The two-day event focuses on the delivery of fully-integrated multi-channel marketing campaigns and includes more than 50 seminars in five theatres: print & innovation, cross media, digital & direct marketing, content marketing & publishing strategies, and the mobile marketing theatre. London Business Design Centre is hosting the event, in its second year. It is targeted at commercial printers, marketers, brand agencies, designers, publishers and other content creators looking to come up to speed on the latest technology in the communications industry. Cross Media 2013 marketing manager Andrew Thornhill said he was confident visitor numbers would hit the 3,000 mark this year, beating the inaugural 2012 show’s total of 2,500. Big draws over the two days would be virtual and augmented reality tech and the mobile theatre, he opined. “The mobile marketing theatre is proving a big hit given the public’s continued obsession with all-things mobile,” he said. “Augmented reality meanwhile is a buzzword and so many magazines have run with augmented reality campaigns recently.” Thornhill added: “The first day has got off to a good start; there are queues outside the front door, which is always a good sign. The seminar theatres are all absolutely packed and the exhibitors seem happy. We’ve carefully staggered talks to improve the flow of people.” Exhibition stands include one from 3D-technology company Inition, which will demonstrate virtual reality experiences on a Nissan-approved 3D sky-dive and a Vertical Vertigo Challenge. Elsewhere is a “hall of fame” showing off augmented reality campaigns. A “freestyle” cross-media feature meanwhile uses documobi technology to create interactive caricatures. Visitors will be drawn by a caricaturist and walked through an interactive and personalised campaign that links mobile, photo, video and social media with ‘intelligent’ print. Speakers in the print & innovation theatre include Kaspar Roos, associate director at InfoTrends, Donna Brown, joint head of production at Ogilvy One and Andrew Harris, Canon Europe and UK graphic arts customer marketing manager. DirectSmile will show off all-in-one software for marketing automation; Transeo Media will demonstrate how to create campaigns across web, e-mail, mobile and social media; while Special Moves will use gesture-control and facial-recognition technologies to create interactive portraits. Ogilvy & Mather will be run an ideas workshop, offering advice to small businesses on a range of marketing disciplines. Thornhill said: “Last year’s inaugural event gave the industry a snapshot of what is possible in the fast-evolving marketing mix. This year we have parted the curtains further to present a wider, more vibrant picture of the growing cross media market.” Visit www.crossmedialive.com...

The two-day event focuses on the delivery of fully-integrated multi-channel marketing campaigns and includes more than 50 seminars in five theatres: print & innovation, cross media, digital & direct marketing, content marketing & publishing strategies, and the mobile marketing theatre. London Business Design Centre is hosting the event, in its second year. It is targeted at commercial printers, marketers, brand agencies, designers, publishers and other content creators looking to come up to speed on the latest technology in the communications industry. Cross Media 2013 marketing manager Andrew Thornhill said he was confident visitor numbers would hit the 3,000 mark this year, beating the inaugural 2012 show’s total of 2,500. Big draws over the two days would be virtual and augmented reality tech and the mobile theatre, he opined. “The mobile marketing theatre is proving a big hit given the public’s continued obsession with all-things mobile,” he said. “Augmented reality meanwhile is a buzzword and so many magazines have run with augmented reality campaigns recently.” Thornhill added: “The first day has got off to a good start; there are queues outside the front door, which is always a good sign. The seminar theatres are all absolutely packed and the exhibitors seem happy. We’ve carefully staggered talks to improve the flow of people.” Exhibition stands include one from 3D-technology company Inition, which will demonstrate virtual reality experiences on a Nissan-approved 3D sky-dive and a Vertical Vertigo Challenge. Elsewhere is a “hall of fame” showing off augmented reality campaigns. A “freestyle” cross-media feature meanwhile uses documobi technology to create interactive caricatures. Visitors will be drawn by a caricaturist and walked through an interactive and personalised campaign that links mobile, photo, video and social media with ‘intelligent’ print. Speakers in the print & innovation theatre include Kaspar Roos, associate director at InfoTrends, Donna Brown, joint head of production at Ogilvy One and Andrew Harris, Canon Europe and UK graphic arts customer marketing manager. DirectSmile will show off all-in-one software for marketing automation; Transeo Media will demonstrate how to create campaigns across web, e-mail, mobile and social media; while Special Moves will use gesture-control and facial-recognition technologies to create interactive portraits. Ogilvy & Mather will be run an ideas workshop, offering advice to small businesses on a range of marketing disciplines. Thornhill said: “Last year’s inaugural event gave the industry a snapshot of what is possible in the fast-evolving marketing mix. This year we have parted the curtains further to present a wider, more vibrant picture of the growing cross media market.” Visit www.crossmedialive.com...

