2025 Print Excellence Competition
Press Refresh!
2026 PEC Call for Entries Will Open in January
View 2025 Winners
Important Dates
- Early Bird Deadline - March 20, 2026
- Call for Entries Close - May 1, 2026
- Samples due to PIAG Office - May 1, 2026
- Judging - Expected May 2026
- Winners' Notification - Expected June 2026
- imPRESS Celebration of Print - Expected August 2026
Interested in participating, but not sure where to start? Check out our PEC 101 Guide.
Questions? Please contact Jennie Thomas (jennie "at" piag.org or 770-433-3050)
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The 2026 Print Excellence Competition
The Print Excellence Competition (PEC) awards the best combinations of technology and craftsmanship within Georgia’s printing and graphic communications community. The PEC is open to all print manufacturing, finishing, and design firms in Georgia.
Winning a PEC award can be a powerful promotional tool, demonstrating your capabilities to current and potential customers while recognizing your employees' skill and talent. Winners will benefit from a mix of marketing opportunities, including recognition at the imPRESS awards gala, inclusion in the PEC Awards Annual, announcement of winners across various media channels, and one complimentary set of printed award certificates for display at your facility.
PIAG is proud to participate in the annual Americas Print Awards, a national competition hosted by the Americas Printing Association Network (APAN), a group of state and regional print associations. PIAG will submit top winning entries to this national competition, at no additional cost to the participant. Additional information on Americas Print Awards can be found at www.americasprintawards.com.
Interested in participating, but not sure where to start? Check out our PEC 101 Guide.
The entry form will open January 2026.
Any print manufacturing, finishing, or design facility located within Georgia may participate in the Print Excellence Competition. A minimum of 75% of each entry must have been produced within Georgia by the participating company.
Finishing companies are eligible to enter pieces in category R.
Design companies are eligible to enter pieces in category S.
All other categories are printing categories.
Date of Production: Entries must have been produced between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025.
New This Year - Entries can be submitted via a downloadable PDF form or an online form.
One sample of each entry will need to be delivered to PIAG. Additional samples can be included if desired.
Companies may enter as many pieces as they wish in any eligible category. Download Call for Entries for full category details.
PIAG reserves the right to re-categorize any entry if it is determined that the entry may be judged more fairly by being placed in a different category.
Entries may be returned to you after imPRESS, if requested. Participants will be responsible for return shipping and handling costs.
Entries must be submitted by May 1, 2026.
The entry form will open January 2026.
Download the full 2026 Call for Entries for all categories, corresponding category descriptions, and supplemental materials required.
Award Levels:
- Best of Show: The most outstanding entry in the competition, chosen from the Best of Division winners. Recipient receives a trophy at imPRESS and recognition in the Awards Annual with a photo of the winning piece
- Best of Division: Awarded to one entry in each division that exceeds all others in overall quality, regardless of category. Recipients receive a trophy at imPRESS and recognition in the Awards Annual with a photo of the winning piece.
- Top Gold: Special awards granted at the judges’ discretion to recognize excellence in specific areas, regardless of division. Examples include Best Publication, Best Use of Color, Most Creative Use of Substrate, Best Finishing, or Best Design. Recipients receive a trophy at imPRESS and recognition in the Awards Annual with a photo of the winning piece.
- Best of Category: Presented to the top entry in a given category within each division. Only one Best of Category may be awarded per category, per division. Recipients receive a personalized certificate.
- Award of Excellence: Presented to entries that meet competition guidelines for quality within their division’s category. Multiple Awards of Excellence may be given per category, per division. Recipients receive a personalized certificate.
Judging Criteria: Registration, Visual Impact, Illustration & Halftone Detail, Finishing, Richness & Tonal Qualities of Color, Degree of Difficulty, Paper & Ink Selection, and Ink Consistency
Entries are judged by impartial, out-of-state printing specialists.
Judging: Expected May 2026
Winners’ Notification: Expected June 2026*
imPRESS: Expected August 2026
*Best of Show, Best of Division, and Top Gold award recipients will not be revealed until imPRESS.
Entries are divided by company size:
- Division 1 (1 – 9 employees)*
- Division 2 (10 – 25 employees)*
- Division 3 (26 – 50 employees)*
- Division 4 (51 or more employees)*
- Division 5 (Schools)
*Divisions 1-4 are defined as the total number of employees located in Georgia.
PIAG Member Rates
- New This Year - First Two Entries = Free
- Early Bird Entries (by March 20) = $35/entry
- Regular Entries (by May 1) = $45/entry
- Multiple Categories = $25/additional category
Non Member Rates
- Entries = $95/entry
- Multiple Categories = $45/additional category
A single piece may be entered into multiple categories. The first entry for the piece will be at full price with a discounted price for each additional category entered (see Fee Schedule above). Please include each category as its own entry. A separate sample should be provided for each category entered.
Payment for entries can be made online or via check. Payment must be received prior to judging.
Entry Form and Samples must be received by May 1.
Along with the entry form, you will need to mail or deliver one sample of each entry to PIAG. Additional samples for each entry are not required but can be included if desired.
Please place your entry form or a temporary label on each entry. Please do not use a permanent label, tape, paperclips, or staples as this can damage the entry.
Please deliver all entered pieces to:
PIAG
Attn: PEC
5020 Highlands Parkway
Smyrna, GA 30082
Entry Form and Samples must be received by May 1.