Struck By Gold

"Second is the very impressive results some of these technologies delivered on some of the more cost-driven communications, relative to more traditional technology."

Changes Afoot

As judging proceeded through that first week of June, the Gold Ink Awards committee decided that breaking up some categories into smaller groups this year and adding more categories to the 2005 Gold Ink Awards competition would broaden the scope of the awards and increase the chances of winning for some entrants.

For example, the book jacket category grew out of a discussion among the judges that a book cover and a book jacket are made up of different elements. Our winner in the book jacket category, "The Firefly," published by St. Martin's Press, was described by Charles Hames, production manager at New York University Press, as a beautiful example of printing on a metalized sheet with superb knock-out of white type throughout the piece.

The fierce competition in all the categories was a testament to the number of flawlessly printed materials entered into the contest.

"On many levels it was difficult to find characteristics to separate one [entry] from another," says Lisa Woodard, director of creative services at Lenox Collections, a direct marketer of fine collectibles and gifts. "The exceptional printing, binding, varnishing and overall presentations made for some hard choices."

"Trying to judge the Gold Ink Awards is far more difficult than one can imagine," says Harris Fogel, chairman of the media arts department at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. "Often, many of [the entries] are extraordinarily varied within the same category, which at times feels like judging apples and oranges."

A separate category for letterhead/stationery, which was submitted in the potpourri category, was also created during judging. The judges determined letterhead/stationery couldn't compete fairly in the potpourri category. New categories for next year include greeting cards, synthetic papers and envelopes, as each provides particular challenges on press.