Research Summaries

This article demonstrates how to use ColorThink Pro software to evaluate custom ICC profiles. Using the steps outlined, users can efficiently analyze and compare ICC profiles prior to workflow implementation. Five individual tests are illustrated.

The usage of tablets and smart phones for online purchasing has increased dramatically in recent years. However, in the retail space many product marketers require a color-critical display to attract customers and minimize product returns. The present study evaluates calibration procedures for tablet-based computers and suggests that when used properly these devices can be improved through careful calibration procedures.

In order to understand brand color variation in corrugated packaging, samples of seven different consumer brand packages were collected from retailers in 11 locations across the United States. These samples were tagged by location and then organized by brand. While core brand colors are often utilized across all variety of the brand, frequently these are part of a larger palette of packaging colors: for example the diaper brand Huggies® has one consistent brand color across the different product variations, these product variations are informally known as Stock Keeping Units, or SKUs. After tagging and organizing, the packages were sorted with the goal of the researchers better understanding what colors were common across all packages, as well as those colors that are used across the majority of the samples received. The testing of color variation was performed using an X-Rite eXact™ SpectroDensitometer. All colors measured for each individual package were averaged to create the data point for each measured color on the package. These are compared to a brand standard, when available. If a brand standard were not available, the standard was set as average of all packages.

Health is becoming one of the most important societal and personal value. In today’s economy, it’s important to keep your health at upmost importance because the cost of health care can be high. 3D Printing is a pioneering technology that enables people to build personalized dishes by adding nutrients, various compounds or soft-materials obtained by their mixture. 3D Printing is expected to personalize food formulas by being able to customize its’ shape, dimension, and structure on a micro-level. This could tackle many known eating concerns people may have such as people who have swallowing problems, or people with a wide spectrum of allergies.

Christopher Bondy introduces his research on qualifying and quantifying the "collaborative space" of media communications at the TAGA 2018 Annual Technical Conference. He was joined by other SMS professors who shared their research on the evolving graphic arts environment, including Christine Heusner, Elena Fedorovskaya, Bruce Leigh Myers, and Robert Chung.

In the current digital landscape, data is both accessible and abundant to the average user, resulting in more vulnerabilities in the way that information is collected and stored. Users are aware of these vulnerabilities to cyber attacks, and possible negligence in handling data, so they are taking it upon themselves to protect their information.

A new Rochester Institute of Technology study reveals the primary and costly limitations that are dramatically hampering estimating cycle times for many of today’s print service provider businesses and identifies the desired features of modern estimating systems.

Printers from around the globe flock to drupa every four-years to see the latest innovations. The highlights of these introductions have already been well-covered by our respected colleagues in great detail. However, the drupa summaries to date do not provide Service Providers with insight into the one key question that every service provider is asking, “How do we feed the beast?” That is, if I make the leap to digital printing, or wish to expand my presence, how do I ensure a profitable stream of work that will result in a return on my investment?

RIT's Chris Bondy will give a talk at Drupa 2016 on integrating new digital and hybrid technologies.

RIT's Chris Bondy will give a talk at Drupa 2016 about staying relevant in the media industry through new business models.

Newspapers increase voter turnout and educate voters which make them a great source for information during elections.

A new course on sustainability in the graphics communication industry had Dr. Thompson and Mr. Jones give presentations on their roles in the field while the students collaborating on their formal registration document for the certification criteria for the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership.

Researchers discovered that the return on print magazine ads were far greater than expected to boost awareness.

Examining the global printing industry in order to identify the top countries for future growth, along with the types of print products that will dominate.

Being visible means being known as a valuable resource by more than the direct users of your product or service.

Enable the people in your network to make new and valuable connections.

The good news is that being a self-managed and life-long learner isn't innate, it is learned.

Effective social selling shakes its head at Funnelism and turns its attention the the meaningful and powerful rather than merely the easily measurable.

In social selling it is far too easy to step across the line between personal and professional. And you can step across it too early and too far.

Business Development Crashing at the Finish: The Last, Winning Step Too Many Salespeople Skip Wayne Peterson, Black Canyon Consulting Group Inc.

Print buyers have continued to react positively towards the value of print with it's ability to target specific markets and address various market levels, despite the volume declines.

Business Development Subversive Marketing: How to Build a Brand When They Tell You “No” Wayne Peterson, Black Canyon Consulting Group Inc.

