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Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in News & Trends, Technology & Products
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New Instant-Dry Photo Papers for Solvent, Low-Solvent, Latex and UV-Curable Printing

Fostergraphs Poster Printing
Fostergraphs’ poster printing for Iowa’s sports teams is now easier, quicker and more dynamic with the addition of LexJet 8 Mil Production Satin SUV 180g.

 

Three new instant-dry photo papers for solvent, low-solvent, UV-curable and latex printers that address both high-end and production-oriented photo reproduction and graphics production have been introduced by LexJet.

The new photo papers were developed to open up new markets and profitable applications for print shops, sign companies, point-of-purchase and exhibit producers, and fine-art reproduction companies.

The new LexJet photo papers include:

LexJet Sunset Photo Satin SUV 275g: Highly scratch-resistant, this 11-mil satin-finish photo paper is perfect for posters, fine photos, corporate and hotel lobby displays, retail displays, décor, and other applications where image quality and performance are essential.

LexJet Sunset Photo Gloss SUV 275g: Provides the same benefits as the new satin photo paper but in a gloss finish. Both papers are specially formulated to dry instantly with low-solvent, solvent, latex and UV-curable inks so that users can put their take-up reel to work for longer production runs. They’re also the thickest, most durable photo papers on the market in their class. The new Sunset SUV photo papers are based on LexJet’s award-winning Sunset line of fine art papers, photo papers and canvases preferred by professional photographers and fine art reproduction companies for their extremely wide color gamut and high Dmax, as well as their ability to hold fine detail.

LexJet 8 Mil Production Satin SUV 180g: Geared toward high-volume production work that requires a balance of quality and economy, this satin-finish production paper features a high-performance, instant-dry, scratch-resistant base for posters, photo reproductions, point-of-purchase displays, and other commercial applications.

“The Sunset Photo Satin and Gloss SUV media print great on our Epson GS6000 low-solvent printer, and the drying time is very good with both,” says Trevor Odell of Colormax Digital, Evansville, Ind. “I’ve been searching for a heavyweight, durable paper for solvent that’s just as good as photo papers for aqueous printers, but at a lower cost, and this is it.”

Fostergraphs Photo Printing
Kent Foster, Fostergraphs, also reports that LexJet’s new SUV photo papers produce excellent saturation and color.

Regarding LexJet 8 Mil Production Satin SUV 180g, Kent Foster, Fostergraphs Inc., Decorah, Iowa, comments: “I tested other solvent photo papers previously and it was always a challenge to get it to dry on our Epson GS6000. This is better now, and the color and saturation is great.”

All three of the new LexJet SUV photo papers allow those who have transitioned to solvent, latex and UV-curable printing from aqueous-based printing to win back customer and market share for higher-end production graphics and photographic reproduction. For long-time users of solvent and UV-curable technologies, the true photo-quality papers open up a range of profitable applications in both emerging and existing markets.
“LexJet’s new suite of photo papers were designed to maximize the production quality of low-solvent, solvent, latex and UV-curable printers, and make production easier,” says Jaimie Mask, LexJet’s product manager. “Our customers are looking for ways to differentiate their output, and that was the driving force behind the development of these new photo papers.”

The new LexJet SUV photo papers are available for next-day delivery in most of the Continental U.S. from one of LexJet’s nationwide distribution centers, and come in 36-in., 54-in., and 61-in. widths. As with all LexJet products they come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Contact a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538 for more information and to order.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Point of Sale Print Horsepower at Standard Distributing

Window Graphics on Simple Perforated Window Vinyl by Standard Distributing

The top beverage distributor in Delaware requires a top-notch print shop to win space at the point of sale and build the brands they sell. Standard Distributing Co., New Castle, Del., has the advantage of quality and quantity at the point of sale through the work of its print shop, led by sign industry veteran Matt Glick.

Standard Distributing recently added the Epson SureColor S30670 low-solvent printers to its printer lineup.
Standard Distributing recently added the Epson SureColor S30670 low-solvent printer to its printer lineup.

Before joining the Standard Distributing team nine years ago, Glick had worked with grand format solvent VUTEk printers. Glick already knew the ins and outs of these 10-foot-wide industrial machines and has translated that experience into an efficient and productive print shop.

Glick recently brought in Epson’s new SureColor S30670 low-solvent printer that he got from LexJet to add to a printer arsenal that also includes an Epson GS6000 low-solvent and HP Designjet Z6100 aqueous printer.

LexJet Simple Adhesive Vinyl SUV“We had another solvent printer for about eight years and it wasn’t producing the quality and speed we needed, so we got the Epson SureColor from LexJet. The clarity and visibility of the colors is much better; the colors just look richer. Everything I print on the Epson is clear and the resolution is better, and there’s no smell, and the speed is fantastic,” explains Glick. “One prints scrim banners and window perf, the other prints adhesive-backed vinyl, and the Z6100 prints paper posters, banners and temporary stuff. It speeds up production when I don’t have to worry about changing materials every time there’s a different job; we can nest them together on the same printer.”

