The Wider World of Education Opportunities

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a total newbie, there are education opportunities for everyone.

I’m relatively sure there is a proverb about there about the fact that the day you stop learning new things is the day you die. And while it was aimed at encouraging people to always be questioning the world around them and keep an open mind to new ideas, it also applies to the wide-format print space. Because frankly, if you’ve stopped learning about what’s new, and innovative, and pushing our industry forward, your business is going to stagnate and, eventually, “die.”

Fortunately, there is no shortage of opportunities out there for everyone. From long-term, seasoned professionals to those who are new to our industry, we aim to learn something new. Whether it’s taking in-person classes at a local university, intensive training modules offered by OEMs, or even online courses on platforms like PRINTING United Alliance’s own iLEARNING+ platform, there is something for, quite literally, everyone.

With so many options available, it can quickly get overwhelming to know where to turn. That’s why we’ve put together this list. It started last year, and we’re updating it for 2025 with all the latest information so you have a place to start when it comes to planning your continuing education journey.

And, of course, don’t forget to pluck some of these options from the list to bring to your staff as well. Labor is an ongoing challenge that's currently being made more difficult by shifting economic conditions.  However, educational opportunities and chances to grow and improve are something many of today’s workers prize, even above salary increases, in some cases. Offering one or more of these platforms or courses to your staff can go a long way toward building a culture of people who are excited to come into work every day and push the limits of what wide-format printing can do.

To make the list a bit more manageable, we’ve broken it up into categories so you can find exactly what you need. In addition to the links, we’ve also included a very brief look at what each one offers. That said, don’t be afraid to use this as a jumping-off point in your own research efforts to find the right educational opportunities for your situation and needs.

And if you notice a class or educational opportunity we’ve missed — or that is no longer available — feel free to drop me a note at tmcquilken@napco.com.

Never stop learning!

Association Education

Perhaps one of the strongest overall advocates for education are the associations that make up all aspects of the print industry. Many of them offer unique and targeted opportunities, depending on exactly what you’re looking for.

• PRINTING United Alliance iLearning+. The best place to start with any list of educational opportunities is also one of the newer kids on the proverbial block. Launched in 2022, the platform now boasts a diverse range of online courses that are constantly being updated and added to. It is being used in more than 35 countries and counting, and has courses aimed at everyone from newbies to seasoned veterans looking to learn more about print and improve their knowledge. The platform also has a mix of pure education, as well as certification tracks.

• American Graphics Institute. With a focus on graphic design, this organization offers a wide range of courses both online and in-person on everything from design software basics, to advanced courses in everything from video production to web design — and everything in between. The organization also offers private training to those looking for a more targeted training experience.

• Chicago Photography School. While it’s likely not the only photography school out there, this one stands out as a great example of what they can offer. Getting better photography means having better material to work with in the design and print phases, so giving anyone on staff with an inclination to this field better tools and resources can only improve your business.

• International Sign Association (ISA). Another wide-format and signage industry association (and many of you probably attend the ISA expo in the Spring of each year) ISA also offers an online training hub, with more than 80 courses geared specifically toward the signage industry. Rather than access individual courses, they instead sell seats in as few as one, to as many as 200 users, with users then able to access any of the courses in their lineup.

• International Finishing Trades Institute. While the majority of the education this organization provides is aimed at other professions, they do have a sign and display worker segment that specifically targets those who design, create, and install signs and displays, including neon and screen printing. If your operation still produces traditional signs alongside the wide-format printing, this is a course you might want to look into.

• Wallcoverings Association. This association targets top installers and manufacturers, and their TecTrac program, in particular, is an in-person annual event with a lot of intense training and opportunities to interact with peers. As wallcoverings are embraced by more wide-format printers as a strong application in your mix, having people on staff with the training to get them installed correctly will be a boon to future business.

• Wallcovering Installers Association. Another online wallcovering resource, this one is geared very specifically to those looking to learn or improve their wallcovering installation techniques. They also offer certifications for those who complete all the courses, with more certifications in the works.

OEM Training

Many of the OEMs in the wide-format print space offer some sort of training, not just for their equipment, but designed to help shops build a successful business. Here is a look at some of the options:

• EFI. The company offers a blend of in-person and online courses, ranging from just covering the essentials a new operator needs to know; a more detailed and in-depth operator training option; service and maintenance training, and a production training course to help your staff get the most out of the equipment in your own environment, using your own substrates and client jobs.

