Ten Questions for Bob McCurdy, President of GTI
The following post was submitted by Color 2015 sponsor, GTI Graphic Technology, Inc. 1. Tell us about GTI? GTI was founded in 1975 and is the leading manufacturer of tight tolerance lighting systems for critical color viewing and color matching assessment. We are based in Newburgh, NY, and we also have sales offices in Germany and the United Kingdom. Watch Company Overview Video 2. What makes GTI unique? There are a lot of things that make us unique, all of them good. – We are 100% dedicated to the lighting business. All of our products are designed to assist with the visual appraisal of color or color-critical lighting applications. – All of our products are manufactured at our headquarters in Newburgh, NY. – Our people. We have a highly skilled and dedicated team that takes a customer-first approach. – Our ability to solve customer problems. Because of our technical expertise and the fact that we do all of our own design and manufacturing, we are able to offer a wide range of color viewing booths. We also offer customized solutions that include very large lighting systems for final product inspection, unique desktop systems, and everything in between. – Our attention to detail. An in-house spectroradiometric laboratory and a 100% measurement and verification production process guarantees accuracy and precision is built into all products.Above: Nick Lena, GTI’s Director of Color Technology, uses a spectroradiometer to confirm a viewing station’s light quality is industry compliant. 3. Who is GTI’s typical customer?Anyone who is concerned with the color quality of the work they are producing. Our customers range from independent photographers who purchase a small desktop viewer to major brands that we have put together complete color harmony rooms for. 4. Where do you see growth occurring for GTI? As you know, GTI grew up with a focus in the graphic arts and photographic industries. This continues to be a primary focus for us, and we’re still seeing growth in the packaging sector. We’ve used this knowledge and expertise to expand into non-imaging markets such as paint and coatings, plastics, textiles, food, and automotive. I see these industrial markets as a strong growth opportunity for us in the future. 5. What do you envision for GTI over the next five years? We will continue to focus on the lighting business—improving our products and developing new ones that fit the market’s changing requirements. I also anticipate further incorporation of LED technology into the product line. Currently we use LED to simulate certain retail environments, but as the technology advances, we believe it can become a suitable source to properly simulate daylight. We are carefully monitoring its progress.Above: GTI’s ColorMatcher® Series includes five unique light sources and can be configured with LED as an optional source. 6. Is there any particular trend or technology that has you excited? In addition to LED technology, I am excited about the potential of soft proofing technology. Soft proofing is the ability to view an accurate representation of a digital file on a monitor before it is printed. This visual representation (soft proof) of the final artwork replaces a traditional hard copy proof and serves as a contract between supplier and buyer. Our iQ enabled soft proofing systems bring soft proofing to the next level. They remove the...
read moreTen Questions for Bob McCurdy, President of GTI
The following post was submitted by Color 2015 sponsor, GTI Graphic Technology, Inc. 1. Tell us about GTI? GTI was founded in 1975 and is the leading manufacturer of tight tolerance lighting systems for critical color viewing and color matching assessment. We are based in Newburgh, NY, and we also have sales offices in Germany and the United Kingdom. Watch Company Overview Video 2. What makes GTI unique? There are a lot of things that make us unique, all of them good. – We are 100% dedicated to the lighting business. All of our products are designed to assist with the visual appraisal of color or color-critical lighting applications. – All of our products are manufactured at our headquarters in Newburgh, NY. – Our people. We have a highly skilled and dedicated team that takes a customer-first approach. – Our ability to solve customer problems. Because of our technical expertise and the fact that we do all of our own design and manufacturing, we are able to offer a wide range of color viewing booths. We also offer customized solutions that include very large lighting systems for final product inspection, unique desktop systems, and everything in between. – Our attention to detail. An in-house spectroradiometric laboratory and a 100% measurement and verification production process guarantees accuracy and precision is built into all products.Above: Nick Lena, GTI’s Director of Color Technology, uses a spectroradiometer to confirm a viewing station’s light quality is industry compliant. 3. Who is GTI’s typical customer?Anyone who is concerned with the color quality of the work they are producing. Our customers range from independent photographers who purchase a small desktop viewer to major brands that we have put together complete color harmony rooms for. 4. Where do you see growth occurring for GTI? As you know, GTI grew up with a focus in the graphic arts and photographic industries. This continues to be a primary focus for us, and we’re still seeing growth in the packaging sector. We’ve used this knowledge and expertise to expand into non-imaging markets such as paint and coatings, plastics, textiles, food, and automotive. I see these industrial markets as a strong growth opportunity for us in the future. 5. What do you envision for GTI over the next five years? We will continue to focus on the lighting business—improving our products and developing new ones that fit the market’s changing requirements. I also anticipate further incorporation of LED technology into the product line. Currently we use LED to simulate certain retail environments, but as the technology advances, we believe it can become a suitable source to properly simulate daylight. We are carefully monitoring its progress.Above: GTI’s ColorMatcher® Series includes five unique light sources and can be configured with LED as an optional source. 6. Is there any particular trend or technology that has you excited? In addition to LED technology, I am excited about the potential of soft proofing technology. Soft proofing is the ability to view an accurate representation of a digital file on a monitor before it is printed. This visual representation (soft proof) of the final artwork replaces a traditional hard copy proof and serves as a contract between supplier and buyer. Our iQ enabled soft proofing systems bring soft proofing to the next level. They remove the...
