Editor's note

Discussions about new technology abound in Output, and rightly so: so much of the work our industry produces now would have been impossible a couple of decades ago, but equally we can't invest in every new gadget or system that comes along in the belief it will increase our efficiency. This was put in perspective last week when BlackBerry services went down, inconveniencing thousands of people who rely on the smartphone. To non-users, it was perhaps considered just desserts for not buying into competing, 'superior' technology. Should we be looking to constantly upgrade our kit, or is 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' a sensible mantra? As always, get in touch and let us know your thoughts.

Morwenna Kearns, editor
www.twitter.com/morwennakearns
morwenna@outputmagazine.com

Communicate with the rest of the Output team

James Matthews-Paul, publisher
www.twitter.com/signanddisplay
james@outputmagazine.com

Nick Smith, editorial assistant
www.twitter.com/digitaldsnthurt
nick@outputmagazine.com

Sophie Matthews-Paul, editorial consultant and Talk Print! expert
www.twitter.com/rockstro
sophie@rockstro.net

Laurel Brunner, Talk Print! expert
www.twitter.com/laurelbrunner
lb@digitaldots.org

Last week, we asked our experts:

Is this a good time for PSPs to think narrower?

"Short-run small-format work can be produced with a not so very different workflow as wide-format."
Read and comment

"Thinking narrower doesn't necessarily mean a vast amount of additional investment as it depends on the route the print company wants to take."
Read and comment

Have you bought narrow-format kit to increase your services? Let the Talk Print! team know your experiences.

Comment directly on Output
Tweet using #talkprint
Email the editor

Sign-making

NSI Klicks with fitness club on complete graphics package
Top Story NSI has completed all the signage and graphics for nine clubs under the new Klick Fitness brand, which included the design and installation of fascias, directional and information signage.

Grafityp awards more prizes in GrafiWrap Design Contest

Hollywood Monster wraps mobile lecture theatre to advise students

Takeaways go Big with Vista menuboards

EskoArtwork to demo i-cut Suite for sign-making at SGIA Expo

Wide-format Print

Output road test: Polytype Virtu RR50
Product Profile On a Swiss roll: There are some interesting options now available in the superwide-format sector. Sophie Matthews-Paul tries out the Polytype Virtu RR50 in her latest Output road test.

Sustainable print business under spotlight at new EcoPrint trade fair

McKenzie Clark prepares for busy 2012 with UK's first 5m Virtu RR50

CBS Outdoor puts on Google Goggles for advertising initiative

New Mactac vinyl 'great for borderless graphics'

Digital Signage

Don't leave your digital signage vulnerable – or else
Feature Protection against vandalism is an increasingly important consideration for new installs as well as existing electronic signage units. Nick Smith looks at the options.

Augmented reality game wins Ocean Outdoor digital-out-home award

Digital signage solution deployed in Midlands's biggest cinema screen

Digital screen gets shoppers behind the wheel with driving game

Newad ups indoor DOOH offering in Canada with nightclub screens

On the calendar

Do you want to have Output's comprehensive, always up-to-date calendar of industry events directly on your own electronic calendar or smartphone? Now you can.

Right-click on the link below and 'copy link address'. You can then paste this link into Outlook, Google Calendar and other popular calendar programmes so you can plan your diary, without having to do the hard work of putting it all together.

You can read our full list of industry events on Output, but here's what's coming up shortly:

HP's European Latex Applications Tour: August 29th – December 2nd 2011
Avery Dennison Graphics Workshops: October 13th – 14th 2011; October 20th; October 28th; November 9th; November 17th – 18th 2011
Robert Horne Wide-Format Open Days: October 19th – 20th 2011
SGIA Expo: October 19th – 21st 2011
William Smith's Open for Business: October 20th 2011
BAPC Conference 2011: October 20th – 21st 2011
FESPA Asia 2011: October 26th – 28th 2011
Viscom Italia: November 3rd – 5th 2011

Show update: Viscom Düsseldorf 2011

So Viscom Düsseldorf has closed its doors on another year, with we at Output especially impressed by the number and range of exhibitors, demonstrations and key decision makers. If you missed it but are thinking of going next year, the show's project manager Christian Hruschka has given Morwenna Kearns an overview of Viscom 2011 which should give you an idea of the 2012 event.

Video of the week

In the first of a series of Talk Print! films made by Output at HP's Barcelona HQ, our own Mrs Ink-Jet Sophie Matthews-Paul explains the benefits of installing a 5m-wide machine for display producers, in the context of the HP Scitex XP 5100. Superwide machines, Sophie states, can offer options for large-scale or multiple simultaneous printing, and switching between four and eight colours.

Stay tuned for more Output videos from Barcelona. In the meantime, if you've missed any Videos of the Week or fancy seeing some of our collected content from the web, visit our YouTube channel.