SCOTT POLK

BY SCOTT POLK For printers looking for a cure to their press drying woes, it would be wise to brush up on your alphabet skills. That's because the current solutions have names like UV, IR, WIR, EB and TDS. And if that sounds like a bunch of hot air, well, that's another option, too. Though this multitude of choices can be staggering to someone not versed in the world of sheetfed and web press drying systems, it is also a blessing since the different options have pluses and minuses that benefit a variety of applications. Ultraviolet (UV) curing is a favorite among printers

BY SCOTT POLK As printers continue to determine how to capitalize on the Internet to further business, perhaps no segment may be affected by cyberspace more than direct mail. A projected 100 million people will be connected to the Web within five years, and direct mail will play an important role in guiding those people to the Internet. According to a study by the Printing Industries of America, dotcom startup companies looking to establish brand equity will account for much of that business. By 2003, however, the study cautions that the direct mail industry will begin to encounter considerable competition from electronic media.