growing demand for printed materials the bad news for you is that it is being taken off the traditional offset press and going digital. The training and expertise it takes to run a Xerox iGen or Kodak Nexpress and maintaining a digital workflow is where the future lies.

The small commercial print business will belong to those who can offer a greater variety of services and who embrace new technologies such as VDP and Cross Media Marketing.

Answer 3

There are more horses in the US today than a century ago - but there's not much work for a teamster.

It's easy to find printing jobs that will continue for at least 20 more years. Books. Magazines. Stock certificates. Posters. Stuff that's perforated.

But if I were you, I'd take a close look at opportunities in the bindery. Hot lead and hand-set typesetting went first, then the entire typesetting occupation. Printing is rapidly disappearing. The bindery, though, is awfully labor-intensive.

Or you could buy a liquor store, I suppose.

There's still a strong demand for web printers here in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, but I can't see that lasting forever.