As drupa draws to a close, Printgeek's head is spinning with the vast array
of technology and all-round clever stuff that's been on show for the past
fortnight. But amid all the feeds and speeds, dpis and sphs, picolitres and
pixels, JDFs and XMLs, auto-this and robotic-that, there was one corner of the
exhibition that really threw into sharp contrast just how far the industry has
come.
The Gutenberg Museum & Shop exhibit in hall 7a afforded visitors the
opportunity to step back in time to the days of hand composition and hand
presses, and to marvel at the achievements of the industry's forebears. Every
time Printgeek passed the stand, it was thronged and everyone was smiling.
Visitors were queuing up to produce personalised print with a difference - their
very own personal interpretation of the drupa logo using the hand rollers
pictured here. Next time you're in Mainz, do take the time to visit the museum
proper, though it has a nifty online shop too:
http://www.gutenberg-shop.de/cgi/websale6.cgi?shopid=gutenberg-museum&subshopid=english
Drupa 2008 really has been a show that encompassed print's past, present
and future, but a misty-eyed Printgeek hopes there will always be a place for,
and an appreciation of, craft printing.
