This is an instructional video from Matt RedBear showing you how to design for the Harris + Bruno collaborative contest: OUT OF THIS WORLD

AI is showing up everywhere, but what does it actually do for embellishment designers today? In this Digital Embellishment Designer Meetup, Kevin Abergel sits down with Matthew Redbear to break down real, practical ways AI can speed up embellishment design without sacrificing taste, intent, or production reality. We cover the real bottlenecks designers face (masking, tracing, tool overload, predictability), then walk through what’s working right now, including Photoshop vs Photoshop Beta, classic masking techniques that still win, and AI-assisted segmentation using SAM 2 for faster object isolation and cleaner edges. We also dig into a critical mindset shift: embellishment masks are not just a technical chore. They are a design layer. Most people do “extractions.” The best work comes from “interpretations.” Plus, we explore what’s coming next: press-aware AI workflows that understand constraints like minimum line weights, coverage thresholds, substrate sensitivity, and device differences. The future isn’t AI replacing designers. It’s designers negotiating with AI, faster. Sponsored by: @MGIvideos @paperspecs and FSEA (Foil & Specialty Effects Association) Key topics in this episode: • AI as idea generator vs decision maker • Where AI helps most in embellishment design • Photoshop Beta AI selection tools • SAM 2 segmentation workflow for masks • “Extraction” vs “Interpretation” overlays • Gold/silver as light source, white toner as control layer • Paper-first thinking and AI’s role in substrate selection • The near future of press-aware AI for embellishment If you’re designing for foil, varnish, textures, specialty toners, or 5th/6th color effects, this one is packed with practical takeaways you can use immediately. Chapters (optional): 00:00 Intro + why AI in embellishment design 05:00 Common bottlenecks: masking, tracing, predictability 18:00 Extraction vs interpretation overlays 24:00 5th/6th station mindset (gold, silver, white, pink, clear) 29:00 Photoshop masking fundamentals that still matter 34:00 SAM 2: AI segmentation workflow for faster masks 40:00 Using AI to “read” long OEM design guides fast 46:00 The future: press-aware AI and “negotiation” 54:00 Paper-first + AI substrate recommendations discussion 60:00 Wrap-up + next meetup Subscribe for more episodes on digital embellishments, design workflows, pricing, sales enablement, and making print more valuable.

In this episode of The Digital Embellishment Show, Kevin Abergel sits down with Sam Glick, CEO of Impress Systems, to explore their $8,000 desktop digital embellishment unit. Sam shares his journey into print and embellishments, how he acquired Impress Systems, and why the Foil Xpress has quietly been a hidden gem in the industry. In this conversation, you will learn: How Foil Express applies real hot-stamping foil with no dies, clichés, or setup Why this desktop-sized machine is opening the door to entry-level digital embellishment What materials you can foil, including paper, leather, plastic, ribbons, books, and even cylindrical items like pens Typical use cases in promo, short-run commercial print, yearbooks, weddings, and specialty products Pricing, consumables, and real-world ROI expectations Why American-made equipment still matters and how these machines are built to last decades If you are a printer, promo shop, finisher, or brand looking to add foil without the cost and complexity of traditional stamping or large-format embellishment presses, this episode is for you. 📍 Learn more or contact Impress Systems directly: 📧 sam@ImpressSystems.com 👍 Like the video, subscribe to the channel, and leave a comment if you want to see more real-world digital embellishment technologies broken down simply.

Foil is powerful. But when everything shines, nothing shines. In this deep-dive designer meetup, industry expert Matt Redbear joins Kevin Abergel and the Taktiful community to explore how AI, digital tools, and production knowledge are transforming the way designers approach embellishments. This is not a beginner session. This is about doing better foil. Inside this session, you’ll learn: • Why digital raised foil must be designed intentionally, not added at the end • How machines interpret your artwork as mechanical instructions • The biggest mistakes designers make with ultra-thin lines and small text • Why restraint, contrast, and hierarchy matter more than coverage • How to use foil as an accent, not a chrome wrap • Matte vs gloss trends in luxury packaging • Foil on foil, varnish on foil, and advanced layering hacks • How AI tools like Reaktor help pre-visualize embellishments before press • What press operators wish designers understood Whether you’re a packaging designer, commercial printer, prepress specialist, or brand creative, this session will elevate how you think about tactile design. Digital embellishment is not an effect. It’s an experience. 👉 Try Reaktor (free trial link) 👉 Join the Taktisphere community 👉 Enter the FSEA Gold Leaf Awards Subscribe for more digital embellishment insights, packaging strategy, and next-generation print innovation. #DigitalEmbellishment #FoilDesign #PrintInnovation #PackagingDesign #Taktiful

Digital embellishment is no longer a niche. It is becoming one of the fastest-growing, most profitable segments in print. In this episode of The Digital Embellishment Show, Kevin Abergel sits down with Sean Roberts, the national director of digital embellishment at Konica Minolta, to break down what is really happening in the market and why so many printers are paying attention right now. Together, they unpack: • Why digital embellishment is growing at 6–8% CAGR when most of print is flat • How embellishment shifts print from commodity to high-value marketing • The resurgence of direct mail and why tactile print is outperforming digital noise • Why labels and packaging are becoming a strategic hedge for commercial printers • Real-world ROI examples like $20+ revenue per sheet from embellished business cards • Why some brands are choosing digital embellishment even for very long runs • What Konica Minolta and MGI are working on next behind the scenes • Key differences between US and European embellishment trends This conversation is practical, honest, and grounded in what Sean is seeing every day in the field with real printers, real brands, and real results. If you are a commercial printer, finisher, label converter, or brand marketer wondering where print is actually headed, this episode is for you.

Fujifilm is expanding the limits of digital print and Andrew Gunn, Director of Product Marketing at Fujifilm, joins Kevin Abergel on the Digital Embellishment Show to break it all down. In this episode, we cover: • Why Fujifilm is showing up everywhere in the industry right now • What the Aspire Program is and how it helps dealers, designers, and sales teams master CMYK+ • How Fujifilm is “taking the boogeyman out” of 5th and 6th color printing • Real-world examples of printers using pink and metallic toners to expand gamut • The launch of a brand new fluorescent GREEN toner and why it changes everything Andrew explains how adding green as an additive color enhances RGB workflows, extends color gamut, increases depth in imagery, and helps printers get much closer to what designers see on screen. If you struggle with Canva RGB files, dull conversions to CMYK, or clients who want brighter, bolder print, this conversation is for you. Digital embellishment is no longer niche. It is becoming the new normal. If you are a printer, designer, OEM partner, or sales rep looking to grow revenue with specialty colors and expanded gamut, this episode will open your eyes to what is possible. Subscribe for more episodes of the Digital Embellishment Show.