The Evolution of “Paper to Paper”—A Journey Defining Print Media & the Printing Industry’s Future
We hear so much about the demise of printing on traditional paper, and the demise of paper due to shortages & supply chain issues. Cal Poly Emeritus Professor Dr. Harvey Levenson shares an alternative that is developing to retain the value of printing on traditional paper. Dr. Levenson describes what he calls the evolution of “Paper to Paper” and the use of paper in the printing industry’s future. He says: “Paper, the magical carrier of knowledge and information, has been the most pervasive vehicle to advance civilization for centuries.”
Paper is the most-costly consumable used in traditional printing, representing between 30% to 50% of the cost of printing, and perhaps more today in light of distribution difficulties and unprecedented supply shortages, and is considered a “necessary evil” for traditional printing. However, a main reason for retaining paper as the substrate of choice is that print is the most durable, informative, pervasive, detailed, influential, and meaningful form of media that has existed for over 550 years, and continues to be so.
Consider the following: “If I had a copy of a Gutenberg Bible printed in 1456, when I would open it up, it would speak to me in clear Latin in its original color ink, and display its graphic embellishments in their original colors and beautiful designs...566 years later”. So, the myth is that we are moving toward a paperless society. The reality is that we are moving toward longer lasting, more durable, and more versatile paper.
This is all well presented in Dr. Levinson’s latest Graphic Communication Advisory Group white paper, available here.
We hear so much about the demise of printing on traditional paper, and the demise of paper due to shortages & supply chain issues. Cal Poly Emeritus Professor Dr. Harvey Levenson shares an alternative that is developing to retain the value of printing on traditional paper. Dr. Levenson describes what he calls the evolution of “Paper to Paper” and the use of paper in the printing industry’s future. He says: “Paper, the magical carrier of knowledge and information, has been the most pervasive vehicle to advance civilization for centuries.”
Paper is the most-costly consumable used in traditional printing, representing between 30% to 50% of the cost of printing, and perhaps more today in light of distribution difficulties and unprecedented supply shortages, and is considered a “necessary evil” for traditional printing. However, a main reason for retaining paper as the substrate of choice is that print is the most durable, informative, pervasive, detailed, influential, and meaningful form of media that has existed for over 550 years, and continues to be so.
Consider the following: “If I had a copy of a Gutenberg Bible printed in 1456, when I would open it up, it would speak to me in clear Latin in its original color ink, and display its graphic embellishments in their original colors and beautiful designs...566 years later”. So, the myth is that we are moving toward a paperless society. The reality is that we are moving toward longer lasting, more durable, and more versatile paper.
This is all well presented in Dr. Levinson’s latest Graphic Communication Advisory Group white paper, available here.
