The Tasmanian Printing Industries Craftsmanship Awards (PICAs) this year took on a pirate theme on Saturday night at Hobart's Wrest point Casino. During the night awards were handed out in over 80 categories.

The majority of the nearly three hundred local industry donning eye-patches, cutlasses and shoulder mounted parrots. Getting into the theme a pirate king and queen were chosen from the crowd adding the fun of the night.

Peter Lane, Printing Industries, National President took the opportunity to remind the local industry that print is pivotal to the new world of communications and faced not only challenges but many opportunities.

Simon Bevan, part of the Tasmanian PICA organising committee was more than pleased with attendance for the presentation dinner. The numbers were well up on previous functions, as well as the solid numbers of entries presented.

"This year amongst the many entries we have seen quite a few companies who have never entered with many of them taking away gold and silver awards," said Mr Bevan.

Mirroring the major award categories of the National Print Awards (NPA), the Tasmanian PICAs awarded three Platinum PICAs supported by the NPA's three major sponsors, Agfa Graphics, Heidelberg and Spicers Paper.

The Agfa Platinum PICA is given for the most innovative use of imaging in print and went to local design firm, Digital Ink, for the Clarence Cricket Club book, Fifty Not Out.

The Heidelberg Platinum PICA presented for the outstanding overall entry in print, went to The Printing Authority of Tasmania for the Phillip Wolfhagen production.

The Platinum PICA for outstanding design was awarded by Spicers Paper to Tracey Allen for the Design Island Catalogue. PICAs are not new to Mr Allen who picked up several gold and silver wards on the night.

Tasmanian 2007 Pica Results (pdf - 68 kb) Listing winners from over 80 categories plus the sponsors awards.