For the second year in a row, Electro Sound Systems was proud to support the Small Press Expo (SPX), the premier festival celebrating independent comics and graphic arts. Held at the Bethesda North Marriott and Convention Center, SPX brings together the best and brightest creators in indie comics, offering both established and emerging artists a platform to connect, share their work, and grow their audiences.

Beyond showcasing incredible artwork and storytelling, the festival provides invaluable networking opportunities between creators, publishers, and industry leaders. As a result SPX is one of the most anticipated weekends in the comics community.

Capturing the Panels & the Ignatz Awards

Electro returned this year to provide comprehensive video coverage of the festival’s speaker panels and the Ignatz Awards, SPX’s signature Saturday night event. Named after the mischievous character from George Herriman’s classic Krazy Kat comic strip, the Ignatz Awards have honored outstanding achievements in comics and cartooning since 1997. The awards celebrate creativity that pushes the boundaries of what comics can achieve — both as an art form and as a personal means of expression.

To capture the event, Electro deployed a pair of PTZ cameras across two panel rooms, along with a Blackmagic ATEM Television Studio HD8 video switcher. This compact but powerful production system combines professional switching, recording, streaming, and audio mixing making it an all-in-one broadcast solution that ensures seamless live coverage from multiple angles.

Custom Graphics for a Legendary Night

For the Ignatz Awards, Electro’s in-house design team created a custom motion graphics package for both the in room live event as well as the livestream broadcast. The graphics suite included a 3D rendering of the award show logo, nominee and winner animations, and a playful “thrown brick” transition — a nod to the Ignatz trophy itself. Additional lower thirds and on-screen overlays were designed to match the festival’s artistic tone and enhance the overall viewing experience.

Continuing a Creative Partnership

It’s been an honor for the Electro team to partner with SPX once again and help spotlight the incredible talent within the independent comics community. Supporting creative storytelling — whether on stage, on screen, or on the printed page — is at the heart of what we do.

🎥 Want to watch the 2025 Ignatz Awards? Click here to watch the livestream replay!