Now in its fourth year, Long Live Print is the Millcraft Columbus Annual Paper, Packaging, and Wide Format Show. The event draws a crowd of 500 designers and printers from across the region. It serves as a showcase for the medium of print, with something for everyone. The show is a combination of print inspiration, education, and creative exploration, highlighting new products and possibilities available in the world of print.
Guests arrived just before lunch at the Boathouse at Confluence Park and were greeted by Millcraft employees and the skyline of Columbus. They took their time exploring the vendor showcase, packed with tons of paper promotions and print samples.
Vendor showcase - print inspiration
Suppliers were on hand to share insights about the work displayed, answer technical questions and discuss project possibilities with the guests. As guests made their way through the two ballrooms they got a first-hand look at all the resources Millcraft has available to help them identify, source and produce impactful print communications.
Wide Format
Millcraft’s offering has expanded beyond just paper. In fact, our team of wide-format experts was on hand along with the Mimaki UCJV300-130. Guests got an up-close and personal look at this technology. The machine is just one of the models on display in our new Wide Format Center. Also on hand was the extremely durable Xanita Board as our Wide Format expert Mike Barrett demonstrates in this video.
Attendees got to try their hand at screen printing, experiencing the process of making as they squeegeed the ink across the screen to make their own print magic. The result was a make-and-take souvenir. Guests experienced how beautiful one color printing can be set against a colorful canvas of tactile paper. They also got to learn more about two Columbus organizations for creatives. Both the Columbus Society of Communication Arts and Making Midwest had booths at the show.
Buy & Give
In addition, guests got to learn a bit more about Millcraft’s Buy & Give initiative -a program that donates a portion of the profits from the sale of Buy & Give copy paper to local nonprofits within Millcraft’s footprint. Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation was on-hand to share a bit about its relationship with Millcraft’s Buy & Give program and how it's contributing to their #onoursleeves campaign.
Rick on Print
Guests enjoyed a very special keynote presentation by design icon and AIGA medalist, Rick Valicenti. Rick is a partner at Thirst, a communication design practice in Chicago. Alumni of BGSU, he is no stranger to the paper industry either. Rick enjoyed a long-time collaboration with the former Gilbert Papermill, developing the grade-lines Clearfold and Esse. Both of which are still available today at Millcraft. He treated guests to an inside look at his portfolio, including a soon-to-be debuted campaign for Noodle along with an insightful Q&A session.
The Columbus show is officially in the books. A special thank you to Terri Price-Deep, Eric Michel, and everyone who made the show a success. It’s clear the industry has many print advocates whose dedication and work cry out Long Live Print!
And if you didn’t get to make the Columbus Show don’t worry, we’ve got more events planned for this year. Make sure you’re on our list to find out about everyone happening in your market.