What are the best large-format digital printing processes for your markets? Shane Huiet offers suggestions on the best printing process to match specific market applications for sign shops, printers and other graphics pros looking to get into the arena. He covers inkjet printing processes such as solvent, eco-solvent, UV-cure (flatbed, roll to roll and hybrid) and dye-sublimation systems.

In a look at the future of our laser industry in these exciting times, Tom “Buzz” Bernard will discuss how—with the right ideas—you can compete, have fun, and make money—in any economy. No source outside this country can compete with the unique details you can add to a product. He will explore who needs your services and products, and how to market them without cold-call selling. Exposure equals sales; sales equals success, and success generates more great ideas. One great idea can make your business a success; he can help you come up with several!

Industry veteran Richard Greaves presents the screen printing process from start to finish. Learn how the unique traits of screen printing, coupled with technological developments, continue to make this age-old process a competitive edge in this market. Topics discussed include: preparing art, separation, positive output, mesh, screen tension, coating, drying, exposure, press setup, ink, on-press printing methods, as well as sales tips and business lessons

Are you new to the digital printing market or deciding if getting involved is right for you? There are endless opportunities in wide-format digital printing. Mutoh, a leading manufacturer of wide-format printers, will elaborate on how to expand your product offerings to new and existing customers. Learn how to increase profits by offering wide-format printed applications such as vehicle wraps, soft signage using dye sublimation, prototype packaging and other profitable market opportunities. Get the facts at NBM’s educational session.

Join veteran Troy Downey as he gives valuable advice on the wrapper-client relationship: "The Client-101"
* What's your favorite color? 
* I'll bet you didn't know... 
* A picture is worth a thousand words 
* Drive your business 
* Being prepared
We recommend that you attend Troy’s SEM 208: Wraps: Maximizing your Time and Minimizing Losses as a continuation of this seminar.

Learn from someone who wrote the book. We mean that literally; with over 50 years in business, Steve Capper has just written a book, “Why Small Businesses Go Broke!” to help small businesses grow and prosper. Steve says he doesn’t have all the answers, but from his stories and experiences you are sure to save time and make more money. From the person who is thinking about getting into business to the experienced business owner who wonders at the end of the year how they could have handled so much money and yet have so little left—no matter how long you have been in business, this course is for you! Steve will discuss you being the coach of your business team and answer questions you need answers to before you get into business. He will explore selling to your clients, as well as dealing with your suppliers, your employees and your business. He’ll demonstrate the importance of maintaining a profit level and setting up a system that will help your business run smoother. He will show you how you can give your clients over 50 days to pay—and you always get paid in 30. And he’ll show you how to double your sales without adding any sales people.

In this session, Troy Downey will focus the Wraps discussion on shop efficiencies:
* Material consumption
* Design time
* Installers’ ability
* Invoicing tips
* Warranties
* Disclosure statements
We recommend that you attend Troy’s SEM 200: Wraps: Personalized Graphics Your Clients Will Love as a preparation for this seminar.

Raymond Chapman shares his 50 years of designing experience to provide you with a solid foundation for improving your business through better design. You will learn how to “see” the puzzle pieces of positive and negative space, color and weight contrast, and editing copy. These simple principles can be applied to any visual communication profession to enhance your abilities. This class is not an “Easy Button” that magically transforms you into a design genius, but will reveal the successful foundations of any layout.

Since we basically all use the same equipment and software, how do we get a leg up on our competitors? Raymond Chapman shares his design and layout experience (over 50 years) to show you how you can improve your creations by the proper use of fonts, colors, shapes and pictorials. You will learn the secrets of successful designers and how they continually attract top-of-the-line clients. Although not required, it is recommended that you attend Chapman’s Basic Design Principles class as a preparation for this study.

Marcia Bohannon takes a view of the industry from 30 thousand feet, demystifies the wholesale chain of supply and provides loads of insight on what it takes to sell promotional products. Start here to get in on this $18.1billion industry

If you are thinking about jumping into the large-format printing—or if you are already printing, but feel you need to know more (and want to optimize your digital color workflow)—join Roland DGA for this powerful introductory session. The class presents an initial look at the world of Digital Color with the goal of helping you better understand how color works in the wide-format digital printing environment. Important facets covered include printing equipment, ink, media, substrates, input, output, avoiding common problems and implementing practical solutions. It will also help you to produce the best possible color—matching what you see on the screen to your printer’s output. Learn about vector vs. raster files, tips on color management, rules for managing customers’ graphic files, and how to select the right printing materials. Knowing how color works is the first step to customizing a workflow for you and your business.

Obtaining credit in today’s economy has never been more challenging. In this class, financial counselor Andrew Cavers addresses the challenges businesses face when trying to access capital and secure financing. You will learn what lenders look for in a principal’s personal credit, business financials and overall financial picture.

How often do your customers provide artwork that is not suited for embroidery? Lettering that is too small, details that get lost—what can you do to edit this artwork for optimal stitching? Helen Hart Momsen answers essential conundrums such as the difference between bitmaps, tiffs, jpegs and vector files in regard to digitizing, which is best for digitizing, what you can do if the only file you have is less than ideal, how digitizing systems deal with various file formats, and which fonts translate best to stitches. Join Momsen as she clarifies the world of art and art files.

Is your company keeping up with advances in wide-format inkjet sublimation printing? Whether you’re interested in expanding your small-format sublimation transfer business or diversifying your current wide-format offerings, Micky Unsworth, with over 14 years of experience in the sublimation transfer industry, will address wide-format system requirements (including printer, color management, RIP software, ink, paper, and substrates), business opportunities (vertical markets and specialized manufacturing processes), and performance/productivity issues facing wide-format professionals. Come learn how wide-format sublimation printing can help your company succeed in the ever-growing world of sublimation transfer.

With extensive knowledge and background creating products for the Laser Industry, Tom “Buzz” Bernard will offer resourceful ideas to boost your laser sales and keep your shop thriving. You will learn how to create new and unique products using existing designs, utilize substrates already in your inventory to expand your product line more and use other machines in your shop to create new and exciting ideas with your laser.