read moreTen Questions for Bob McCurdy, President of GTI
The following post was submitted by Color 2015 sponsor, GTI Graphic Technology, Inc. 1. Tell us about GTI? GTI was founded in 1975 and is the leading manufacturer of tight tolerance lighting systems for critical color viewing and color matching assessment. We are based in Newburgh, NY, and we also have sales offices in Germany and the United Kingdom. Watch Company Overview Video 2. What makes GTI unique? There are a lot of things that make us unique, all of them good. – We are 100% dedicated to the lighting business. All of our products are designed to assist with the visual appraisal of color or color-critical lighting applications. – All of our products are manufactured at our headquarters in Newburgh, NY. – Our people. We have a highly skilled and dedicated team that takes a customer-first approach. – Our ability to solve customer problems. Because of our technical expertise and the fact that we do all of our own design and manufacturing, we are able to offer a wide range of color viewing booths. We also offer customized solutions that include very large lighting systems for final product inspection, unique desktop systems, and everything in between. – Our attention to detail. An in-house spectroradiometric laboratory and a 100% measurement and verification production process guarantees accuracy and precision is built into all products.Above: Nick Lena, GTI’s Director of Color Technology, uses a spectroradiometer to confirm a viewing station’s light quality is industry compliant. 3. Who is GTI’s typical customer?Anyone who is concerned with the color quality of the work they are producing. Our customers range from independent photographers who purchase a small desktop viewer to major brands that we have put together complete color harmony rooms for. 4. Where do you see growth occurring for GTI? As you know, GTI grew up with a focus in the graphic arts and photographic industries. This continues to be a primary focus for us, and we’re still seeing growth in the packaging sector. We’ve used this knowledge and expertise to expand into non-imaging markets such as paint and coatings, plastics, textiles, food, and automotive. I see these industrial markets as a strong growth opportunity for us in the future. 5. What do you envision for GTI over the next five years? We will continue to focus on the lighting business—improving our products and developing new ones that fit the market’s changing requirements. I also anticipate further incorporation of LED technology into the product line. Currently we use LED to simulate certain retail environments, but as the technology advances, we believe it can become a suitable source to properly simulate daylight. We are carefully monitoring its progress.Above: GTI’s ColorMatcher® Series includes five unique light sources and can be configured with LED as an optional source. 6. Is there any particular trend or technology that has you excited? In addition to LED technology, I am excited about the potential of soft proofing technology. Soft proofing is the ability to view an accurate representation of a digital file on a monitor before it is printed. This visual representation (soft proof) of the final artwork replaces a traditional hard copy proof and serves as a contract between supplier and buyer. Our iQ enabled soft proofing systems bring soft proofing to the next level. They remove the...
read moreWhat Will Close the Skills Gap?