• Epson. The Epson Print Academy is actually a YouTube channel filled with videos from experts on a wide range of subjects. From step-by-step tutorials, to application overviews, to interviews with technology experts, this is a great resource to tap when you have questions.

• HP. This is an online training program designed to let users work at their own pace, learning both how to get the most out of the company’s portfolio of presses, but also how to design, print, and sell many of the applications they can produce.

• Industrial Inkjet. The sales and technical support arm for Konica Minolta, this division offers a few different options ranging from a one-day course designed for operators, to a three-day course that covers all the basics and beyond — with a few other courses mixed in so those running the equipment can find the help they need to get the most out of the equipment.

• INX. Via a free online platform called INX University, the company offers a blend of a wide range of topics to customers and partners. It ranges from basic training to professional development, with topics that will appeal to nearly everyone in the application cycle.

• Mutoh. With both online training and a library of webinars, the company offers educational options across a broad range of categories, including color management, packaging, dye sublimation, and more.

• Ricoh. The company offers a program called Advanced Career Education (ACE) designed to help move students from a classroom environment into a working career in print.

• SAi. Called Adendo, SAi's training platform focuses on helping users get more out of the Flexi and EnRoute platforms. It offers both online and in-person training options, as well as a robust community for troubleshooting, networking, and general support.

Colleges, Universities, Technical Institutes, and High Schools

The earlier we get in and start getting kids excited about print, the easier it is to teach them the skills they’ll need to be successful in the industry. Here is a look at some of the colleges, universities, high schools, and technical institutes still out there fighting the good fight. Don’t be afraid to reach out to offer your assistance and get involved — if not with one of these, then with your local schools of all types.

• Appalachian State University. Located in Boone, North Carolina, the university offers a bachelor’s degree program for Graphic Communication Management — Print/Packaging.

• Big Sandy Community & Technical College. The Visual Communication — Design & Technology program, based in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, includes one for graphic design and another for production.

• Cal Poly. Still offering a robust Graphic Communications program under its College of Liberal Arts, based in San Luis Obispo, California, the program focuses on both content management and production workflow in a modern-day print operation.

• Central Connecticut State University. The Graphics Technology degree offered in New Britain, Connecticut, focuses on preparing students to enter the print industry as a career directly out of school.

• Central Texas College. Of particular interest in this Killeen, Texas institution is the quick career training program, which is two semesters long. The Graphics and Printing Technology track has options for both graphic design and press operations.

• Cuyahoga Valley Career Center. Based in Brecksville, Ohio, this organization offers both a Graphic Imaging program for high school students, as well as Graphic Design for Print and Web Production as an adult continuing education program.

• Flint Hills Technical College. Based in Emporia, Kansas, the Graphic Arts Technology Program covers everything from design to software and print technologies.

• Fullerton College. Based in Fullerton, California, the school offers Print Technology as one of the many Career Training programs.

• Harper College. This community college in Palatine, Illinois still offers a Graphic Arts Design and Technology track, where they focus on both the design and production elements of the process. Students can earn a two-year degree that they can use to get a job immediately, or they can transition to a four-year school if they want to continue building out their knowledge base. They offer several tracks, as well as additional certifications students can work toward.

• Jefferson High School. Located in Edgewater, Colorado, this school continues to operate a Sign and Wrap Laboratory and program, where students can learn not just about printing wide-format graphics, but how to install wraps of all types, which can be a valuable skill to bring into any print shop.

• Los Angeles Trade Technical College. Based in Los Angeles, the Sign Graphics program puts an emphasis on the skilled craftsmanship of sign making, including hand-painting and hand-made lettering in addition to using vinyl, 3D, and other technologies.

• Midlands Technical College. Located in Columbia, South Carolina, the Commercial Graphic Communications degree prepares students for careers in a range of print industry environments.

• Minneapolis College of Art and Design. With both undergraduate and master's programs focusing on graphic design and print technologies, there are a number of paths that those in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area can pursue.

• Northcentral Technical College. Under the heading of Arts, A/V Technology, and Communications, this Wausau, Wisconsin organization offers both a Graphic Communication Technologies associate degree, as well as a range of print industry-specific technical certificates for those looking to expand their knowledge base.

• Northeast WI Technical College. The Print Technology Technical Diploma offered in this Green Bay, Wisconsin organization covers all the basics of print production, from prepress through installation.

• Rochester Institute of Technology. Perhaps the best-known program in the industry, based in Rochester, New York, the Print and Graphic Media Technology bachelor’s degree is widely accepted as a premier foundation for those looking to build a career in the print business.