Window Sign by Standard DistributingIn addition to the print production horsepower provided by those printers, there’s also a Seal 410 laminator for mounting and laminating, a rotary cutter and a 72″ large-format cutter for finishing.

Glick estimates that about 60 percent of the 400-600 designs created in the shop each month are prints applied to Coroplast, 30 percent banners and 10 percent specialty graphics, like perforated window film, floor graphics and counter-top graphics.

For banners, Glick’s material of choice is LexJet TOUGHcoat Water-Resistant Polypropylene; for adhesive-backed applications on Coroplast and aluminum it’s LexJet Simple Adhesive Vinyl SUV; and for window graphics it’s LexJet Simple Perforated Window Vinyl (60/40). Glick adds that perforated window vinyl graphics are an effective way to get tap handles into an account

“My biggest challenge is over-marketing our accounts. We want to be as visible as possible without being so busy that we lose the message in the process,” explains Glick. “Simple is always better and consistency is another important ingredient. From a production standpoint it’s been helpful to work with a vendor like LexJet. My rep, Kyle Stephens, has been very helpful with my questions, he’s accessible, and he always seems to have the shipping down so we get the products we need when we need them; the customer service has been outstanding.”

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Clearly a Good Idea: LED Backlit Conference Room Graphics that Pop

Printing backlit graphicsLEDs (light-emitting diodes) have made it a lot easier to create backlit signs. Simply put, the little diodes pack a punch.

Back in the day, and not too far back, the only viable LED color for sign lighting was red. Improvements in the technology have yielded brighter and more consistent whites, and the price has gone down significantly.

Add LEDs to a well-made thin-panel plexiglass-faced sign cabinet, hide the power source, print a vibrant image and you’ve got the perfect interior sign. Lou Fiore, owner of Speedway Custom Photo Lab in Daytona Beach, Fla., put this winning combination together for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, also based in Daytona Beach.

Backlit displays with LEDsFiore bought the panel from Tec Art Industries, Wixom, Mich. The panel has a cover sheet of plexiglass that can be removed so the graphic can be easily placed inside. The graphic is taped along the top edge and allowed to hang. Then, the cover sheet is attached with eight stainless steel standoffs.

“Tec Art was extremely helpful with the specifications and manufacture of the panel. It arrived here in a huge crate and worked right out of the box,” explains Fiore. “I printed the graphic on LexJet Premium Solvent Backlit Gloss on my Epson GS6000 64″ low-solvent printer. The LexJet backlit material prints a nicely saturated image and the extra thickness of the material makes it easy to handle such a large graphic.”

Fiore adds that the customer’s electrician created a hidden panel for the power supply so that no wires are visible, providing a clean, professional look in the university’s conference room. The power supply is 12 volts and the estimated power consumption is about 80 watts.

The LED lighting is housed on the top and bottom horizontal edges. The edges are also chamfered at 45-degree angles to help provide the edge lighting effect.

“There’s no adhesive involved because they’ll change it out every few months and all we have to do is tape a new backlit graphic inside. The only thing we had to do was make the hanging cleats for it. You lift it up, it comes off the wall and you put it back up on the cleats so that it’s flush against the wall,” adds Fiore.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Taking Corporate Art to the Next Level

Photographing and printing sports action imagesWhen someone says, “Nashville,” the first thing that pops to mind is music, and for good reason. Local photographer Ed Rode is renowned nationally for his artistic renditions of various recording stars. Rode’s photography draws out the heart and soul of each musician with his distinctive combination of lighting, hue and composition.

Rode was recently commissioned to provide photographic artwork of scenes from the Bridgestone Arena, which hosts the Nashville Predators hockey team and various special events throughout the year. Rode’s photography would be used to bring a special touch to Bridgestone’s corporate suite, which was being remodeled and updated.

Printing canvas wraps for a corporate suite“I spent several days photographing the Predators for the project. Since it was intended as a showcase for Bridgestone, the real challenge was making sure to somehow feature logos and branding without detracting from the essence of the shot,” says Rode.

To produce the photos, the obvious choice was Mark Lakey, owner of Art Warehouse in Chattanooga, Tenn. The choice was obvious since Lakey prints much of Rode’s work and Lakey provides not only top-notch finished work but he does it start to finish.

Photographing and printing artwork for a corporation“The theme was Ed Rode’s stylistic interpretation of hockey games and events. They hired him to put his spin on the arena; to give the suite the artsy, hip look of Nashville’s premier photographer,” says Lakey.