Think about the demographics in your company. Chances are most of the workers have been in the industry for well over 10 years. That’s not surprising considering that—according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics—the median age of employees in the printing industry is roughly 47 years old. Within the next couple years, a lot of our workforce will retire. That’s a scary thought since most of the printing industry doesn’t have a supply of younger, skilled workers to cover the impending deficit of talent. Even those companies lucky enough to employee some younger men and women notice a wide skills gap between their seasoned employees and their new hires. We know this shifting workforce causes a huge issue for our industry. But Joe Polanco, president emeritus of one of the industry’s largest regional trade associations, has a solution: a recommitment to training. According to Joe, “Employers need to recommit their efforts (and money) to create on-the-job programs that can quickly develop the skill sets needed in today’s world of print and technology.” We couldn’t agree more. And although finding the right training program for your company can be troublesome, we’ve noticed one strategy that seems to be gaining popularity and momentum over the past couple years—online learning opportunities. The online learning (or e-learning as it’s sometimes called) market continues to grow at an exponential rate. According to , the worldwide market for self-paced e-learning reached $47.9 billion in 2015 and revenues are likely to reach $50.4 billion by 2020. e-Learning is already the second most important training method within many organizations, and 77 percent of American companies already offer some kind of online corporate training. That’s not surprising because, according to WR Hambrecht’s Corporate eLearning Exploring a New Frontier, e-learning—and the videos associated with it—are proven to increase knowledge retention anywhere from 25 to 60 percent. Our incoming labor force also strongly supports the use of e-learning training programs. About 6.7 million American college students already use online education options and will take this preference with them to the professional world. The reasoning? e-Learning can meet the incoming labor force where they already spend their time—on mobile devices. Last year, a study of almost 24,000 adults (age 18–34) found that 77 percent of the group owned a smartphone, and they spent 14.5 hours on it every week. Not to mention, the incoming millennial wants flexible options in their education. They prefer to find their own balance to their lives and want the option to study at any time of the day or night. An e-learning program can give them that option. If you’re interested in finding an e-learning program that can fit the needs of your graphic communications company, check out our Integrated Learning Center. The virtual workshop portal features online courses developed and led by industry expert instructors. Courses are available 24/7 and can be taken at the pace of the student. Make an investment to close the skills gap in your company by participating in this industry-exclusive career development program...
read moreWhat Will Close the Skills Gap?
Think about the demographics in your company. Chances are most of the workers have been in the industry for well over 10 years. That’s not surprising considering that—according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics—the median age of employees in the printing industry is roughly 47 years old. Within the next couple years, a lot of our workforce will retire. That’s a scary thought since most of the printing industry doesn’t have a supply of younger, skilled workers to cover the impending deficit of talent. Even those companies lucky enough to employee some younger men and women notice a wide skills gap between their seasoned employees and their new hires. We know this shifting workforce causes a huge issue for our industry. But Joe Polanco, president emeritus of one of the industry’s largest regional trade associations, has a solution: a recommitment to training. According to Joe, “Employers need to recommit their efforts (and money) to create on-the-job programs that can quickly develop the skill sets needed in today’s world of print and technology.” We couldn’t agree more. And although finding the right training program for your company can be troublesome, we’ve noticed one strategy that seems to be gaining popularity and momentum over the past couple years—online learning opportunities. The online learning (or e-learning as it’s sometimes called) market continues to grow at an exponential rate. According to , the worldwide market for self-paced e-learning reached $47.9 billion in 2015 and revenues are likely to reach $50.4 billion by 2020. e-Learning is already the second most important training method within many organizations, and 77 percent of American companies already offer some kind of online corporate training. That’s not surprising because, according to WR Hambrecht’s Corporate eLearning Exploring a New Frontier, e-learning—and the videos associated with it—are proven to increase knowledge retention anywhere from 25 to 60 percent. Our incoming labor force also strongly supports the use of e-learning training programs. About 6.7 million American college students already use online education options and will take this preference with them to the professional world. The reasoning? e-Learning can meet the incoming labor force where they already spend their time—on mobile devices. Last year, a study of almost 24,000 adults (age 18–34) found that 77 percent of the group owned a smartphone, and they spent 14.5 hours on it every week. Not to mention, the incoming millennial wants flexible options in their education. They prefer to find their own balance to their lives and want the option to study at any time of the day or night. An e-learning program can give them that option. If you’re interested in finding an e-learning program that can fit the needs of your graphic communications company, check out our Integrated Learning Center. The virtual workshop portal features online courses developed and led by industry expert instructors. Courses are available 24/7 and can be taken at the pace of the student. Make an investment to close the skills gap in your company by participating in this industry-exclusive career development program...
