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Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Birdie Time: Quick Change Backlits for Promotions at Mid South Distributing

Printing backlit signs for advertising and promotions

It’s a simple yet effective branding tool: backlit boxes. Backlighting brings out the best in graphics, making the message more vibrant and eye-catching than an unlit sign. There is a danger, however: light acts as a magnifier, bringing hidden flaws in the print to the fore.

Fortunately for Mid-South Distributing’s Chad Mallich, he has the right tools and support to maximize the power of backlits for branding, as well as a designer’s eye for what brings out the best in a promotional sign.

With two Canon iPF8300S wide format inkjet printers, a cold laminator, a hot laminator, an OKI small format laser printer, a vinyl cutter and other sundry shop equipment, Mallich is ready for any challenge that comes across his desk. And, with support and materials from his LexJet customer specialist, Kelly Price, quality and quantity are able to effectively intersect.

Mallich’s recent backlit project was designed to draw thirsty golfers at Saddle Creek Golf Club in nearby Lewisburg, Tenn., to one of Mid-South Distributing’s prime brands, Miller Lite.

“We were looking for an alternative material for a short-term promotion that was less expensive than a typical backlit film that still imaged well and was easy to work with,” explains Mallich. “Kelly recommended LexJet 8 Mil PolyGloss Banner, so I put it on the light table, turned out the lights and it looked great. I’ll send an email to Kelly describing a product and she knows exactly what it is, so she’s been very helpful. As we get requests from other accounts like bars that have light boxes we’ll swap them out with this material.”

The appealing golf-themed sign is 11 3/4″ x 35″. With golf season in full swing, Miller Lite is the perfect antidote to promote this summer. Malich says that as the seasons change, he uses backlits to promote the seasonal draughts at various locations. “You can do more graphically with a backlit with contrast and bright colors; they just look better backlit,” adds Malich.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in News & Trends, Technology & Products
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Brand Management Group Announces Trademark Licensing Agreement with Kodak

Brand Management Group (BMG) will sell KODAK Wide-Format Inkjet Media products to imaging professionals in the wide-format print-for-pay, professional photography, fine art reproduction, sign, in-house corporate graphics, point of purchase, advertising, exhibit and reprographics markets through a worldwide network of distributors and re-sellers, which includes LexJet. The trademark licensing agreement was signed in 4th quarter 2011 and commenced effective January 2, 2012.

Kodak inkjet mediaKodak’s reorganization does not affect sales of the current product line or the ongoing development of new products in the KODAK Wide-Format Inkjet Media product lines.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to further build a product line with a reputation for quality and consistency,” says BMG’s vice president of sales and marketing Justin Lehman.

BMG, in collaboration with Kodak, will utilize its 15-plus years managing and selling wide-format inkjet brands and its state-of-the-art testing facility to roll out a variety of new inkjet media products throughout the year.

“Kodak is extremely excited about BMG’s commitment to providing industry leading sales and support along with their passionate desire to expand the KODAK Wide-Format Inkjet Media portfolio. We will be working closely with Justin and his team to evaluate new products and technologies,” said Lisa Singer, Worldwide Product Manager, Packaging Products Group. Eastman Kodak Company.

The trademark licensing agreement between Kodak and BMG does not impact or involve KODAK MATCHPRINT Inkjet Proofing Media, KODAK PROFESSIONAL UV-Curable Display Media or KODAK Consumer Inkjet Media.

For more information about Brand Management Group, KODAK Wide-Format Inkjet Media, KODAK PROFESSIONAL Inkjet Media, and for dealer and re-seller inquiries, contact Tom Hauenstein at 888-893-4668 or tom@brandmanagementgroup.com. For more information about Kodak products available through LexJet, contact a customer specialist at 800-453-9538.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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How to Win Space at the Point of Sale and Keep It

Printing cooler wraps for the point of sale

A crucial ingredient in the beer wars is securing as much advertising and promotional space as possible at the point of sale, whether it’s a c-store, liquor store, bar or restaurant. And the key ingredient in making that happen is a combination of design and printing horsepower, a combination The Nackard Companies P.O.P. shop manager, Steve Lalio, has in spades.