Business Development Recruiting Salespeople: Stop Hiring Retreads Wayne Peterson, Black Canyon Consulting Group Inc.

55% of Brand Owners express a Print Bias

Graph Expo this year is at the mid-point between two drupa's and although a bit smaller show than previous years, proved to be rich with many exciting developments.

First Research analyzes several aspects of the magazine industry to determine the trends and challenges that are currently happening within the industry. In August 2014, magazines are still remaining relevant through a change in distribution and changing the overall form of the publication for digital consumption.

A field experiment using print and online versions of an alumni magazine found that the print version had a higher open rate, higher recall, and readers engaged in more browsing. Ironically, although younger readers indicated a preference for receiving an online version, the effect of print on memory performance was strongest among the younger readers.

Over 27,000 tablet ads were analyzed to evaluate digital efficacy versus print. Readers remember ads on tablets at the same rate as in print, yet the digital platform makes it easier to take action as a result of seeing ads.

This direct mail study considers the ability of gratitude messages (e.g. "We truly appreciate good customers like you") and obligation messages (e.g. "We count on you to recognize our hard work") to act as separate affective influences upon consumer purchase intent and attitudes. Findings: Gratitude messaging exerts a more positive influence than does obligation.

The latest version of the annual USPS periodicals study examines numbers and trends related to magazines and newspapers delivered via the US mail.

The annual USPS Household Diary Study finds 78% of households read or scan the promotional offers and deals that arrive via the home mailbox; Households studied planned to act on one in 10 pieces of advertising mail received.

Although more companies are using premium-print technologies in their advertising, empirical research has yet to examine the effectiveness of such executions. This field experiment investigates the effect of premium-print advertising's impact on consumer perceptions and intentions.

This report is an update to the original 2009 MindFireInc report exploring the topic of personalization in marketing campaigns. Findings: Performance results have held true across different campaigns.

A UC survey finds the majority of Americans support a Do Not Mail (DNM) initiative. The authors state: "Given the importance of advertising mail as an industry, and of the USPS to United States economic, security, and social interests, our findings could serve as a wake-up call to markets, the USPS, and regulators to more fully explore citizens' rejection of direct advertising mail and find ways to address their concerns while preserving the fundamental service provided by the USPS."

A neuroscience-based study strongly suggests that greater emotional processing and internalization is facilitated by the physical advertising material than by the digital ads. Physical materials have a more personal effect, and therefore should aid (purchase) motivation.

Twenty years ago, "The Environment: Public Attitudes and Individual Behavior" was the first large-scale survey to measure Americans' green attitudes and behavior, providing insight into Americans' commitment to the environment. In 2011, SC Johnson revisits its original research, to examine changes in Americans' attitudes and behaviors today with respect to current environmental issues, and also reprise seminal questions from the original 1990 research.

A University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication study finds that print news readers remember "significantly more" than those who read news stories online.

This study examined the ideal level, mix, and alignment of multichannel personalized communications (telephone, email, direct mail) between a business and its customers. An indirect finding of interest: researchers were surprised to find that direct mail proved to be such an effective communication method.

Young US adults, ages 16 to 26, are fully engaged with digital communication but also cannot imagine a world without paper, according to research from TRU, a research firm focusing on youth insight.

SMB owners deem advertising (43%), email (38%), and direct mail (36%) are deemed to be proven most effective with response rates, purchases, and more.

Results of an academic study examining consumer attributions of messages printed on direct mail envelopes and envelope characteristics -- and thus the perceived intentions of the direct marketer and about what is inside the envelope -- on intent to open a direct mailing.

ATG's report, "Cross-Channel Commerce: The Consumer View," examines the essential role that multichannels -- print, online, in-store, and newly emerging channels, such as mobile and social media -- play in the consumer research and purchase experience.

This study compared response rates of more than 650 real-life personalized cross-media campaigns to statistically demonstrate the uplift that can be gained from relevant, personalized communications.

According to the findings of a study by the Universities of Pennsylvania and California, Berkeley, consumers don't like being tracked online and the more they know about how they're being tracked the less they like it.

Results of a UK study that asks the question "Does the day that direct mail lands on consumers' doormats play a big part in its success?"

The 2009 Vertis Customer Focus study findings show consumers have become more even receptive to using direct mail to seek information and obtain the best value.

The DMNews/Pitney Bowes survey shows that targeted direct mail remains a key channel in reaching consumers and influencing their purchase decisions.