read moreNeutral Gray – the Key to Accurate Color Viewing
The following post was submitted by Color 2015 sponsor, GTI Graphic Technology, Inc. What do a photographer, commercial printer, and sign printer have in common? They all have a need to accurately communicate color. When they carry out this objective consistently and accurately, they are providing a high level of value to their clients and increasing the efficiency of their business. Obviously, accurately reproducing color is a complicated process. Especially when different substrates, technologies, and production facilities are involved. To help ensure that accuracy is achieved, two guidelines should be followed. The first is to view original artwork under several different lighting conditions and to pay particular attention to the “final use” lighting environment—if it can be defined. Once a color image has been approved as the target color, future viewing comparisons (between proof and corrected proof or press sheet) should be made under ISO standard D50 light quality. So, if you are producing a point-of-purchase sign for a store window, you should proof your color selection in a lighting booth that can accurately simulate daylight during production. The second is to follow established industry standards. ISO 3664:2009 is the international color viewing standard for the graphic technology and photography industries and outlines targets and tolerances necessary for all color viewing systems to meet. All of GTI Graphic Technology’s Graphiclite® Color Viewing Systems meet or exceed the ISO:2009 Standard. GTI achieves this by utilizing lamps that provide the closest match to the spectral power curve of the industry aim point of D50, incorporating proper geometry of illumination into our booth designs, and by utilizing Munsell N8/ Neutral Gray to create the neutral surround conditions specified by the ISO:2009 standard. A “neutral” gray, like Munsell N8/, is not a black and white mix, but an equal mixture of all the spectrum (r-o-y-g-b-i-v) colors. A spectrophotometric measurement of such a gray will show it to contain approximately equal amounts of those spectrum colors. Non-neutral grays, however, have unequal amounts of the spectrum colors, causing a cold or warm color shift under differing lighting conditions. Neutral gray is specified and recommended for color viewing because it eliminates “simultaneous color contrast.” For example, a red sample viewed on a blue background has an orange cast, while the same red viewed on a yellow background appears slightly purple. For the eye to see color accurately, it is imperative that the surround environment be chromatically neutral. Neutral gray also minimizes “color pollution” of a viewing area, which is caused by reflections from chromatic surfaces. When D50 standard illumination is reflected from colored walls, its color quality changes so it is no longer “standard.” The application of a neutral gray to chromatic surfaces will eliminate such color pollution by providing spectrally neutral surfaces around the viewing area. At GTI we not only paint all of our Color Viewing Systems for the graphic arts to the Munsell N8/ Neutral Gray Standard, we also offer Graphiclite Standard Gray Neutral 8 matte vinyl latex paint in gallon and pint size cans. GTI Graphiclite paint is the equivalent to Munsell N8/ and is used to paint walls, ceilings, floors, and other surfaces which are in the field of view. Painting these surfaces will reduce reflectance to 60% or less, the equivalent to Munsell N8/. Industrial Color Matching Industrial applications, which...