Lakey produced Rode’s photography on Epson GS Canvas Gloss with his Epson GS6000 low-solvent inkjet printer. Lakey says he chose a solvent printer with a solvent-compatible gloss canvas for speed, beauty and ease of use since he wouldn’t need to coat the canvas after printing.

Lakey then constructed canvas stretcher bars for a museum wrap of each the 11 images, which varied in size from about 11” x 20” up to 20” x 40” once printed.

“It took about half a day to hang them up, then they walked us around the arena. It was fun; they were really nice people,” says Lakey. “They wanted a clean, modern look for the entire remodel, and wanted to reflect that look in the artwork as well.”

Check out more of Mark Lakey’s projects at previous posts on the LexJet Blog:

Benefit Brings out the Best in Photography and Inkjet Printing

How Art Warehouse Brought Chatanooga to Life with Inkjet Wall Art

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Deck the Walls and LexJet Team up for Extreme Home Makeover Wall Mural

Printing wall murals for Extreme Makeover: Home EditionThe last time we talked to Chris Knight, owner of Deck the Walls in Joplin, Mo., he was doing his part to help replace priceless keepsake photos residents of the town lost during the horrific day an EF5 multiple-vortex tornado brought vast destruction to Joplin this past May.

Knight got another chance to donate to the cause when Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (EM:HE) came to town to build seven homes for seven families. Knight volunteered on the website to help if any printing was needed for the project.

However, it wasn’t the website inquiry that attracted EM:HE to his print shop. EM:HE project manager Bill Crowley happened by Deck the Walls and noticed the sign on the shop’s truck. So, he walked in and discussed a project at one of the homes that seemed to be right up Deck the Wall’s alley, a Denver Broncos wall mural in Home 7 (Knight doesn’t know which family will be in Home 7).

“I wish it was Kansas City,” Knight sighs, “even though they’re not playing well either. Extreme Makeover had the Denver Broncos contact us and send us some images and the Extreme Makeover crew ended up choosing the bird’s eye view of the stadium so it looks like you can walk into the picture.”

Applying custom inkjet printed wallpaper to a wallLexJet donated a roll of LexJet Velvet WallPro SUV to the cause, which Knight printed on his Epson GS6000 low-solvent printer, which he bought from LexJet in late July.

“I love the new Epson printer and it’s helped expand our business into other commercial work with banners, adhesive backed vinyl and the WallPro. The WallPro printed great; it looked like it did on the monitor to the printer. When I bought printer I also got the Onyx RIP software to go with it so I can be more accurate with color management,” says Knight.

The image was printed in two 48” panels with no overlap and installed by professional paper hangers who volunteered for the project. Though it may seem out of place in Missouri it will surely make someone devastated by the tornadoes happy.

The episode of Extreme Home Makeover: Home Edition featuring Joplin is scheduled to run later this fall on ABC. For more information about the project and the families, go to www.joinextreme.com/joplin.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Promotions & Rebates
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LexJet Extends Special Pricing on WallPro SUV through April

Wall murals inkjet printingLexJet recently reduced the price of its WallPro SUV by 20 percent and extended the special pricing through April. The sales price is already in the system, so all you have to do is call a LexJet account specialist or go to www.lexjet.com and order. The special sales price will end on April 30.

Custom inkjet printed wall murals add value to your large format print offerings, opening up additional markets and profit potential. Compatible with low solvent, solvent and UV-curable printers, including the Epson GS6000, LexJet WallPro SUV is available in four textures:

  • LexJet Velvet WallPro SUV is the most versatile because its smooth, softly textured surface is good for reproducing high-resolution images. It is recommended for use in corporate environments, healthcare facilities, entertainment venues and retail.
  • LexJet Canvas WallPro SUV looks like a finely woven art canvas. It is ideal for reproducing artwork and photographs and is a great choice for museums, restaurants, and hotels. It can even be used to create short-term economical gallery wraps for indoor or outdoor décor art.
  • LexJet Fresco WallPro SUV has a subtle, plaster-like texture that is perfect for certain types of restaurant décor or printing historical images in museums or themed retail environments. Images printed on this wallpaper can appear as if they have been painted directly on the wall.
  • LexJet Pebble WallPro SUV is a good option for décor clients who want to see a stronger, more visible texture behind an image with softer details.

All of LexJet’s WallPro SUV wallcoverings meet Class A fire-rating standards and EPA requirements low VOC-emitting products. Because LexJet WallPro materials are designed for long-term use, professional installation by an experienced paperhanger is recommended.

To download a step-by-step guide on producing inkjet printed wall murals, click here.

To see LexJet WallPro SUV in action, click on the following links and check out these case studies:

Converting Photos into Permanent Wall Coverings

Wall Covering Sets the Tone at Gander Mountain

Getting Creative with Inkjet Printable Wall Coverings