Cooler wraps with adhesive backed materialThe Nackard Companies, based in Flagstaff, Ariz., serves the entire state, excepting the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas. The company’s wide reach demands a special emphasis on dominating as many spaces as possible for their brands in the market. A recent project completed in early December at Premier Beverage, a liquor store in Sierra Vista, Ariz., illustrates the power of point of sale printing to do just that.

In this case, the daughter of Premier Beverage’s owner happened upon a cooler wrap Lalio had created for a c-store in Flagstaff. Word got back to Premier Beverage and the request was made for the Lalio/Nackard treatment for the liquor store’s cooler.

Down came the competitive cooler wrap and in its place went Lalio’s handiwork. The concept was simple yet striking: A blue icy background interspersed with craft beer logos and bottles distributed by The Nackard Companies.

“Craft beers are taking off and we’re doing our best to come up with unique ideas to promote those products,” says Lalio. “In order to really understand it, you have to see it in person. That blue background really pops out and makes the store brighter and more alive. The question I ask before I design is, ‘What attracts you to something? It’s eye candy, and to me it’s the background. And, you don’t want to clutter it too much; you want to advertise what you really want to sell to the public.”

Advertising at the point of saleLalio printed the giant project – which is one main cooler graphic 27 feet long and 56 inches high, a corner cooler that’s 20 feet long and 56 inches high, plus the approximately 20” x 80” cooler corners – on LexJet TOUGHcoat Water-Resistant Self Adhesive Polypropylene with a Canon iPF8000S inkjet printer.

The prints were then laminated with 3 Mil Luster UV Standard Low Melt laminate and applied to Coroplast. In the end there were more than 20 panels created for the area salesperson to attach on-site.

“A gloss laminate looks real sharp with outdoor banners, but indoors we typically use luster because of the lighting. If it will be up there for a long time, like this one will be, we laminate in case they need to wipe it down for whatever reason,” says Lalio.

The real challenge was getting everything lined up just right so that the entire piece appears as seamless as possible. Lalio says it’s just paying attention to the minute details, taking extra time to scale everything and accounting for intrusions like air vents that ensure a big project like this comes together from print to installation smoothly.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Technology & Products
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LexJet Launches the Industry’s First Fully Transportable Graphic

Conformable graphic material for promotional and decorative applicationsLexJet has introduced the industry’s first fully transportable graphic, Infinium, a print medium with laminate and adhesive built into one conformable material. LexJet Infinium – which is compatible with low-solvent, solvent, latex and UV-curable printers – can be applied to virtually any surface, including irregular surfaces and curves, using heat, water or a primer (LexJet Infinium Bond).

“Fully transportable means that, with Infinium, you can print the same material with the same image on the same printer for use in multiple applications,” says Jeff Leto, LexJet product manager. “This conformable material gives you the ability to take the graphic anywhere you want onto virtually any substrate and image it.”

Printing LexJet Infinium with a latex printer
LexJet Infinium, which is printed in reverse and applied to the substrate with water, heat or a primer, is compatible with low-solvent, solvent, latex and UV-curable printers.

Infinium is not a paper, it’s not a film and it’s not a transfer material. It’s a clear material you reverse print and apply face down on the substrate with either water, heat or a primer, depending on the application and whether it’s a temporary or permanent graphic. Click here to see how it works at LexJet’s YouTube channel.

“There is a lot of potential with this product, because in the past you had to print to a substrate, laminate it and apply it, and you sometimes had to use a number of different substrates for one project. With Infinium, it’s one step, one material and one process,” says David Kurniawan, owner of Maryland Signs and Graphics in Towson, Md., who runs Infinium on his HP L25500 latex printer. “We can use it on all types of substrates and surfaces, including rough surfaces, which helps us use fewer materials for a lot of different applications.”

Applying graphics to rocks, tiles and ceramics
Yes, you can even customize rocks with Infinium, which essentially becomes part of and takes on the characteristics of the material to which you apply it. Check out how it works at the link provided in this article.

Manufactured with water-based chemistries, LexJet Infinium is a sustainable material that has no VOCs and is PVC-free. And, since it includes print, adhesive and laminate qualities in one material it reduces waste and production steps. LexJet Infinium is compatible with most commonly used post-print processes, including laser cutting, routing and thermoforming without distorting the graphic.

