Final monograph in 2011-2012 research agenda is released to the public

A newly released research monograph from the Printing Industry Center at RIT studies the sensitivity of the quality of reproductions of monochrome photographs to different viewing illuminations. Titled “Evaluating the Impact of the Variability of D50 Light Booths on the Appearance of Reproductions of Monochrome Photographs” (PICRM-2012-05), the monograph is authored by Susan Farnand, staff scientist, Carlson Center for Imaging Science; Brian Gamm, graduate student, Munsell Color Science Laboratory; Franziska Frey, Ph.D., McGhee Distinguished Professor, School of Print Media; Simon Muehlemann, graduate student, School of Print Media; and Ishtar Laguna-Monroy, graduate student, School of Print Media.

This experimental study further explored a result from a recently completed project sponsored by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, which revealed that reproductions of a monochrome photograph suffered from visual differences in reproduction quality depending on the light source they were viewed under. This initial experiment was repeated with a variety of monochrome photographs similar to, and including, the platinum print used in the Mellon study. The photographs, selected from IPI’s collection, were imaged by three cultural heritage institutions, printed on a variety of equipment at RIT, and visually assessed under two D50 lighting set ups. A survey of D50 light booths used throughout the print production workflow was also conducted as part of this study.

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Rochester Institute of Technology’s internationally recognized School of Print Media will celebrate Gravure Day on Thursday, March 15, 2012, to promote the understanding of the gravure process and help students explore opportunities in gravure industries. This year's theme is "Printing from Digital Data Across Multiple Marking Technologies."

Among the day’s highlights will be presentations from experts in the gravure printing industry and a luncheon with door prizes. Activities go from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Frank E. Gannett Building, Neblette Conference Room, on the RIT campus. All events are free and open to the public; registration is required.

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Fourth monograph in 2011-2012 research agenda is released to the public

A newly released research monograph from the Printing Industry Center at RIT provides an overview of ‘green’ print behaviors in an office setting. Titled “Drivers of Greener Print Choices: An Exploratory Study of Print Consumer Environmentalism” (PICRM-2012-04) the monograph is authored by Kaitlyn Werner, an undergraduate student in the RIT Honors program, Sandra Rothenberg, Ph.D., an associate professor in the E. Philip Saunders College of Business at RIT, and Joseph Miller, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the E. Philip Saunders College of Business at RIT.

The survey-based study investigated what green print behaviors were currently in use by consumers, what motivates them to use green print options (including the environmental factors that impact the desire to modify one’s behaviors), and what barriers exist to using green print options. The researchers also sought to understand what informational and technological tools would be useful in helping to motivate consumers to use more green print options. After an initial focus group session with ten employees from the focus firm, the survey was sent to the entire firm, with 92 respondents completing the survey.

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Centaur fonts will be used by the Dale Guild Type Foundry

by Marcia Morphy

This Centaur is not related to Greek mythology, but it is a historic typeface that is considered to be one of the great-grandparents of today’s fonts. Designed by Bruce Rogers in 1910, the type is based on Renaissance models and often considered the most elegant and noblest of all the Roman fonts.

RIT’s Cary Graphic Arts Collection houses the original moulds and is lending Rogers’ matrices for the Centaur, or “Museum Capitals,” to The Dale Guild Type Foundry in New Jersey so new foundry type can be cast from them. Engraved by Robert Weibking in 1914 for use by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, this is the first-ever publicly available casting from these noteworthy matrices.

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Each month, Print in the Mix will feature a PODi Case Study, courtesy of Caslon, a PODi Affiliate.

This month's case study, Print Service Provider "Moooves" Audience to Action with Cross Channel Marketing, will be available until February 29, 2011.

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