Intro to Production Printing: Importance of Print in Today’s World
The Importance of Print – Episode Summary
In this foundational episode of The Print University, Ryan McAbee and Pat McGrew unpack the immense and often invisible role that print plays in daily life and global commerce. Whether you’re onboarding with a printing industry training program for new employees or developing printing technician certification online, this course makes a compelling case for why print is far from obsolete—it’s everywhere, essential, and evolving.
The hosts explore how most people narrowly associate printing with books and newspapers, yet print surrounds us in packaging, signage, textiles, real estate marketing, trade shows, prescriptions, ID verification, and even home décor. From the Hershey’s wrapper that triggers brand recognition to the tile and laminate patterns digitally printed in your kitchen, print is the silent partner in modern life.
Pat and Ryan explain the four pillars of packaging (folding carton, flexible, labels, corrugated), how industrial print extends to flooring and cabinetry, and how trade shows and NASCAR events rely on wide-format print for banners, tents, and wraps. Sustainability myths are debunked through examples like digitally printed textiles and ceramic tiles that reduce VOCs and water use.
The episode ends by showcasing print as a clean, tech-forward, multi-disciplinary industry—offering roles for engineers, designers, coders, and salespeople alike. In short, print isn’t disappearing—it’s diversifying.
You Will Learn:
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Why print touches nearly every product and environment you interact with
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Core applications: packaging, publishing, signage, trade shows, interiors, and documentation
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The four pillars of packaging and emerging industrial print uses
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How sustainability in print has improved via digital technologies
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Career opportunities and skills diversity within the print industry
Who This Course Is For:
New hires, sales teams, marketing professionals, educators, and operations leads building printing industry training programs for new employees, outsourced training for print production staff, or printing technician certification online
Time to Watch:
Approx. 30 minutes