Big Discounts on 60-inch HP Z6200s at LexJet While Supplies Last

HP Designjet Sale at LexJet

LexJet is offering big discounts on a limited number of 60″ encrypted HP Designjet Z6200 printers while supplies last. Call a LexJet printer specialist at 800-453-9538 for pricing.

By the way, “encrypted” simply means that there’s an additional measure of data security built into the printer that has no effect on the daily operation of the printer.

The HP Designjet Z6200 wide format inkjet printer offers super-fast, high-quality print production with print speeds of up to 1,500 square feet per hour utilizing the HP Optical Media Advance Sensor (OMAS). Plus, automated servicing routines prevent nozzle clogging and media waste.

The Z6200, with its fast-drying HP Vivid Photo Inks, are perfect for quick-turnaround applications like point-of-purchase displays, trade show graphics, backlit signs, canvas gallery wraps and more. For photographic output, three shades of black HP inks produce outstanding optical density and smooth transitions for unique black-and-white prints, in addition to the wide color gamut provided by HP Vivid Photo Inks.

The Z6200 includes an embedded spectrophotometer so you can generate custom ICC profiles and ensure color accuracy and consistency while providing complete coverage of SWOP, ISO, GRACOL, 3DAP, EUROSCALE, TOYO and FOGRA gamuts.

To find out more about the features and benefits of the HP Z6200, and to pick up one at a deep discount before they run out, call a LexJet printer specialist at 800-453-9538.

Carnival of Inkjet Printed Backlit Signs

Printing backlit signs for a travelling carnival

Keith Bernard, owner of Now That’s a Wrap by Road Signs, is a vinyl application expert. Based in Sarasota, Fla., the company wraps anything and everything with precision and perfection.

When the company was recently asked to create a package of 48 backlit signs for two carnival game stations, Bernard decided to take a unique approach.

Instead of simply applying a translucent backlit inkjet material with a gloss laminate to the front of the approximately 24″ x 40″ Lexan panels that would line the top of the game structure, Bernard printed LexJet Simple Transparent Adhesive Vinyl in reverse, backed it with Simple Translucent Vinyl (6 Mil) and applied both to the Lexan with a laminator.

An alternate way to print backlit signs“Since they travel a lot from place to place and they wanted it protected by the Lexan itself so that if the Lexan gets scratched it doesn’t scratch the print. So we did a second-surface mount and mirrored the image so that you’re looking through the Lexan at the graphic,” explains Bernard. “We could have printed to a translucent material and applied a gloss laminate and no one would know the difference, but with the second surface mount to the Lexan it really looks a lot better and it’s more durable for all the traveling it will do.”

Once the carnival is ready to pull up stakes and move to the next venue, like a state fair, the entire game station folds up for easy transportation. Then, when it’s folded out again the Lexan graphics are already in place in their slots and backlit with LEDs recessed in the top of the game station.

“Those graphics really popped out there and the customer was very happy,” adds Bernard. And, thanks to the process Bernard chose to apply the graphics they can be handled rather roughly with no damage to the graphics.

Fishing for Business with Backlits

Phasmid Rentals, located near Bozeman, Mont., rents vehicles with a twist. Say you want to fly fish… Phasmid will rent you the vehicle to get there, fully outfitted for fly fishing. When Phasmid needs someone to outfit them with everything they need for signs and graphics, they turn to INK Outside the Box.

Printing backlit signs with a laminateINK Outside the Box recently upped the ante of its product line, adding a lift truck to its equipment inventory. This is a big deal for a company that’s been focused primarily on large format inkjet output, but the move made sense because customers were demanding help with their backlit signs.

INK Outside the Box was happy to oblige and has successfully grown business in this direction. Now, instead of just selling the printed sign face, they can service the installation as well.

“Since we’re there we might as well service the sign; it’s easier to fix the lighting when you’re replacing the sign face. Fortunately, I already had expertise; I was a journeyman electrician for awhile,” explains Justin Lind of INK Outside the Box.

Lind also decided to experiment with the production of the sign face, printing directly to LexJet Performance Gloss Vinyl Laminate (3 Mil) with the company’s Mimaki JV3 solvent printer, applying the printed laminate to a milky white polycarbonate sign face, and then protecting the image with either a matte or semi-gloss ClearStar liquid laminate.

“It’s almost like doing stained glass; the light comes through it really nice,” says Lind. “It lets a lot of light through, a lot more than if you were to print to a semi-translucent white vinyl, so we’re getting bright colors out of it.”

The sign face for Phasmid Rentals pictured here was printed using this method and Lind says it lights up spectacularly at night, especially with the black-printed background and the light-colored lettering. We’ll post a nighttime shot soon, so check back here for an update. 

Driving Customers to the Door with Backlit Images

Mark Lewis’s photography studio, Studio 121 in Loveland, Colo., was hidden from view. Though located at a busy intersection, the 50-year-old converted gas station was difficult to see, even by people stuck at the intersection’s stop light.

Lewis was lucky if someone spotted his neon sign, nestled in and amongst the other buildings, but all of that changed with some luck of his own. A friend of his purchased a number of light boxes at an auction at a reduced price. But, it turns out that the project for which he planned to use them fell through.

As luck would have it, he was willing to offload the light boxes, so Lewis was able to procure them at a discounted rate. Before purchasing six of the light boxes to fill his front windows and bring much-needed attention to his storefront, Lewis called his LexJet account specialist, Michael Clementi, and ordered a roll of LexJet TOUGHcoat Water-Resistant Polyproylene to test the concept.

“I ordered a roll to experiment, and it printed remarkably well. It’s consistent so that the light shines through it very evenly. It’s been very durable and holds its color. I’ve been very pleased with it, and my customers comment on the clarity of it. The detail is still remarkably sharp, even with images that are six feet tall,” says Lewis. “When I got the light box opportunity, sure enough Michael had the right material at the right price. Every time I call Michael remembers who I am, and he’s always keeping me up to date on the latest in the market. He’s been more than just a salesperson; he’s been a resource.”

So Lewis set about constructing a front-window display utilizing the six light boxes – four boxes stacked two by two in the larger window and two stacked on top of each other in the smaller one. The image shown here is one large image divided into four sections and placed together for a cohesive whole, with an advertising copy graphic in the other window.

Lewis says you have to be careful in a case like this, since the breaks that look like frames between the light boxes may end up across a face or otherwise detract from the overall image. “That deviation doesn’t really affect the composition of this image, but sometimes it does, and in those cases I use the same image at different angles in four different panels to create a kaleidoscope effect,” says Lewis.

“I can rotate it out every couple of weeks if I want to and keep it fresh. Since I have the Epson 9880 and the LexJet film, I can change it on a whim. At night it lights up brilliantly and garners quite a bit of attention,” adds Lewis. “I put up the display for minimal cash, and people started coming in who didn’t realize I had a photography studio. It made a huge difference. It was the best advertising money I ever spent. The response was immediate and people were commenting on how cool the sign looks. It looks like a much more expensive display than it truly is.”