March 2023

Download the full issue: 1-23

View the letter from the Editor


Gorazd Golob

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The news section of the Journal: Topicalities

Click on titles to download full articles:

Li-ion battery anodes printed by rotogravure

Alexandra Pekarovicova, Kevin Matthew, Jorge Vicco Mateo, Kholoud Al-Ajlouni and Paul D. Fleming

E-mail: a.pekarovicova@wmich.edu 

Center for Printing and Coating Research, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 

Abstract

Inks for Li-ion battery anodes were formulated for printing with the rotogravure printing process. Graphite powders with different particle sizes were used as conductive materials along with nanoparticle carbon black fillers. As polymer binders, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) (commercial names Kureha 9100 and Kureha 9300) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) were tested. Inks were printed using proprietary gravure engraving. Ink solid content of 30–70 % was examined. At 70 % solids, ink layers were 25–27 μm thick with mass loading of 2.1–2.5 mg/cm². A solids content of 50 % was found the highest that produced a smooth uniform film. Half cells were made using print with 1 000 μm holes or they were bar coated. Half cells were charged and discharged in order to measure irreversible capacity loss (ICL). Inks with mixed binders Kureha/PVP were performing better than sole polymers. Half-cell testing revealed that PVP as a sole binder has not good electrical performance, thus it was mixed with PVDF. The ICL was lower when mixed PVDF/PVP binder was employed in anode ink. 

Keywords: printed batteries, ink formulation, half cell, capacity, irreversible capacity loss

JPMTR-2224 Research paper | 173
DOI  10.14622/JPMTR-2224
UDC 621.31:546.34:655.224 

Received: 2022-10-11
Accepted: 2023-03-03

Real-world evaluation of artificial intelligence-based color corrections for social media content creators

D. Hudson Smith and Erica B. Walker 

E-mails: dane2@clemson.edu; eblack4@clemson.edu 

Department of Graphic Communication, Clemson University,  207 Godfrey Hall, Clemson, SC, 29634, United States of America 

Abstract

 Brands strive to maintain consistent brand color representation across many digital channels, including social media platforms. This is a challenging goal given the varying real-world circumstances in which brand imagery is produced and shared. The ColorNet neural network tool was developed to automatically target and correct brand colors in imagery without altering non-brand colors. Previously, it was successfully applied to live sports broadcast footage. An open question is whether ColorNet can improve the accuracy, as measured by ΔE00, of brand color representations in still photographs and photographs taken from videos and gifs posted to social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter. To test this question, we collected a set of posts containing imagery from social media created by Clemson Athletics’ social media accounts. We corrected the representation of Clemson orange in these images using ColorNet. After selecting pixel values corresponding to brand colors in each media piece, we demonstrate that ColorNet improves Clemson brand color accuracy across social media channels and for various media characteristics. Despite our observation that brand color representation varies significantly across media types and lighting conditions, the improvement in color representation from ColorNet was relatively consistent. We also showed that ColorNet has a comparatively minor impact on the color representation of skin tones. 

Keywords: Twitter, Instagram, ColorNet, artificial neural networks

JPMTR-2219 Research paper | 174
DOI  10.14622/JPMTR-2219
UDC 394:004.89:159.937-021.415 

Received: 2022-09-08
Accepted: 2023-01-11

The health and outlook of printing industry post-Covid-19: the insight into Malaysia printing industry

Muhammad Yusuf Masod and Siti Farhana Zakaria 

E-mail: yusuf595@uitm.edu.my 

Program Academic Printing Technology, Digital and Imaging Art, College of Creative Arts, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 42300 Puncak Alam, Selangor 

Abstract

 While it is widely assumed that the printing industry is in a state of declining demand, or “sunsetting” worldwide, our study suggests that the printing industry in Malaysia shows a stabilizing trend. Print service providers (PSPs) diversify and exploit the trend for digitization and automation and also explore new market segments to stay relevant. The industry’s performance before, during, and after the pandemic from 2019 to Q2 2022 was analyzed. An interview with the top management of PSPs was conducted to obtain views on the impact of Covid-19 on the print business. The findings show macroeconomic factors’ are heavily influenced by growth and suggest that demand will remain resilient going forward, making the outlook for the printing industry optimistic despite domestic and global uncertainty. We also discovered that the pandemic has given PSPs a chance to reevaluate their operations and rebuild using technology to support their businesses in the post-Covid-19. 

Keywords: printing industry market, industry performance, developing nations, digitalization, pandemic

JPMTR-2225 Research paper | 175
DOI  10.14622/JPMTR-2225
UDC 651.1(595):614.4:338.3 

Received: 2022-10-24
Accepted: 2022-03-16