Output: Newsletter 49, January 23rd 2012

Editor's note [spacer line]

[Morwenna Kearns, editor]
The news many have been expecting for some time was released last week: Kodak filed for bankruptcy protection in the USA. The intention of chapter 11 in US law is to give struggling companies time to reorganise and prepare for a future, potentially, as a much different business. In Kodak's case, the print and photography equipment company intends to go digital-only, a route chosen by others in the industry much earlier. In a world of shorter runs in the production print sector, is this a decision you've made too? Or has your litho kit never been busier? Let us know, and stay tuned to Output's Production Print stream to get the latest news on the topic.
Morwenna Kearns, editor
@morwennakearns
morwenna@outputmagazine.com

Jobs

Metamark is recruiting for a territory sales manager to grow its business in North East London and the South East of England.
Take a look at the full job description on our Jobs page.

Output is recruiting for an enterprising media sales executive to join its ranks.
Check out the details here and apply within.

This week on Talk Print!, we're asking:
What is the difference between XML, XMP and JDF?

Sign-making

[VUTEK GS 5000r] RMC Digital Print invests in VUTEk GS 5000r to meet demand for flex-faced skins
Top Story RMC Digital Print has announced it is Europe's first print company to purchase an EFI VUTEk GS featuring the ability to produce double-sided flex-faced skins.

Sign and Digital UK Awards deadline approaching, organiser warns

Axyz's CNCRoutershop division expanded with more products and service offers

Eventsigns increases speed and quality with RollsRoller applicator from William Smith

Wide-format Print

[FESPA Digital preview] The value of digital concentration: FESPA Digital preview pt 1
Feature Sophie Matthews-Paul outlines what to expect this year at FESPA Digital in the first of two previews.

Tech8 looks to broaden market with pay-as-you-go support service

Octink turns Knightsbridge retail space into 'vibrant woodland' with Contra Vision window graphics

Seal to show off new laminator functions at FESPA Digital

New banner substrates from Amari aim for lightness and strength

Talk Print!, powered by HP

What is the difference between XML, XMP and JDF?

Sophie says:

[SM-P] "Without these formats, linking together and automating various parts of our day-to-day operations would probably still lie in the dark ages."

Laurel says:

[Laurel Brunner] "XMP is somewhere in between JDF, an XML application and XML, the programming language used to write specifications and programs."

Production Print

[Print industry shows 2012] Big events for small-format: print industry shows in 2012
Feature Laurel Brunner looks at the production print side of the industry's show calendar.

Kodak files for bankruptcy protection in US
Top Story Eastman Kodak has announced it and its US subsidiaries have filed voluntary petitions for chapter 11 business reorganisation and has secured $950m (£615m) in debtor-in-possession financing from Citigroup.

Digital Print UK organiser calls for industry opinion on inaugural show

El Yaman moves into label production with Prati Jupiter 450

FESPA Fabric 2012 initiates T-shirt design contest

Digital Signage

[Large format videowalls] Large-format videowalls: big is only the beginning
Feature Nick Smith looks at the display applications for videowall technology.

The Screen to host digital bus tour over breakfast for LoveContent Awards

ISE 2012 showcase from Philips to include glasses-free 3D displays

Westfield digital billboard to link up with London Fashion Week

Amscreen signs up with Vodafone for SIM-based signage network solution

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.

Industry events: XML calendar by Output

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

GPT Open Days: January 24th – 26th 2012
Dx3 Canada: January 25th – 26th 2012
The Screen Breakfast Briefing: Digital Bus Tour: January 26th 2012
AOpen Forum Europe: January 30th 2012
Integrated Systems Europe: January 31st – February 2nd 2012
FESPA Digital 2012: February 21st – 24th 2012
Print Innovations, Packtech, Ecopack, Packaging Innovations, Contractpack: February 29th – March 1st 2012
Digital Signage Expo: March 6th – 9th 2012
Sign and Digital UK: March 27th – 29th 2012

Video of the week

Biopixels: Researchers Create Living 'Neon Signs' Composed of Millions of Glowing Bacteria

'It's a bug! It's a cell! It's a sign!' No, seriously – it's a sign. Sort of.

Recently, biologists and bioengineers at the University of California San Diego innovated what they call a 'living neon sign'. The design uses millions of bacterial cells which fluoresce in unison to create the illumination. The key innovation involved the UCSD team's ability to synchronise the biological clocks of thousands of bacterial cells within a colony.

It's still too early for commercial digital signage applications just yet, but what sounds like an unlikely sci-fi illumination technique is now anything but fiction.

Don't forget Output's own YouTube channel, featuring loads of the best signage and print videos from the web – including our own productions – and remember to keep an eye on Twitter at the end of each week for #OutputVideoFridays alerts.

The Output team

Laurel Brunner, consultant
@laurelbrunner
lb@digitaldots.org

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

Mark Galliano-Doig, finance director
mark@outputmagazine.com

Sophie Matthews-Paul, consultant
@rockstro
sophie@rockstro.net

Morwenna Kearns, managing editor
@morwennakearns
morwenna@outputmagazine.com

Nick Smith, editorial assistant
@digitaldsnthurt
nick@outputmagazine.com