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Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Technology & Products
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Create Vivid, Lasting Outdoor Graphics with ChromaLuxe EXT

Last year, LexJet unveiled a full suite of dye-sub products, including printers, transfer papers, heat presses and ChromaLuxe aluminum photo panels. In order to be keep up with the increasing popularity of dye-sub technology, we recently added an exterior product to the mix: ChromaLuxe EXT Extended Life Metal Prints.

The UV-resistant coating on this product significantly reduces fading, is easy to clean and resists graffiti, chemicals, weather and scratching. ChromaLuxe EXT panels are versatile and can be used to create vivid outdoor exterior art displays, photographic directional signage and tabletops. The outdoor durability is guaranteed to last for two years for photographic prints and three years for signage-based graphics.

It also works great for long-term indoor applications where there is excessive exposure to direct sunlight.

All ChromaLuxe panels pair well with LexJet InFuze™ Rigid Substrate Dye-Sublimation Paper for exceptional transfer quality.

For more information on the new ChromaLuxe EXT photo panels and other dye-sub opportunities, call your LexJet sales specialist at 800-453-9538 and download this flyer.

Digital Décor Printing Goes Beyond Wallcoverings
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Tips & Tricks
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Digital Décor Printing Goes Beyond Wallcoverings

A lot has been said over the past few years about the opportunities in digital décor printing … and most of them have been focused on wallcoverings. And while we love a good digitally printed wallcovering as much as the next guy, we wanted to take a moment to focus on other opportunities in decor printing … beyond wallcoverings.

Take a look at some of these inventive, imaginative projects our customers have done using a variety of ink technologies and media types. And the next time someone asks you to print a wall project, consider pitching them on some custom print jobs off the wall.

TABLES: Opportunities are almost limitless for both surface and object printing. Take, for instance, the tabletop creations by Jamie Birch, who used LexJet Print-N-Stick Fabric and LexJet Crystal Low Tack for sports-themed customized tables. Want to keep them looking good? Our friends at Fredrix used Fredrix 575 Tempo Canvas top coated with Marabu coating and mounted to a puzzle board and routed into circles to create these branded coasters.

 

 

 

 

 

WINDOWS: Create customized decorative prints on either the window itself or shades to block the sun. Window shades can be created with a variety of products, such as LexJet Poly Select Medium, EnduraFab™ Frontlit Premier or HP Light Fabric. To add some privacy or a graphic element to the window itself, try LexJet Simple Grip Backlit, which can be seen from either side of the window and is enhanced by artificial or natural light.

 

 

 

 

 

LAMPS: A little punch of color can go a long way to enhance a room. Lamp shades have become a favorite among digital printers, using products like LexJet Sunset Textured Fine Art Paper 310g and finishing it with a UV coating for extra protection. Retailers like Lamps Plus give customers a variety of pattern and color combinations so they can create their own one-of-a-kind look.

 

 

 

 

 

PILLOWS: These are just two examples of how you can add some major customization to your throw pillows with a latex printer, courtesy of Fredrix, using Fredrix Natural Raw Canvas, and HP, featuring the versatile HP Light Fabric.

 

 

 

 

 

PRINTS: So, technically these prints go on the wall, but offer a decorative option if adding wall paper or a mural isn’t an option. We love all types of hanging wall art including acrylic-mounted prints, floating canvases, wrapped canvases, framed photos and ChromaLuxe panels. There’s something for everyone and every ink technology in our product mix!

 

 

New for Dye-Sub: InFuze™ Transfer Papers from LexJet
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in News & Trends, Technology & Products
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New for Dye-Sub: InFuze™ Transfer Papers from LexJet

Transfer paper is a vital element in the dye-sublimation printing process, and any dye-sub printer knows. At LexJet, we’ve developed the InFuze™ line of dye-sub transfer papers with a proprietary microporous ink-receptive coating that handles and performs better than other papers on the market.

The microporous coating is different because when the ink is printed, it sits on top of the paper, rather than soaking into the paper, like other papers that are considered “swellable.” The LexJet InFuze™ line of papers won’t cockle the way others do, and it’s a lay-flat, fast-dry solution that makes transferring easier. The coating also helps to minimize ghosting of the image, even with heavy ink loads.

With the InFuze™ line, we’re offering four transfer papers that provide good imaging and easy release, and cover a wide range of substrate applications to optimize your dye-sub capabilities:

LexJet InFuze™ Multipurpose Dye Sublimation Paper: Ideal for transferring on flexible fabric or rigid substrates, like mugs, promotional items, banners, snowboards and more.

LexJet InFuze™ Textile Dye Sublimation Paper: Suitable for a wide range of flexible polyester fabrics for fast fashion, sportswear, banners, flags and other soft signage.

LexJet InFuze™ Apparel Dye Sublimation Paper: Made with a tacky surface that’s designed to prevent slippage between transfer paper and elastic-type textiles, like moisture-wicking, quick-dry performance sports apparel.