read moreNeutral Gray – the Key to Accurate Color Viewing
The following post was submitted by Color 2015 sponsor, GTI Graphic Technology, Inc. What do a photographer, commercial printer, and sign printer have in common? They all have a need to accurately communicate color. When they carry out this objective consistently and accurately, they are providing a high level of value to their clients and increasing the efficiency of their business. Obviously, accurately reproducing color is a complicated process. Especially when different substrates, technologies, and production facilities are involved. To help ensure that accuracy is achieved, two guidelines should be followed. The first is to view original artwork under several different lighting conditions and to pay particular attention to the “final use” lighting environment—if it can be defined. Once a color image has been approved as the target color, future viewing comparisons (between proof and corrected proof or press sheet) should be made under ISO standard D50 light quality. So, if you are producing a point-of-purchase sign for a store window, you should proof your color selection in a lighting booth that can accurately simulate daylight during production. The second is to follow established industry standards. ISO 3664:2009 is the international color viewing standard for the graphic technology and photography industries and outlines targets and tolerances necessary for all color viewing systems to meet. All of GTI Graphic Technology’s Graphiclite® Color Viewing Systems meet or exceed the ISO:2009 Standard. GTI achieves this by utilizing lamps that provide the closest match to the spectral power curve of the industry aim point of D50, incorporating proper geometry of illumination into our booth designs, and by utilizing Munsell N8/ Neutral Gray to create the neutral surround conditions specified by the ISO:2009 standard. A “neutral” gray, like Munsell N8/, is not a black and white mix, but an equal mixture of all the spectrum (r-o-y-g-b-i-v) colors. A spectrophotometric measurement of such a gray will show it to contain approximately equal amounts of those spectrum colors. Non-neutral grays, however, have unequal amounts of the spectrum colors, causing a cold or warm color shift under differing lighting conditions. Neutral gray is specified and recommended for color viewing because it eliminates “simultaneous color contrast.” For example, a red sample viewed on a blue background has an orange cast, while the same red viewed on a yellow background appears slightly purple. For the eye to see color accurately, it is imperative that the surround environment be chromatically neutral. Neutral gray also minimizes “color pollution” of a viewing area, which is caused by reflections from chromatic surfaces. When D50 standard illumination is reflected from colored walls, its color quality changes so it is no longer “standard.” The application of a neutral gray to chromatic surfaces will eliminate such color pollution by providing spectrally neutral surfaces around the viewing area. At GTI we not only paint all of our Color Viewing Systems for the graphic arts to the Munsell N8/ Neutral Gray Standard, we also offer Graphiclite Standard Gray Neutral 8 matte vinyl latex paint in gallon and pint size cans. GTI Graphiclite paint is the equivalent to Munsell N8/ and is used to paint walls, ceilings, floors, and other surfaces which are in the field of view. Painting these surfaces will reduce reflectance to 60% or less, the equivalent to Munsell N8/. Industrial Color Matching Industrial applications, which...
read moreOur Changing Workforce
The following article was written by Joseph Polanco, President, Printing & Imaging Association of MidAmerica If you were to walk into the production areas of several printers anywhere in North America, you would undoubtedly observe something they all have in common. No, it’s not the equipment. Nor is it the facility design. It’s the average age of their employees. Look at the press operators, the skilled bindery technicians, and yes, even the prepress techs. Odds are you won’t see many under 30, or for that matter under 45. How did this happen—and more importantly—what does this mean for our future? Regardless of what the “tekkies” are saying, digital print is not going to replace all of our offset presses, and inline finishing isn’t going to replace our needs to bind and finish offline. The printing industry has always been a craft industry. One learned through a formal apprenticeship (when there were trade unions) or on‐the‐job training (OJT) under the tutelage of someone more knowledgeable. Many would begin in small job shops operating single-color duplicators/presses or simple bindery equipment and then make job hops for the opportunities to operate more complex equipment and hone the skills necessary to be called a craftsman. The apprenticeship programs, as well as many of the high school and trade programs which fed the industry are long gone. The duplicator press, which was the genesis of their journey as a press operator, is hardly ever found in print shops. The job shop has been replaced with a broad range of print providers—all running digital equipment. Lingering Effects of the Recession Another complication was that the industry workforce took a dramatic hit in the Great Recession which was exacerbated by the move to digital‐based communications. There was no reason to hire new people, and anyone with substandard skills was let go. We went through nearly five years of limited hiring in the pressroom and bindery. Anyone who had been laid off in 2007 or 2008 quickly determined that their future no longer existed in our industry. The result is that we no longer had the “reserve” labor pool that was always available in prior business cycles. To compound matters, many outside of the industry—and for that matter too many inside the industry—were forecasting the death of everything print. Anyone who understood the craft of print and was employed was not too excited about leaving their present job. Especially in light of a rapidly shrinking industry where closures and consolidations were occurring at historical rates. And young people had no interest in getting into a “dying” industry. That’s how we got here. A People Problem The major challenge facing the industry over the next 10 years is not technology and marketing, but finding and training people. A recent study conducted by several Printing Industries of America Affiliates asked the question: What percentage of your skilled workforce (production personnel) do you estimate will retire in the next 5–10 years? More than 50% of the respondents indicated that a significant amount (30–50%) of their workforce would retire in that period. The same survey showed the median age in the offset pressroom was over 45 in nearly two-thirds of the companies surveyed. Where will we find people with the right skills (attitude, ability, and work habits) to replace...
