Graphix Publications
With five titles dedicated to the African graphic arts industry, Graphix Publications is by far the most professional and largest publisher for this industry on the African continent.
Graphix magazine has been serving the printing and related industries for almost a quarter of a century, and has pioneered many aspects of specialised publishing for this sector.
First of all, recognising that printers tend to inspect print magazines with a magnifying glass before reading them, a great deal of attention has been paid to print excellence. Second, the introduction of controversial articles (on thorny topics such as affirmative action and censorship) has guaranteed huge audiences among readers in the industry.
In an attempt not only to write about new developments, but to show them in action, Graphix was the first magazine in South Africa to boast a laminated cover (although UV varnishing has since taken over from laminating). For similar reasons, its pages are often used to demonstrate the qualities of new papers, new bindings, new inks, new printing plates, new foils and much more.
Apart from the award-winning Graphix magazine, also offered are two ancillary products: the Graphix Resource Annual - a buyer's guide for the printing industry; and Graphix Direct Response - a free service to every known printer in the country (both subscribers and non-subscribers to Graphix magazine) through which advertisers can sell used equipment and other services.
Serving Africa
Serving the whole continent as well as pads of the Middle East, African Printer is the perfect partner for Graphix. Conceived to be of service to printers in Africa (both English and French speaking), African Printer also accommodates those international advertisers who class Africa and the Middle East as a distinct sector. Launched in 1993, the publication has prospered, often providing printers in Africa with their only link to the world of print in first world countries.
In addition, world-class printers in Africa (of which there are many) appreciate the fact that the continent has its own magazine as an unifying point for the industry.
On the home front, South African vendors have a useful vehicle to reach markets north of the border, and many report outstanding results from their sales messages in African Printer.
As the DTP revolution hit the graphics arts industry it became obvious that Graphix, in its existing form, could not hope to cater for the technology information overload that was about to embrace the industry - no one magazine could cover all the happenings from DTP through to finishing systems and keep its circulation within publishing constraints.
Thus Desktop Publishing Today was born in 1987 to cater for the prepress side of the industry. DTP Today provides a vehicle for software and hardware vendors to promote their wares to the burgeoning market of DTP operators.
In 1995, as 'DTP' became synonymous with 'amateur', the title of the magazine was altered to Digital Imaging & Publishing to meet the changing needs of the industry.
The publishers were also instrumental in the creation of the Desktop Publishing Association (later renamed the Digital Publishing & Graphics Association) and together the magazine and the association have made a positive impact on this sector, which is growing rapidly.
Digital Imaging & Publishing - with a huge and loyal following from a broad spectrum of readers - remains the only publication dedicated to servicing this niche market - whether for conventional print or multimedia (CD publishing), or even the Web.
Leading the Signage Sector
In 1996, the publishers of this group of graphic arts publications acquired yet another vehicle - Sign & Graphics - to service the growing signage sector of the industry.
Published every month, the magazine has positioned itself as the undisputed leader for the combined large format (digital), screenprinting and signage industries.