February 20, 2008
Printing Industry Center at RIT Releases Research on Critical Paper Requirements for Digital Printing

Third monograph in 2007-2008 research agenda is released to the public

ROCHESTER, NY (February 20, 2008) – A newly released research monograph from the Printing Industry Center at RIT (http://print.rit.edu) identifies constraints and potential solutions for improved performance and quality of digitally printed papers from the standpoint of printer device manufacturers. Titled
“A Survey of Digital Print Manufacturers: Critical Paper Requirements” (PICRM-2008-03), the monograph is authored by Howard Vogl, Visiting Professor of the RIT School of Print Media. The study investigates the characteristics that are important to successful printing and the various elements that make up the total value proposition presented to print customers.

Key findings include:

• The only universally critical paper properties for digital presses were dimensional stability and uniformity of product. However, several other paper characteristics, such as sheet filler transfer to fuser rollers, sheet recycle content, moisture level, and toner adhesion, were considered important based on the application of the printed piece.


• Elements that were considered universally important to the value proposition presented to customers when considering purchasing a digital press were variable data capability, ability to use different grades of paper, print quality, runnability of sheetfed devices, and runnability of the printed sheet through finishing equipment.


• Overall, there was no best set of paper characteristics for production digital presses, just as there is no one best value proposition for customers. Instead, there are multiple paper property requirements and value propositions based on specific print applications and customer needs.

The report is available for download as a PDF from http://print.rit.edu/research/index.php?page=item&id=113.

About the Printing Industry Center at RIT
The Printing Industry Center is a joint program of the RIT School of Print Media in the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences and RIT's E. Philip Saunders College of Business, and was established in 2001 by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation as one of the Sloan Industry Centers. The Center is dedicated to the study of major business environment influences in the printing industry brought on by new technologies and societal changes, creating a forum for printing companies and associations worldwide to access a neutral platform for the dissemination of knowledge, to share ideas, and to build the partnerships needed to sustain growth and profitability in a rapidly changing market. For more information, please visit http://print.rit.edu.

Media Contact:
Ashley Walker
Marketing Communications Coordinator
Printing Industry Center at RIT
585-475-4231
aswppr@rit.edu