read moreOur Changing Workforce
The following article was written by Joseph Polanco, President, Printing & Imaging Association of MidAmerica If you were to walk into the production areas of several printers anywhere in North America, you would undoubtedly observe something they all have in common. No, it’s not the equipment. Nor is it the facility design. It’s the average age of their employees. Look at the press operators, the skilled bindery technicians, and yes, even the prepress techs. Odds are you won’t see many under 30, or for that matter under 45. How did this happen—and more importantly—what does this mean for our future? Regardless of what the “tekkies” are saying, digital print is not going to replace all of our offset presses, and inline finishing isn’t going to replace our needs to bind and finish offline. The printing industry has always been a craft industry. One learned through a formal apprenticeship (when there were trade unions) or on‐the‐job training (OJT) under the tutelage of someone more knowledgeable. Many would begin in small job shops operating single-color duplicators/presses or simple bindery equipment and then make job hops for the opportunities to operate more complex equipment and hone the skills necessary to be called a craftsman. The apprenticeship programs, as well as many of the high school and trade programs which fed the industry are long gone. The duplicator press, which was the genesis of their journey as a press operator, is hardly ever found in print shops. The job shop has been replaced with a broad range of print providers—all running digital equipment. Lingering Effects of the Recession Another complication was that the industry workforce took a dramatic hit in the Great Recession which was exacerbated by the move to digital‐based communications. There was no reason to hire new people, and anyone with substandard skills was let go. We went through nearly five years of limited hiring in the pressroom and bindery. Anyone who had been laid off in 2007 or 2008 quickly determined that their future no longer existed in our industry. The result is that we no longer had the “reserve” labor pool that was always available in prior business cycles. To compound matters, many outside of the industry—and for that matter too many inside the industry—were forecasting the death of everything print. Anyone who understood the craft of print and was employed was not too excited about leaving their present job. Especially in light of a rapidly shrinking industry where closures and consolidations were occurring at historical rates. And young people had no interest in getting into a “dying” industry. That’s how we got here. A People Problem The major challenge facing the industry over the next 10 years is not technology and marketing, but finding and training people. A recent study conducted by several Printing Industries of America Affiliates asked the question: What percentage of your skilled workforce (production personnel) do you estimate will retire in the next 5–10 years? More than 50% of the respondents indicated that a significant amount (30–50%) of their workforce would retire in that period. The same survey showed the median age in the offset pressroom was over 45 in nearly two-thirds of the companies surveyed. Where will we find people with the right skills (attitude, ability, and work habits) to replace...
read moreAdapt, Change, or Die: A Warning from 2016 President’s Conference Keynote Speaker
When met with a hard business decision, the safe route is to stick with what we know. With years of previous evidence suggesting your current path leads to financial stability, why would you need to change your plans now? Safety does equal security after all—or does it? Take Kodak, for example. According to Jeffrey Hayzlett, primetime television and radio host, former Fortune 100 CMO, and 2016 President’s Conference keynote speaker, when Kodak tried to play it safe in 1975 by dismissing digital camera inventor Steven Sasson, they made the worst business decision of their history. “They had the only product that people would run into a burning house to save,” said Hayzlett in a 2015 Media and Entertainment Services Alliance article. “[But Kodak] just did not adapt. In business, if you don’t change or adapt, you end up dying” (CMS Wire, “Ex-Kodak CMO Jeffrey Hayzlett Warns: Adapt, Change or Die”). After years of running small and big companies, Hayzlett’s experience taught him that the scale of the business doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a difference in problems they face. Essentially, businesses must continue to look at their marketplace conditions and make adjustments to their business strategies or risk failure. “When you start to think that ‘we only do this’ instead of ‘we could be doing that,’—that is the day that you start to die,” said Faye Oney in his article “Jeffrey Hayzlett to Media Companies: Adapt, Change or Die.” Hayzlett will talk more about his experiences at the 2016 President’s Conference in his keynote presentation, Think Big, Act Bigger. Based on his newest book by the same name, the program is a take-no-prisoners, no BS, attitude adjustment for those who call themselves entrepreneurs. Learn more about Hayzeltt’s session and the 2016 President’s Conference when you visit...
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