Articles by Steve Malec
Blog Archive
PRINTING United 2019 Really Was a “Bigger, Better, Bolder” Look at the Possibilities of Print
The first-ever PRINTING United promised to be “bigger,” “better,” and “bolder” than any print industry conference before it—and we think it definitely delivered. Here’s what Color Technical Support Manager Steve Malec thought of the inaugural event […]
thINK Ahead Drives Collaboration and Innovation for Production Inkjet
In 2015, Canon Solutions America created thINK, an independent forum for users of its production inkjet technology. IWCO Direct has been involved with thINK from the beginning, sending attendees to the conference as participants, panelists, and presenters. It’s been a great way to network with peers and check our “experience barometer” while sharing our ideas and solutions.
Our New Color Science Education Center Helps Us Keep Our Shamrocks the Right Shade of Green (Whichever Shade That Is)
With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, I decided to find out the PANTONE equivalent of St. Paddy’s green. Boy, oh boy, I had no idea of the history behind St. Patrick’s Day and the color green. For example, I learned that blue was the original color for St. Patrick’s Day, but it switched to green sometime in the 19th century [...]
Fresh Faces and Fresh Technology Stood Out at the 2019 PIA Color Conference
With subzero temperatures hitting the Midwest, it seems like almost a lifetime ago that I was in San Diego for the 2019 PIA Color Conference. This event is an annual destination for members of our Color Technical Support (CTS) team, and not just because of its warm location in January. Being able to meet with industry leaders who have been in the forefront of developing graphic art standards is very beneficial. It allows our team to maintain our competitive edge [...]
How We Ensure Optimal Color Reproduction—Even for Digital Printing
Color experts like me will recall that in the early years of production inkjet, digital presses simply could not match the appearance of offset presses. As early adopters of the technology rushed to capture its workflow advantages, tradeoffs were made on the quality of the overall color gamut. Thankfully, those days are behind us, and […]
How We Use Delta E2000 to Enhance Color Fidelity
Brand colors are the cornerstone of many companies’ identities. Companies often make a considerable investment in choosing colors to best represent their brand values. When you think of Coca-Cola, for example, what color comes to mind? Their iconic red, right? When it comes to color fidelity, you can be assured Coca-Cola expects an accurate reproduction […]
Why We’re Hosting Idealliance’s G7 Expert and Professional Training
IWCO Direct’s commitment to producing high-quality print campaigns requires that we stay at the forefront of color management. After all, color is one of the first things consumers notice about mail, making it an incredibly important aspect of direct mail design. One way we’ve stayed ahead is by expanding our Idealliance® G7® Master […]
Dscoop Unleashing Print 2018 Offered a Look at Print from Multiple Perspectives
Last week I traveled to Dallas with Robbie Clark, Manager, Digital Print Operations, for the Dscoop Unleashing Print conference. Dscoop is a cooperative of HP users focused on the future of integrated communications. As first-time attendees, we went to meet and learn from HP users, graphic artists, marketers, and anyone with an eye toward the […]
After the 2018 PIA Color Conference, a Unified Color Experience is Closer than Ever Before
In direct mail, color consistency is critical—both to producing the mail itself and for the impression it makes on the person who receives it. Mail for a customer campaign is printed using multiple technologies. Recipients expect it to have a consistent appearance; for production, flexibility is key—being able to seamlessly move jobs as needed without […]