MPA asked Marketing Evolution to update learning on their 2006 analysis of 20 cross-media accountability studies. Marketing Evolution added 18 additional cross-media accountability studies and went beyond analyzing effects to focus on return on investment (ROI).

In this paper, the authors examine some of the stylistic changes that have occurred in magazine ads. They argue that the changes observed in advertising style reflect substantive changes in the consumers to which these ads were directed, and that these stylistic changes were necessary if such advertising was to continue to be effective.

This MPA paper present an aggregation of cross-media accountability studies demonstrating that magazines add an important influence to all segments of the purchase funnel -- especially the most noteworthy category of purchase intent.

Results from Alloy Media Marketing's College Newspaper Audience study. The report provides valuable data indicating college newspapers continue to reign as a top mass media choice among today's college students.

A summary of the consumer research portion of PRIMIR's "Trends and Future for Financial and Transactional Printing" report. The primary goal of the consumer research survey portion of the overall study was to determine the current and future use by consumers of paper transactional documents such as bills and statements. A secondary goal was to determine the proclivity of consumers toward transpromotional printing.

Transit advertising is a growing category of out-of-home advertising and an area that has received little academic attention. This study keys in to elements of effective airport advertising and is applicable to other transit locations.

This classic study looks at the extent to which consumer use of the Internet displaces or reinforces the use of other media as sources of advertising information.

InfoTrends' white paper detailing interviews with print service providers and marketing executives who have added, or are planning to add, transpromotion to their marketing mix. The report also includes InfoTrends desk research and studies.

Magazines alone or working in synergy with other media consistently yielded the most positive results.

This academic study finds that consumers find that print ads are seen as least annoying, whereas advertising in broadcast media is seen as most annoying.

This study demonstrates how magazines add an important influence to all segments of the purchase funnel -- especially the most noteworthy category of purchase intent.

Eight out of 10 investors and analysts prefer a printed annual report over the online version, while also expecting the annual report to be online.

Nearly 40% of consumers who perform online searches for more information report being influenced by offline channels and this influence ultimately results in a purchase.

The immediacy of mail and the attention it receives by consumers gives a company's marketing message an opportunity to be noticed unlike any other media channel.

A compilation of top-line synopses of research and data on marketing media mix effectiveness, with a focus on magazine advertising.

This study is important due to its methodology for it enables retail marketers to fine-tune their media strategies. It provides "a research framework to evaluate the extent to which advertising exposure correlates with changes in retail store visit behavior."

This classic academic study finds few significant differences in advertising effectiveness regarding printed matter (out of home posters) and Internet media.

Print ad content, when perceived as meaningful, results in consumer retention of ad details and being able to recall later when prompted. Contrarily, if a print ads strength is its attractiveness, consumers are not as likely to recollect ad details and facts, but instead to simply recall the brand name or product.

The fight for local media advertising is between newspapers and radio foremost, and then between direct mail, Yellow Pages, and cable TV.

An academic paper summarizing the survey of retail store managers' attitudes towards the value, use, and future of printed promotional material (e.g., direct mail, catalogs, and in-store signage).

In this classic study, print ad content was recognized at a higher level than what was delivered online. Though Internet advertising was a novelty in 1998, the ability to see the full ad in printed format remains a strong point of the medium.

This research uses an econometric analysis to assess the correlations between the media choices and overall business results. Printed mass media advertising showed greater impact than broadcast advertising.

This research demonstrates that the way a person experiences a magazine or newspaper can affect the way the person reacts to advertising in the publication.

This study bears out the adage that "the medium is the message." It is compelling contextual cues that influence consumers' perceptions of the advertising message.

Media synergy is the ideal when planning advertising. This study shows that the most powerful combination is when direct mail is used in combination with national TV advertising.

A look at the long-term effectiveness of multimedia advertising for two major competitors in the American sports utility vehicle industry. The study found that, in the long-term, magazine advertising was more effective than network TV advertising for both brands.

This classic academic study, which still holds true based on more current studies, finds It would be a costly mistake for Internet companies to rely solely on online advertising to build awareness and generate traffic.

Advertising in broadcast media is more likely to be avoided than print advertising.

Consumers pay attention to direct marketing efforts, thus validating direct mail as a highly effective tool.

This research adds a new paradigm -- where actual observed shopping behavior is correlated with the advertised item.