Ink, Intelligence, and the Human Touch: Lessons from 30 Years at Adobe

At first glance, it seemed like a coincidence. Mike Scrutton had just received a commemorative brick from Adobe for 30 years of service. Eric Vessels was preparing to host the 30th episode of Taktical Tuesday. They met for the interview in a quiet corner of the Museum of Printing, the gift shop doubling as an impromptu studio.

But the timing was more than symbolic. It reflected a convergence of decades of innovation, of analog and digital thinking, and of the enduring role of print in a rapidly changing creative industry.

This episode was not just another interview. It became a reflection on the evolution of design and production, and what it means to build technology that enables people to make something real.

A Career Built on Making the Digital Physical

Mike began by sharing his journey. With roots in the United Kingdom and a career in Adobe’s early international development team, his background in print technology has always centered on turning screen-based ideas into physical experiences.

Even as screens became sharper and digital tools more sophisticated, he saw an ongoing desire to return to tangible media. Print, as he explained, is a way to preserve emotion. Unlike digital images that are swiped away or closed with a click, print invites interaction. It stays in our hands, on our shelves, or in our memory.

For Mike, this tactile quality is not a novelty. It is central to the value of design.

Project Goldsmith: Bridging Creativity and Production

A highlight of the conversation was the introduction of Project Goldsmith, Adobe’s new solution aimed at simplifying embellishment workflows.

The challenge it addresses is significant. Designers often work in layered, conceptual environments using applications like Illustrator or InDesign. However, printers require structured files that match the specifications of diverse equipment: foils, varnishes, laminators, and more.

Project Goldsmith acts as a translator. It takes a single PDF and prepares it for whatever embellishment system the production process demands. Whether the job calls for two layers or multiple spot colors, whether it needs duplicate passes through a machine, or preparation for toner-based foil, Goldsmith handles the refactoring automatically.

This saves time, reduces errors, and, most importantly, lets designers focus on creative intent rather than technical formatting.

The Role of AI: Enhancing, Not Replacing

Artificial intelligence is an increasingly central topic in creative workflows. But Mike’s view is grounded in practicality.

AI, in his words, functions as an assistant. It handles repetitive or technical tasks so that designers can spend more time focusing on design itself. Whether that means selecting a subject from an image or interpreting color swatches as candidates for embellishment, AI is most valuable when it supports human creativity rather than replacing it.

One example discussed is how AI can interpret intent from a flattened image. If a designer used a gold-toned swatch but did not label it explicitly, AI can infer that it was meant for foil treatment. In other areas, AI speeds up tasks that used to take hours, like precise image masking or adapting layouts across multiple aspect ratios.

Technology is not about automating creativity. It is about freeing it.

Why Print Still Matters

Despite the industry’s shift toward digital content, the conversation underscored a simple truth: print is not going away. In fact, its unique qualities are becoming more valuable as digital content becomes more ephemeral.

Print is physical, it creates memory, it builds brand presence in ways that pixels cannot. Whether it is packaging, signage, or direct mail, tactile design delivers something screens never will: presence.

This is where embellishment becomes more than aesthetics. A foil accent or raised varnish is not just a visual enhancement; it is part of the message. It conveys importance, intention, and quality. Project Goldsmith, in this light, is more than a productivity tool. It is a creative enabler.

Technology that Understands Design

What makes Goldsmith effective is that it understands design logic. Designers do not need to learn new tools or restructure their process. They can work in layers, use familiar swatches, and focus on the message they are building.

Goldsmith takes it from there. It interprets and adapts based on the needs of the output device. Whether that means combining layers, creating separations, or preparing multiple versions of a file, it does the work behind the scenes.

It is not automation for the sake of efficiency. It is automation that respects the designer’s original intent.

Beyond Tools: Culture and Collaboration

Throughout the episode, it became clear that this work is not only about technology. It is also about building a creative culture where people feel empowered to produce something meaningful.

Mike emphasized that innovation happens when tools are intuitive and production is frictionless. Eric reflected on how partnerships, like the ongoing dialogue between Taktiful and Adobe, are shaping the future of creative operations.

When software becomes an invisible partner, and when teams are freed from mechanical work, the result is not just faster output. It is better output.

Final Thoughts

There are few conversations that span so much ground with such clarity. This one covered legacy, technology, creativity, and the future of print, all grounded in real-world application.

The most powerful insight may be the simplest: when tools are designed to understand creativity, they amplify it.

Project Goldsmith is not just about print files. It is about possibilities. It shows what happens when decades of experience, smart automation, and a deep respect for design come together.

As Mike noted, “It is not about narrowing the funnel of creativity. It is about widening it.”

For the print world, for designers, and for the future of content creation, that is a message worth printing.