Taktiful

Join industry experts Matthew Redbear, Sabine Lenz, Kevin Abergel, and Eric Vessels as they explore the art of digital print embellishments in this 50-minute meetup. Perfect for designers and print professionals, this video shares insider tips on creating stunning designs with techniques like Spot UV, foil, and varnish. What You'll Discover: How to align designs with client needs and market trends Avoiding common mistakes in digital embellishment projects Creating varnish and foil masks using Photoshop filters Enhancing layouts with seamless patterns and textures Combining embellishments for bold, eye-catching results Tips for choosing the right foil (hint: matte might outshine shiny!) From practical advice to real-world examples, this video is your guide to mastering digital embellishments and wowing your clients. Plus, get a glimpse into the future of variable data embellishments! Watch now to elevate your print designs with expert techniques! Featuring: Matthew Redbear, Sabine Lenz, Kevin Abergel, Eric Vessels Duration: 50 minutes Sponsored by: MGI Digital Technology, PaperSpecs, and the Digital Embellishment Alliance

Marketing has come a long way from the Mad Men era to today’s hyper-targeted digital landscape. But have we sacrificed creativity for data? In this episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, I sit down with Gee Ranasinha, CEO of Kexino, to talk about the evolution of marketing, the pitfalls of over-reliance on metrics, and the timeless principles that still drive success. We also dive into: ✅ The 95-5 Rule: Why most of your audience isn’t ready to buy yet ✅ Balancing brand awareness with sales activation ✅ How marketing lost its creative edge—and how to reclaim it ✅ Why bad marketing isn't a tech problem—it's a strategy problem Gee brings 35+ years of experience in branding, storytelling, and marketing strategy, plus a great sense of humor (and apparently, he plays piano too?!). 👍 Like & 🔔 Subscribe for more insights on marketing, print, and business growth. 📩 Follow Gee on LinkedIn for bite-sized marketing wisdom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranasinha/ 📌 Learn more about Kexino: https://kexino.com/ What’s your take on the state of marketing today? Drop a comment below! ⬇️

Welcome back to another episode of Taktiful Tuesdays! 🎉 This week, host Eric Vessels sits down with the legendary Daniel Dejan - a graphic arts industry veteran, creative director at Dejan Associates, and co-founder of MarketWise Academy. With over four decades of experience in print production, paper selection, multi-channel marketing, and digital embellishment, Daniel brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. In this episode, we dive into: ✅ How print has evolved alongside digital media ✅ The profitability challenge for printers in a rapidly changing tech landscape ✅ The rise of digital embellishments (raised varnish, foil, haptics) and their impact on marketing ✅ Why the power of touch makes print more memorable than digital ✅ The future of print in a data-driven, AI-enhanced world 📢 If you're in the printing, design, or marketing industry, this episode is packed with insights you don't want to miss! 🔔 Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes of Taktiful Tuesdays! #PrintingIndustry #DigitalEmbellishment #TaktifulTuesdays #Marketing #PrintMedia #AI #Haptics #GraphicDesign

Welcome back to another episode of Taktiful Tuesdays! 🎉 This week, we’re diving deep into the world of digital embellishments, print design, and creative innovation with none other than Matt Redbear - a design powerhouse and thought leader in specialty printing. From his roots in analog photography to pioneering modern digital embellishments, Matt shares his expert insights on: ✨ The magic of blending artistry with technology ✨ How to make print more impactful and interactive ✨ The importance of negative space and subtle embellishments ✨ How AI and automation are shaping the future of print If you're a designer, brand, or print enthusiast, you won’t want to miss this conversation. Plus, we geek out over vinyl records, creative inspiration, and more! 🎶🔥 🔗 Follow Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/redbear/ 🎧 Listen to Matt's favorite album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQLm_x6LH5c&list=PLiljtHvabeo2aHy9c9m_5ARKuZbtsBNgZ 📩 Want to learn more about digital embellishments? Drop us a comment or visit Taktiful’s website: https://www.taktiful.com/ 💬 What’s your favorite design trick for print? Let us know below! ⬇️ #printdesign #DigitalEmbellishments #TaktifulTuesdays #GraphicDesign #SpecialtyPrinting

In this episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, we sit down with industry veteran Ken Huizenga, a print production expert with over 40 years of hands-on experience. From running sheet-fed presses in the ‘80s to embracing cutting-edge digital print and embellishment technology, Ken has seen it all. We dive into: ✅ How print production has evolved over the decades ✅ The growing demand for faster turnaround times and higher-quality print ✅ The role of digital embellishments in shaping the future of print ✅ The skills modern press operators need to succeed ✅ Why preventative maintenance is key to keeping your press running smoothly And on a fun note, we also talk car racing, whiskey, and the thrill of going fast - on and off the press! 🏎️🥃

In this special live episode of Taktiful Tuesdays, we're coming to you straight from the Xerox Partner Summit in Las Vegas. I sat down with my longtime friend and Xerox legend Kelly Leahy - Senior Global Product Marketing Manager - to talk about everything from digital embellishment trends and the Genesis Initiative to the psychology of print, AI in design, and how print service providers can better educate their customers. We also dive into career growth, continuous learning, and yes...baseball tournaments and dogs. If you're curious about where the print industry is headed, how digital embellishments can boost engagement, or just want to hear two print geeks talk shop (and dogs), you’re in the right place. 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of print, marketing, and innovation. Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro & Live from Vegas 1:30 – Kelly’s Xerox journey (26 years strong!) 3:10 – Digital embellishment adoption trends 6:00 – The Genesis Initiative: Design, Market, Price, Sell 8:30 – Why “no one’s asking for it” is a marketing problem 11:00 – The psychology of touch: Why print works 13:30 – What’s next: AI, accessibility & democratization 17:00 – Career advice for the next generation 20:00 – Life outside of print: Baseball weekends & rescue dogs