LexJet Infinium is available in Gloss and Matte versions in 25”, 36”, 42”, 50” and 54” widths and 75-foot  roll lengths. Like all LexJet products it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee and super-fast, $9.99 flat rate shipping from LexJet’s nationwide network of distribution centers. For more information, contact a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Technology & Products
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Windows Made Simple with Simple Perforated Window Vinyl (70/30)

LexJet has just introduced Simple Perforated Window Vinyl (70/30) to complement its Simple Perforated Window Vinyl (60/40) offering. The 70/30 offers more print area for that extra punch at retail; 60/40 is best for applications – like vehicle windows – that require more visibility looking out the window.

Using window graphics for advertisingSimple Perforated Window Vinyl (70/30) is a 6-mil perforated vinyl designed to stop people in their tracks outside a store and lure them inside. Once inside, shoppers can see outside, and see quite well since the vinyl also cuts down on sunshine glare.

The two-layer perforated liner allows trouble-free printing for shops with UV-curable printers. “We printed some large panels and with UV-curable printing we have to make sure that your ink stays on the liner and doesn’t come off and fill the hole. It’s an issue we’ve had with other similar products, but we haven’t seen it at all on this product,” says Ricky Shannon, operations manager for Keith Fabry Inc., Richmond, Va.

Designed to be exterior-mounted to windows, Simple Perforated Window Vinyl (70/30), is easy to handle and easy to print, install and remove. “It’s fairly low-tack when you apply it, but it becomes fairly aggressive so that it stays on the window. Then, when we peeled it back to remove it there was no residue so it works very well from installation to removal,” adds Shannon.

Use LexJet’s Optically Clear Cast Laminate or LexJet Gloss Polyester Laminate (2 Mil) for additional protection, if needed. A nice bonus is that the laminates not only protect, but will not interfere with the clarity of the image or the inside-outside view.

Simple Perforated Window Vinyl (70/30) is compatible with solvent, low-solvent, UV-curable and latex printers, and is available in 60″ x 100′ and 60″ x 20′ rolls. To find out more, and to find the right material for the application, contact a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Winning the Advertising Turf Battle with Tabletop Graphics

Printing and wrapping tabletops for advertisingSometimes the solution is right in front of you, even on the table where you rest your beer. At least that was the solution that Billy Owen, graphic designer for Grellner Sales & Service in Sedalia, Mo., came up with to cut through the advertising clutter and boost the visibility of the company’s beverage brands at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.

“It’s difficult to get our name out there because every inch of the fair is covered with ads. You have to be creative about it, so we thought we’d decorate these tabletops at the fair for the various brands we carry, like Boulevard, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Coors Light and Smirnoff,” explains Owen. “We put some more eye-grabbing elements together in Photoshop, printed the images on LexJet Extreme AquaVinyl w/ PSA, applied them, and they turned out pretty awesome.”

Wrapping tabletops to promote a brandOwen chose Extreme AquaVinyl based on the recommendation of his LexJet customer specialist, Kelly Price. He was looking for something durable enough to withstand the abuse of fairgoers without lamination and removable. The material fit the bill perfectly. “Kelly is great,” says Owen. “When I’m looking for the right material for a project, especially unusual applications, Kelly is always there to help.”

The tabletops were printed on the beverage distributor’s new Canon iPF8000S, which has become the workhorse printer for Grellner and its four additional branches. “I print most of the big projects for our branches, especially in the summer with events and concerts, so my workload has increased quite a bit and the printer has kept up with the demand. It’s a great printer; I love it,” says Owen.

Printing and applying graphics to tabletopsOwen says that the idea didn’t come completely out of the blue since one of Grellner’s other branches had printed a successful tabletop project. For the fair, they wrapped about 18 different tabletops and the application to each one was seamless and flawless.

“We have a lot of experience with similar applications, so we were able to apply them quickly and smoothly. We just peeled the liner back, smoothed the vinyl down with a squeegee and wrapped it around the edges,” explains Owen. “Everybody loved the tables, and it’s another way we can try to boost our sales over last year. I just went to check them out last night and they’re holding up very well.”