I just returned from an incredible week in Las Vegas at the PPAI Conference and Expo. This was our first time having a presence at this event, and I’m still processing everything I learned about this dynamic industry. It was a whirlwind experience! Here is the video we brought with us.
At the conference, we had the opportunity to meet hundreds of industry professionals and gain real insight into how the promotional products world operates. Initially, we didn’t set out to develop our real-time virtual proofing solution as part of a grand product vision—it simply started as a solution for a few clients who needed it. Heading into the conference, we weren’t sure if similar solutions already existed in the market.
The world of the Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) has its own terminology, its own culture, and a massive ecosystem of four main organization types:
When I arrived at the conference, I wasn’t familiar with the industry’s lingo. Now, I know enough to be dangerous. So let me try to explain how it works, and feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.
In many cases, buyers request a physical proof—a one-off sample of a decorated product like a branded speaker.
But before reaching that stage, they typically iterate using digital previews, such as:
Most decorators offer virtual proofing, often in response to a “request for virtual proof.” This can be as simple as some three-angle product shots, or something more advanced, offering the customer a visual representation before anything is physically decorated. More often than not, these are created offline, taking one or more days.
Creating virtual proofs for promotional products comes with several challenges:
Manual virtual proofing has its advantages—it ensures accuracy and prevents costly mistakes. We deeply respect the skill and craftsmanship involved in creating these proofs manually, and we don’t expect this process to go away entirely. But we have a solution covering the majority of use cases that obviates the need for a manual approach.
Technology has advanced significantly over the past decade, making real-time virtual proofing a game-changer. This approach not only saves hours of time but also enhances the design process by allowing users to explore multiple options instantly. Here’s how recent innovations address previous challenges:
We’re excited to support more organizations in the promotional products industry by helping them harness real-time virtual proofing to streamline workflows and unlock greater creativity. With Silicon Designer users can configure and customize products directly through an intuitive online interface. Our solution provides a real-time, interactive, and photo-realistic preview that instantly reflects design choices—eliminating the need for manual requests or processing. What you see is what you get, instantly.
Interested in seeing it in action? Let us know and we’d be happy to show you how easily it can fit into your workflow.