On December 18, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.  While I know that sounds like “legalization” to a lot of people, in reality it is not. This is a meaningful federal shift, but it does not wipe out state-by-state rules, and it does not suddenly make recreational cannabis federally legal.  The order is also not the finish line. It is a directive to complete the rulemak

The Taktiful Holiday Album: Shimmer and Shine , is a joyful tribute to the partners who make print shine bright. Celebrating the magic of print embellishment, the album releases on December 22 and will be available for streaming on Apple Music and Spotify. Melbourne, Fl. – December 18th, 2025 – Taktiful, the creative powerhouse evangelizing the global digital print embellishment movement, has just unwrapped a seasonal surprise for the industry, The Taktiful Holiday Album . Bu

The Irresistible Allure of Shine and Touch Picture a consumer picking up a business card edged with metallic foil or running their fingers over a brochure logo that’s raised and glossy. Instantly, the item feels  special. It catches the light with a shimmer and offers a satisfying texture under the fingertips. This is no design fluke – it’s a strategic engagement of human biology. Marketers and print designers have long observed that shiny foils and tactile coatings grab atte

The latest Digital Embellishment Designer Meetup was a lively exchange of ideas, tips, and trends in the world of digital print embellishments, with a focus on holiday card design. Below is a comprehensive recap of the discussion, organized into key themes and takeaways for easy reading. Welcoming Newcomers and Introductions Once the session officially began, Kevin greeted returning participants and newcomers alike. Notably, Jaclyn “Jackie” Bartholomew was introduced as Takti

At a recent Digital Embellishment Designer Meetup, a group of print and packaging designers gathered (virtually) to talk about “surface appeal”  – the almost magical draw of shiny, textured finishes – and how these tactile effects evoke emotional responses. The session held just before Thanksgiving, wasn’t a typical technical workshop. Instead, it delved into the science of shine and the emotions it sparks, from nostalgia and curiosity to surprise and even feelings of gratitu

The Digital Embellishment Designer Meetup (Halloween Spooktacular Edition) delivered equal parts education and festive fun. Designers, printers, and industry experts gathered (many in costume) on October 31st to talk all things print embellishment. This special community call, hosted by Kevin Abergel of Taktiful, was filled with insights from the recent PRINTING United expo, lively discussions on new technologies, and tips for creatives looking to add some “magic” to their pr

By Kevin Abergel, President of Taktiful From Niche to Mainstream: Embellishment Everywhere Walking the show floor at PRINTING United 2025 in Orlando felt like stepping into a dream that had finally come to life. Everywhere I looked, there were printers, designers, and technology partners talking about metallics, textures, and specialty effects. For years, we in the embellishment space have been saying that the key to fighting commoditization is differentiation. This year, it

When people hear “digital print embellishment,” they often think of shiny foil or glossy coatings that simply make a printed piece look...

Introduction: Think of Downstream Departments as Your Customers In a busy print shop, every department is part of a larger ecosystem. As...

Lessons from the September 18 Digital Embellishment Designer Meetup On September 18, a group of designers, printers, and embellishment...

Every year, PRINTING United Expo serves as the epicenter of innovation in the print industry. With hundreds of exhibitors, ONE MILLION...

The Digital Embellishment Designer Meetup: Textures, Tactile Finishes, and the Art of Luxury Notes and insights from the August 21...

First Impressions in Foil On a recent afternoon in a mock supermarket lab, a group of shoppers wandered through aisles of packaged goods....

A Dragon on the Page One chilly morning in 2023, a curious line formed outside a bookstore in Michigan. Instead of clamoring for a...

The Digital Embellishment Designer Meetup on July 18 brought together print and design professionals to share insights on creating...

At first glance, it seemed like a coincidence. Mike Scrutton had just received a commemorative brick from Adobe for 30 years of service....

Sabine Lenz has seen the future of print, and it’s tactile . Known affectionately as the “Paper Queen” by her followers, Sabine is the...

The June edition of the Digital Embellishment Designer Meetup opened with the usual warmth and wit that defines our creative corner of...

Joe Deboy, VP of Sales at Napco USA, joined Kevin Abergel on The Digital Embellishment Show  to share a candid look at what’s happening...

Melbourne, FL – May 20th 2025 – Skandacor is deepening its collaboration with Taktiful, a recognized leader in digital embellishment....