Fespa managing director Neil Felton said the strapline for the wide-format show’s sixth outing captured the same “spirit of adventure and innovation” used in previous Fespa Digital campaigns and was particularly apt for printers heading into 2014. Felton said: “In a market where technology is becoming more mature, many of the visitors to our Digital events have already reaped the early benefits from the transition from analogue to digital. “Now they are making second – or third – generation digital investments or upgrades, increasing digital capacity, and adding workflow software or finishing equipment to enhance the capabilities, productivity and functionality of their digital output equipment. “FESPA Digital 2014 will reflect this evolution, offering a high-calibre educational programme that probes beyond the initial benefits of the digital ‘revolution’, helping visitors discover more about how digital technology can help them add new capabilities and services.” The multi-channel campaign will include social media activity across Fespa’s twitter, facebook, linkedin and youtuber channels. The heart of the campaign will be the event website fespadigital.com, which has gone live today. The sixth edition of the FESPA Digital event will take place at Messe Munich, Germany, from 20 to 23 May 2014....

Fespa managing director Neil Felton said the strapline for the wide-format show’s sixth outing captured the same “spirit of adventure and innovation” used in previous Fespa Digital campaigns and was particularly apt for printers heading into 2014. Felton said: “In a market where technology is becoming more mature, many of the visitors to our Digital events have already reaped the early benefits from the transition from analogue to digital. “Now they are making second – or third – generation digital investments or upgrades, increasing digital capacity, and adding workflow software or finishing equipment to enhance the capabilities, productivity and functionality of their digital output equipment. “FESPA Digital 2014 will reflect this evolution, offering a high-calibre educational programme that probes beyond the initial benefits of the digital ‘revolution’, helping visitors discover more about how digital technology can help them add new capabilities and services.” The multi-channel campaign will include social media activity across Fespa’s twitter, facebook, linkedin and youtuber channels. The heart of the campaign will be the event website fespadigital.com, which has gone live today. The sixth edition of the FESPA Digital event will take place at Messe Munich, Germany, from 20 to 23 May 2014....

The Uvistar Pro8W, which is being given its worldwide debut in North America this week, will be available in Europe in the first half of next year, with Fespa Digital 2014 in May a likely launchpad. The Pro8W is available in 3.5m and 5m widths and can print up to 350sqm/hr on an array of media, including rigid, flexible, backlit or block-out and can print roll-to-roll, free fall or roll-to-sheet. It is fitted with two white ink channels across eight dedicated print heads and uses Fujifilm’s Uvijet QN inks, which include CMYK, Lc, Lm and Lk. Fujifilm Europe said that European pricing and availability for the Pro8W had yet to be finalised, although its predecessor cost from £212,000 (including flatbed option). White ink can be layered over or under the CMYK image and can also be used as a spot colour. Another new addition to the machine is a block-out sensor option, which Fujifilm said allows precise registration of opaque media to ensure consistent results, with a maximum deviation of 5mm over 10m. Fujifilm said that the sensor was intended to simplify the printing of two-sided banners for less-experienced operators. Meanwhile inline slitters allow media to be cut to size, reducing the need for off-line finishing. Jeffrey Nelson, business development manager, inkjet solutions, Fujifilm North America Corporation, Graphic Systems Division, said: “The Uvistar family continues to expand its capabilities every year. The Pro8 with white is a feature our customers have been requesting, and we are pleased to be able to deliver. “With its automation of rigid media handling, two-sided printing, and in-line finishing, it’s an operator’s dream machine.” The Uvistar Pro8W is being debuted at SGIA 2013 this week....