As we enter October 2025 and take a pause before the pre-festive rush, it’s an ideal moment to look back at some of the digital printing predictions made on the blogosphere at the start of this year, and to assess which advancements have genuinely made an impact on the digital printing services used by UK businesses. Early forecasts were ambitious: eco-friendly materials, mass personalisation scale, AI-driven design, ultrahigh resolution output, and the rise of hybrid production were all tipped to reshape the landscape. But what has the real impact on digital print graphics been? Let’s see:
1. Eco-Friendly And Sustainable Materials: Growth But Gradual
Some predictions made at the start of 2025 imagined sustainable print materials such as biodegradable substrates, water-based inks, and recycled stock moving from the niche to the mainstream - an optimistic but achievable prediction. In practice, the shift toward sustainability has gained pace, but it hasn’t been without its hurdles. Large hospitality and retail brands have led the charge, with some investing in hemp and algae-based substrates, and increased demand has started to make these more accessible. However, many smaller businesses still opt for conventional vinyl or PVC, often citing price and supply issues as obstacles. Water-based and low-VOC inks are more prominent than they were; now widely adopted for many in-store and indoor printing displays thanks to regulatory encouragement and a greater focus on workplace safety. This being said, solvent-based inks have not vanished, and the adoption curve is less steep than forecast.
2. Personalisation And On-Demand Printing: The New Normal
Ultra personalised and on demand digital printing services were predicted to lead the market this year, and here – so far at least – the predictions have been spot on. Variable data printing is rapidly becoming an industry standard for small form printing. From retail point-of-sale materials to event leaflets, badges, and localised menus in restaurants, customers are increasingly investing in bespoke print runs tailored to each use case. Fast turnaround, flexible short runs are also now more widely available, reducing waste and allowing customers to adapt their marketing collateral to immediate needs.
3. AI In Design And Automation: Useful But Not Ubiquitous
One of the biggest improvements in generative AI in 2025 has been its text-to-graphic capabilities, making AI-generated or enhanced graphics commercially usable for the first time. However, AI graphics are far from perfect, and the forecast that they would revolutionise creative workflows has so far fallen short. The reality is more pragmatic: while ‘plug and play’ AI design is still maturing, automated layout generation and intelligent image scaling are helping designers and their customers to accelerate the proofing and revision process for many projects. AI has also made colour management and brand consistency more efficient in some projects, so that AI-enabled design tools are starting to find their way into mid-sized agencies and print businesses, helping colours match across diverse materials and jobs. However, AI has not replaced the designer. Human creative intuition, which is especially needed for large format graphics and event displays, remains an invaluable part of digital print services. Most teams use AI for efficiency and error checking rather than as a creative lead.
4. High Resolution Graphics And Expanded Colour: Raising The Bar For Quality
High-resolution, wide-gamut digital print graphics have achieved new benchmarks in quality in 2025 so far. Ultra-high-res output now looks set to become standard for banners, photo backdrops, luxury packaging, museum exhibits, and other print mediums, and the newest digital printing presses are routinely delivering a level of sharpness and vibrancy that rivals offset, even at large scales. For SMEs, access to this quality is now more accessible than ever – and at an affordable price point – thanks to developments in print technology efficiency and advances in ink and substrate compatibility.
Next Steps
At MTA Digital, we combine traditional design skills with the latest technologies to deliver a bespoke service tailored to your project goals and budget. To find out more, please contact one of our team today by clicking here, or by calling 020 3835 4473.
Image Source: Canva
