The industry is ignorant and it does not even know how ignorant it actually is about its own processes. This is what results in the lack of innovation. One can not innovate when one does not actually know what is needed at a fundamental and specific level.

The industry is basically a collection of users of technology. This applies to both the printers and technology suppliers. They use rote methods to work with technology. This can at times result in very fine results but it is done quite inefficiently. This is not an environment where new innovation is likely to happen.

In the past it did not matter due to higher economic growth and little competition from other technologies. Now times have changed. Innovation is even more needed but the industry’s ability to critically think its way out of this situation does not exist.

Digital printing might seem to be a solution. It certainly has been developed by critical thinking innovators. I am sure the engineers and scientists at Xerox and HP, have no idea about how little the engineers and scientists in the tradition printing industry know about the printing process. They might be shocked.

The fact is, whether it is believed or not, that a lot can be done to innovate the traditional printing process. It could be done at relatively low cost. The problem is that no one wants to do anything. In ten years, I did not find one company or even one person in the industry who was really wanting to do something innovative to solve problems in the process.

This is a sad situation but very pervasive and that is why I gave up on the printing industry.

I myself am considered a die hard commercial printer in additional to a digital evangelist… In some circles that is an oxymoron. Bottom line is… Welcome aboard… This as with many will be one for the Blogosphere of digital print…