• Rogue Community College. Based in Grants Pass, Oregon, with the ability to transfer credits to Southern Oregon University, the Design and Digital Media Career and Technical Education path offers a range of options that include print and graphics.

• Spyder Lab. Based in Brea, California, this program started off as a way to get kids interested in and up to speed on using 3D print technologies, but it has branched out from there, and today has a range of wide-format, engraving, and DTG equipment students can learn to operate.

• Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the Graphic Communications & Print Technology degree seeks to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of a wide range of print technologies.

• Toronto Metropolitan University. The Graphic Communications Management degree from the university, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, doesn’t just focus on the design or technologies, but also seeks to give students a good grounding in the business side of print and packaging as well.

• University of Northern Iowa. Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Graphic Technology is offered to students as both a major and a minor program.

• Upper Valley Career Center. Located in Piqua, Ohio, this program seeks to offer high school students additional resources beyond what their own school can provide. There are more than 20 different technical fields supported, with Design and Digital Print Technologies being one of them. They offer training, courses for college credits, and even a program that matches students up with potential apprenticeship opportunities.

• Warren County Career Center. Aimed at high school students, this program seeks to give them a broad education and experience with a range of design and print technologies in Lebanon, Ohio.

Students and Scholarships

Cultivating a love of print in younger generations is an ongoing — and pressing — concern. Here is a look at some of the schools, organizations, and scholarship opportunities you can get involved with to help nurture next-gen printers.

• ACG Education. It’s one thing to encourage schools to offer more technical training; it’s another to make sure they have the resources needed to actually follow through. This organization seeks to partner with schools to ensure they have the solutions they need to help students be successful.

• Graphic Communication Scholarship Foundation. This organization focuses on providing opportunities and scholarships to those looking to create or advance their careers in the print industry. It’s worth checking out, and even getting involved.

• Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation. This nonprofit offers assistance and scholarships to those interested in building a career in the print and graphics industry. This includes programs that target younger people still in school to get them excited about print, as well as those already working, who want to continue their education in the field.

• SkillsUSA. One of the biggest workforce development organizations in the country aimed at high school students, they seek to educate and empower students for careers in technical fields, and host annual competitions to recognize creativity and hard work.

Wrapping

When it comes to wide-format printing, perhaps one of the more visible applications are wraps, with vehicle wraps in particular being a major source of revenue for many operations. But wrapping a vehicle, and wrapping a vehicle well, are not the same thing. These organizations and programs will help you ensure your installation team takes the eye-catching images you produce and turns them into outstanding moving works of art.

• Chicago Wrap University. Based in Chicago, this program offers training in the whole process from design to installation, and goes into more than just vehicle wraps, with options to learn more about applications such as wall wraps, exotic wraps, partial wraps, and decals, to name a few. They also offer certifications for those who complete the courses.

• Elite Wrappers. With locations across the country offering live classes for both seasoned pros and beginners alike, there is a program for every skill level to ensure your installation team stays up to date on the latest tools, technologies, and techniques in the world of wrapping.

• Inside the Wrap Shop. Sponsored by Roland DGA, this workshop teaches installers the basics, including hands-on experience from design to the finished product, and how to get the best results.

• The Wrap Institute. Perhaps one of the best-known wrap training programs, they offer everything from live, in-person training to online how-to videos, and even a shop with the tools and resources their professionals use, so those interested in improving their wrap skills don’t need to go hunting for them. They also have a robust forum for the community to connect, ask questions, and get help from their peers.

• Wrapstar University. The Master the Wrap Initiative, being held as in-person training sessions in cities across the country, focuses on three-day intensive training specifically geared toward intermediate commercial fleet wrapping. That said, they also offer one-on-one training, as well as mentorship and internship opportunities to those interested.

Other Resources

Sometimes, you just have questions you want answered quickly, or you want access to a database you can do a quick search as needed. These resources run the gamut for what they provide, and can be a solid source of information to wide-format printers everywhere.

• Print & Design Academy. With a focus on designing for both print applications as well as packaging, this is a great resource for anyone looking to expand or improve the design services on offer.

• The Print University. A subscription-based service, there are a wide range of online courses for both those brand new to the print industry, and those seeking to deepen their knowledge base.

• School of Sign Arts. An online platform with training videos geared specifically toward the sign market, this resource aims to be a place to help take some of the burden off training new hires.