Recently, the 10th China International All in Print Exhibition grandly kicked off in Shanghai, with the theme of "Smart Printing for the Future, Creating Unlimited Printing". Inside the exhibition hall, the new generation of printing equipment equipped with AI technology made a concentrated appearance, becoming the hot topic of discussion throughout the venue. Many people in the industry are discussing whether the experience accumulated by printing masters who have been deeply involved in the production process for many years is still valuable, as automation and intelligent devices continue to popularize and AI gradually intervenes in the production process?
AI is entering the core stage of printing production
Entering the exhibition site, one can clearly feel the changes happening in the industry.
AI assisted color grading system can quickly compare color samples and shorten color calibration time; Visual inspection equipment automatically scans
Printed materials, identifies missing prints, dirty spots, and overprinting deviations; On demand
digital printing enables printing from scratch, providing greater flexibility for small batch orders.
These changes are not just limited to the display platform. In actual production, AI is taking over a large amount of repetitive and standardized work, helping enterprises improve efficiency, reduce trial and error costs, and also giving printing production more possibilities. Technology is truly reshaping the production mode of printing.
Machines excel at standards, but experience deals with 'variables'
But looking calmly, what AI and machines are better at is standardized operations.
Paper has different weights and fiber textures, and the penetration effect of ink on different materials varies greatly. When encountering special paper, special binding processes, or sudden material fluctuations on the production site, it is often difficult for the preset program of the equipment to provide the optimal solution at once.
These subtle, flexible issues that require on-site weighing and judgment rely on the hand feel and experience accumulated by printing craftsmen over the years.
Machines can improve consistency, but it is difficult to completely replace human comprehensive judgment on materials, processes, and on-site issues. Tools are becoming increasingly advanced, but 'people' are still the most critical link in the quality loop.
The bottom line of printing is never just about "printing out"
Printing is never just about transferring images and text onto paper.
It carries the balance of colors, the tactile sensation of paper, and the delicate and stable texture of the finished product, delivering a work that can withstand scrutiny. A piece of paper enters the workshop and eventually becomes a finished product, which goes through multiple stages such as material adaptation, color control, process selection, and quality inspection and calibration. There may be variables at every stage, and someone needs to guard the bottom line of quality.
Smart devices are responsible for improving efficiency and reducing burden, while skilled craftsmen are responsible for judging details and anomalies. The two are not substitutes for each other, but complement and complement each other.
Technology advances, craftsmanship remains unchanged
From manual plate making to high-speed printing, and now AI empowered production, the printing industry has been constantly iterating and innovating.
Every time technology arrives, it will change some production methods and redefine the position of "people" in the process. What is truly valuable is not sticking to old ways, but maintaining the ability to learn in the face of new technologies while maintaining reverence for quality, materials, and craftsmanship.
The wave of technology is rolling forward, the expression of the industry will change, the production tools will change, but the pursuit of stable, delicate, and textured works will not easily change. The industry moves forward, technology iterates, and craftsmanship remains unchanged. We embrace new technologies and always respect the industry experience accumulated over the years.
