Graphic arts and printing go hand in hand. The artist creates the images and the printer makes copes so the work can be shared. This marriage of graphic arts and printing is the backbone of the marketing industry. Creativity is the key. When these important elements of the marketing industry are combined in unique ways they can attract attention and promote products like nothing else can.
Whether they are creating signs and banners or large format printing the right graphic artist can really make an ad stand out. These days even the streetwise want to grab eyes and turn heads with great graphics on cool t-shirts. When those same graphics are made available via poster printing it allows a wide cross-section of people to take street style indoors. Powerful graphics captured on full color prints can give even the most low rent dive a sense of style. Nowadays style is the only true status symbol.
Digital printing is the new frontier. People can now have business card printing, envelope, stationary, letterhead or menu done without ever visiting a shop. In fact online printing has changed the industry. Clients from all over the world can now go on the internet, find an online company and have their work done and shipped to them within days. This has made online printers who are able to work on a variety of media one of the fastest growing businesses on the web.
Diversity is the name of the game. Companies that are able to offer a wide range of services have an opportunity to do well in this economic climate. If a company can offer full color, CD cover, CD inlay, canvas, large format printing and engineering plans duplication it has the best chance for success. Traditional shops offered everything from passport pictures and sales sheets to notary public services. Today’s online printers must do all of those things better and faster if they are to maintain their share of the market.
Traditional sources of printing revenues like newspapers, flyers and magazines are falling out of favor. Graphic artists and shops hoping to thrive while facing this new economic reality must develop new income streams and sources of revenue. Creating an internet presence is one lucrative way of doing this. Offering services including innovative graphic designing, printing on an unlimited number of media, digital and expertise in club printing, CD art and wall graphic printing can also help. The bottom line is graphic artists and companies must provide creative, high quality work on short deadlines at a competitive price if they are to continue to survive.

By Laura