52 email: editor@printmonthly.co.uk March / April 2025 - Issue 353 AI creations to human ones, with six of the top ten most liked images being AI-generated, including the top two choices. This preference towards AI artwork was even the case among participants who identified as having a strong dislike of AI-generated illustrations. Along with AI content generation, Antigro Designer uses the technology to isolate, enhance, or copy parts of an image to prep it for print. “If you consider the AI-based cutout functions that are part of our T-shirt personalisation and Sticker Builder tools”, Grauf says, “these harness the power of AI to accurately identify and isolate images or other design elements, even when they feature intricate details. “This makes the process of transferring a customer’s vision onto a T-shirt or sticker template effortless, enabling businesses to offer one-of-a-kind items and real-time previews. The result – enhanced customer experience and boosted sales.” When asked about the future role of AI in print, Grauf explains that he sees it becoming a differentiating factor in many parts of the industry, with the print sector playing catch-up with a wider societal adoption of the technology. “As with any disruptive technology, there are multiple phases of adoption,” Grauf stresses. “What is interesting is AI IN PRINT that this has several layers when it comes to AI in the print industry. Consumers and other end-users of print are well into the ‘early majority phase’, while the print industry is really only just entering it.” Like many of the others I spoke to, Grauf believes that the development of this technology will only expand over time, and that printers need to find a way to keep up if they wish to stay at the cutting edge. He concludes by saying: “As growing numbers of players in the industry recognise the proven benefits of AI, we’re going to see that accelerate to a point where those who drag their feet won’t just be missing out, they’ll become obsolete.” Here to Stay? It is easy to get inspired by the excitement of these experts and the advancements AI is already bringing to the print industry. However, its integration into the print industry that can present both opportunities and challenges as the technology continues to develop. While AI is capable of streamlining production processes and introducing a range of efficiencies, its impact on creativity and human-driven craftsmanship may still be questioned by some. Automation in print is already reducing costs and labour, but its adoption must be balanced to avoid the risk of diminishing the nuanced, personalised touch that has long been a hallmark of print. Nevertheless, a common theme among all those I spoke to is that AI will be increasingly utilised in print in the coming years. Keeping up with these advancements will be of vital importance to those printers wishing to align their output with industry standards. The future of AI in print will likely offer many more innovations in the near future, but it also requires continued consideration, attention, and development to allow these innovations to be effectively integrated. It’s not some Jetsons-style science fiction future – it’s available here and now ▲ Generative AI is increasingly being adopted across various sectors. This image for example, was AI generated
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