LexJet InFuze™ Rigid Substrate Dye-Sublimation Paper: Approved by ChromaLuxe® as an optimized transfer paper for metal panels used for wall art, table tops, high-end photo art and more.

Give one of our print specialists a call at 800-453-9538 to learn more about the advantages of these new papers. They can also help you discover the possibilities and new business opportunities that dye-sub printing offers. Visit our dye-sub page to learn more about the full dye-sub solution we offer, including printers, inks, transfer papers, ChromaLuxe® panels and heat presses.

Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in News & Trends
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5 Printing Trends to Watch in 2018

Welcome to 2018! As we begin the new year, we take a look at what’s hot now in wide-format printing and what’s going to gain traction in the coming months. Our team provided insight on what they see as the growing trends for 2018, so we can help you be prepared with the media and equipment you need to meet your customers’ evolving demands.

1. Digital Keeps Growing: During the past two decades, we were at the forefront as digital took the lead in the graphics, photography and signage markets. Now, we’re watching digital printing make new inroads in industries that range from décor to flexible packaging. In the same way digital printing made signage faster and more customized than technologies of the past, we’re going to see that advantage work for short-run, super customized, more quickly produced fabrics for applications such as signage, upholstery, drapery, bedding, accessories, fast fashion and much more.

Kornit Allegro roll-to-roll digital fabric printing system

Because digital allows a file to print directly to a substrate without expensive plate setup, short- or even micro-runs are a whole new possibility for fabric, specifically. With these shorter run possibilities, we anticipate more fabric printing here in the U.S., rather than mass production off-shore that equates to tons of inventory on shelves here. One-off digital printing means your customers no longer need to stock all that inventory from overseas.

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Year in Review: The 11 Biggest Product Launches of 2017
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Technology & Products
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Year in Review: The 11 Biggest Product Launches of 2017

As we look back on the year that 2017 was, there’s no denying that our customers are branching out into new areas and looking to offer their customers better performing, more cost-effective wide-format solutions. At LexJet, we strive to stay in-step with those demands. Our 2017 product launches brought to market everything from new outdoor banner materials and high-end fine-art paper options to all new technology portfolios and exciting, versatile media for multiple applications. Let’s take a look back at the changes 2017 brought in media products and equipment advances:

NEW MEDIA:

A Glossy, Opaque Banner: Many of our aqueous printer customers were requesting a glossy version of our ThriftyBanner, so we answered with LexJet Gloss Blockout ThriftyBanner. Not only does the gloss finish add extra pop to graphics and photos, it also eliminates the need to add a gloss laminate when requested, making it a one-step, cost-effective option. The 100% opaque blockout adds another unique feature for one of our most popular launches of 2017.

ClearShield SoftFeel Low Melt laminate applied to a menu.

Print Protection Portfolio: If you’re looking for any type of print protection, LexJet is the go-to source. We relaunched some products and added many new items to our Print Protection portfolio, which includes thermal laminates, water-based liquid coatings, UV liquid coatings and pressure sensitive laminates. This line includes nearly 70 options from the best brands in the industry: Marabu, ClearShield, Sunset, EnduraCoat, MaraShield and LexJet. If you need to protect a print in any application, our Print Protection page is the place to start.

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Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Sub Shots: Making Great Artwork More Affordable

The evolution of SubShots by Dye Hard Sublimations over the past few years is a story that epitomizes the growing capabilities of inkjet and dye-sublimation printing. The team started out dye-sub printing uniforms for lacrosse leagues, but with new products and technology, they’ve begun to evolve into photography reproduction and décor applications and even Christmas ornaments.

“We had every intention of doubling-down on apparel, but once we got the equipment and printable hard surfaces, like ChromaLuxe metal photo panels, we thought: Why don’t we just produce really great, vibrant pictures on ChromaLuxe?” says Sean Calvillo of SubShots. “We think we make good artwork more affordable.”

Cavillo says his team is currently curating more photographic content from professional photographers, and customers can choose from a library of images and order metal or wood prints through SubShots ecommerce site. They also offer customized work for commercial interior design, such as the aerial shot divided into multiple ChromaLuxe metal panels, pictured above.

While the art/photography side of their business gains momentum, SubShots hasn’t veered to far from its sporting beginnings. With the purchase of an Epson SureColor P8000 44-inch aqueous printer from LexJet, SubShots was able to start producing complementary graphics, like life-size wall cutouts of athletes, like the lacrosse player pictured.

“We’ve augmented the metal pictures with LexJet Print-N-Stick Fabric to create wall decals to keep with our sports roots,” Calvillo says. “We want to be the one vendor who can do both.”

The creative team has also been working with ChromaLuxe for customized holiday gifts. “We have a photographer customer who was taking the pictures she shot during a session and dye-sub printing them as double-sided ornaments,” Calvillo says.

The SubShots team became a LexJet Blue Business member, and Calvillo says the shipping program has been a game-changer. “LexJet’s personalized service combined with the free shipping program and your competitiveness on price is why you guys are always my first call,” he says.