Press conference from the issuing company:
WhatTheyThink, the global media organization serving the printing and graphic communications industry, will host a special Taktisphere Live event on Wednesday, August 19, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EDT, featuring the exclusive release of the 2026 Digital Embellishment Study results.
During the live broadcast, WhatTheyThink’s Richard Romano will join Taktiful Founder and President Kevin Abergel to reveal and analyze the latest data surrounding the adoption, profitability, growth, and future of digital print embellishment.
The findings will be presented publicly for the first time during the event, giving members of the Taktisphere and the broader print community an exclusive first look at what may be the most significant set of results since the study was launched.
“The results this year are incredibly exciting,” said Abergel. “We are seeing meaningful movement in how frequently embellishment technologies are being used, how profitable they are becoming, and how printers are building real business strategies around premium print. There are numbers in this study that the entire industry is going to be talking about.”
The 2026 Digital Embellishment Study examines how print service providers are using technologies such as digital foil, dimensional varnish, specialty toner, textured effects, specialty colors, and other forms of premium digital print enhancement.
Hosted by WhatTheyThink, the Taktisphere Live session will go beyond a traditional presentation of charts and statistics. Romano and Abergel will provide industry context, compare the findings with previous research, and discuss what the data means for printers, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, designers, marketers, and brands.
Key areas of discussion will include:
- How frequently printers are producing digitally embellished work
- Whether embellishment is becoming more profitable
- Which technologies and applications are gaining momentum
- What customers are willing to pay for premium print
- The largest barriers preventing wider adoption
- The impact of sales education, pricing, design, and workflow
- Where the strongest opportunities for future growth may exist
- How the market has evolved since earlier editions of the study
“Industry research is most valuable when it helps companies understand what is changing and what they should do next,” said Romano. “This study gives us a detailed look at how digital embellishment is being adopted, where companies are finding success, and which challenges continue to limit growth.”
The event represents a collaboration between WhatTheyThink and Taktiful to bring timely research, practical interpretation, and open industry discussion directly to the print community.
WhatTheyThink has long been a trusted source of news, analysis, research, and education for the printing and graphic communications industries. By hosting the exclusive study reveal as a Taktisphere Live event, the organization will help bring the findings to a broad audience of industry professionals while creating an opportunity for real-time discussion and questions.
“This is exactly what Taktisphere Live was created for,” said Abergel. “We want to bring the industry together around important ideas, real data, emerging technologies, and honest conversations. Having WhatTheyThink host this reveal makes the event even more meaningful because Richard brings the insight and perspective needed to help everyone understand what these numbers really mean.”
The study also explores the continued evolution of digital embellishment from a specialized production capability into a broader business strategy centered around differentiation, premiumization, customer engagement, and improved margins.
As conventional print markets continue to face pricing pressure and commoditization, embellishment is increasingly being used to create products that are more memorable, more valuable, and more difficult to compare based on price alone.
“Digital embellishment is no longer simply about adding foil or texture,” Abergel said. “It is about creating work that gets noticed, drives a stronger emotional response, and gives printers a legitimate reason to charge more. The 2026 data shows just how far the market has come.”
Attendees will be among the first to see the complete findings and will have an opportunity to hear Romano and Abergel discuss the most surprising results, the strongest market signals, and the areas where the industry still has significant work to do.
The live event will conclude with an audience question-and-answer session.
Event Details
Event: The 2026 Digital Embellishment Study Results Reveal
Hosted by: WhatTheyThink and Taktiful
Presented by: Richard Romano and Kevin Abergel
Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EDT
Location: Live inside the Taktisphere
REGISTRATION: https://taktisphere.com/c/taktisphere-live/the-numbers-are-in-the-2026-digital-embellishment-study-reveal
The event is open to print service providers, manufacturers, suppliers, designers, marketers, brand professionals, and other members of the graphic communications industry. Advance registration is required.
PURCHASE THE REPORT (for $495).
About WhatTheyThink
WhatTheyThink is a global media organization serving the printing and graphic communications industries. Through industry news, analysis, research, commentary, educational programming, video content, and live events, WhatTheyThink provides print professionals with the information and insight needed to understand market change, emerging technologies, and new business opportunities.
About Richard Romano
Richard Romano is a writer, analyst, researcher, consultant, and speaker who has covered the graphic communications industry for more than three decades. He is the author or co-author of numerous books, reports, and industry studies focused on print technology, market trends, digital transformation, and emerging opportunities within the graphic arts.
About Taktiful
Taktiful is a consulting, education, research, and technology company dedicated to advancing the digital print embellishment industry. Through strategic consulting, training, industry studies, events, software, and community education, Taktiful helps printers and manufacturers unlock the creative and commercial potential of premium print.
About the Taktisphere
The Taktisphere is a global print industry community bringing together printers, manufacturers, designers, marketers, technology providers, and thought leaders. The community hosts live events, educational programs, product demonstrations, industry discussions, and collaborative experiences focused on the future of print.
