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.

Sign-making

Signs Express opens new branch in Chester
Top Story Chester has a new sign-making company following the opening of the latest franchise of Signs Express.

Sign companies given more time to enter Sign and Digital UK Awards

Pyramid Display Materials goes back to basics with Simply Banner range

NSI increases customer communication with new website

Wide-format Print

First appearances among established technologies: FESPA Digital preview pt 2
Feature Now that FESPA Digital is just round the corner, what can we expect to see? Sophie Matthews-Paul looks at some of the printer and software introductions due at FESPA Digital.

Pop-up cafe at FESPA Digital 2012 to showcase real-world flexibility of digital print

'Fine-tuned' Virtu Quantum from Polytype to make debut at drupa

Kala aims for a good Start for cold laminator at FESPA Digital

EFI team rings Nasdaq bell to mark 20th year on stock market

Talk Print!, powered by HP

Why should I bother going to drupa?

"It's easily the best event to see entire portfolios of equipment, both new and existing."

"drupa is about trade. It's about selling and buying in an environment totally focused on print."

Production Print

Soft options: soft proofing
Feature Laurel Brunner looks at soft proofing equipment and how to use it to get the best results.

New desktop UV printer from Mimaki gives wider scope to product decoration

HP to showcase Indigo printing technology at PackTech with 'Digital Supermarket'

Olympic offer on the table for dealers from International Paper and PaperCo

Digital Signage

Digital signage for London 2012 Olympic Games goes big, bright and outdoors
Feature Nick Smith looks at some of the digital signage technology being installed ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Day-by-day reviews: ISE 2012
Feature Catch up with what you may have missed at ISE 2012 with James Matthews-Paul's round-up series from last week's digital signage and pro-AV event.

Bouncepad gives interactive view of the capital at London Eye

Christie appeals to design market with MicroTiles 'StripTease'

New standalone media player launched by AllSee Technologies

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:

DSF webinar: Digital Signage in the Workplace: What Works and Why: February 12th 2012
Excel Tours with Ipex: February 15th, March 22nd, April 19th 2012
FESPA Digital 2012: February 21st – 24th 2012
Print Innovations, Packtech, Ecopack, Packaging Innovations, Contractpack: February 29th – March 1st 2012
Graphics of the Americas: March 1st – 3rd 2012
Digital Signage Expo: March 6th – 9th 2012
Sign and Digital UK: March 27th – 29th 2012
drupa: May 3rd – 16th 2012

FESPA Digital

With FESPA Digital only a couple of weeks away, it's worth spending some time working out what you want to see. It's so easy to spend four days drifting from stand to stand – and there will certainly be enough to keep grabbing your attention – but for those going with the aim to buy, a to-do list is a must. Fortunately, Output's Sophie Matthews-Paul has written a round-up of what to expect in two features, to make sure you're prepared. Sophie will also be hosting the Print Shop Live event, which aims to demonstrate a vast range of kit in a real workflow, so that's definitely one for your itinerary.

As ever at FESPA Digital, the emphasis is on community and recognition. The FESPA Hall of Fame 2012 is open for votes, while the FESPA Wrap Rally motorhome wrap has been decided by another online poll, with FESPA visitors also invited to follow the rally team's progress to Barcelona in time for the show on February 21st. Keep an eye on Output's dedicated FESPA Digital 2012 tags page for more news as it's released, and let us know what you're looking forward to seeing at the show.

Video of the Week

Do you soft proof in Photoshop?

Following advice from Output's own Laurel Brunner whose feature this week discusses some of the finer points of soft proofing, we've gone out and looked at some of the options on the market.

Apart from the base-line considerations of what soft proofing software you choose and the features and quality of the monitor you are using, Laurel talks workflow, calibration and a whole lot more.

This instalment of Output's video of the week is a simple, well-explained soft proofing tutorial. Watch part one here and part two here. Also make sure to let us know if you've ever used Photoshop for soft proofing and, if so, what you think.

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