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Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Tips & Tricks
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3 Easy and Eye-catching Ways to Create Restaurant Signage

In the current market, restaurants and bars are using temporary signage like never before. Many restaurants have come up with some creative ideas, while others are just making sure customers get important information like temporary hours and where to pick up orders.

We’ve definitely seen some handmade and even hand-written signs that could use a little sprucing up. Fortunately, print service providers have a variety of solutions available to help restaurants become a little more sign savvy, and these options can be designed, printed and installed all in one day.

Say it with chalk: Chalkboards are an easy way to share messaging that changes by the hour, by the day or even by the week, so signage that looks professional but can be updated quickly and easily is a must. General Formulations 290 ChalkMark™ is 5 mil matte black chalkboard vinyl with a clear, high-tack removable adhesive that can be mounted to Chloroplast or an A-frame. While it is compatible exclusively with UV-curable printers, chalkboard signage can be used unprinted and customized with contour cut stickers.

Tried-and-true banners: Hanging banners are still one of the most popular ways to deliver temporary messages. LexJet TOUGHcoat™ Blockout ThriftyBanner is compatible with aqueous printers and 13 oz. Ultraflex SuperPrint® Plus FL Gloss and Matte are great solutions for solvent, latex and screen printers. Partner with BannerUps for easy and durable display.

Yard signs for the quick win: To direct traffic or display messaging and phone numbers for easier ordering and curbside pick-up, yard signs are a quick solution that can be displayed close to the road. Printed self-adhesive vinyl, such as LexJet TOUGHcoat AquaVinyl PSA adhered to corrugated plastic boards with metal step stakes is an easy way to go. Yard signs are great to have on hand as election season is right around the corner, too.

If you have questions about these or other temporary signage, please give us a call at 800-453-9538 or visit LexJet.com.

Have you created eye-catching temporary signage for your customers? We’d love to hear from you.

Soft Signage Options for All Printer Technologies
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Tips & Tricks
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Soft Signage Options for All Printer Technologies

Recent reports show that the demand for soft signage has seen double-digit growth in the last few years. That means you need options to create fabric banners, signs and exhibit graphics that work with the equipment and printer technology you own.

And while some fabrics may cost more for, say, trade show booth graphics, the upsell to your customer is that they can use fabric graphics more than once, and they’re less expensive to ship and stand up to traveling better than heavier, easily damaged options.

Let your customers know that the higher cost buys them easier installations that are foldable, reusable and even wrinkle resistant. Plus, they look more high-end and will drape more elegantly than vinyls or films they’ve used in the past.

So, in effort to make soft signage and printable fabrics more accessible to you, we’ve collected a list of products, based on printer type and application to streamline your search:

Latex

EnduraFab Textiles

Fabric solutions for Latex printers have hit the market in recent years, including the EnduraFab line of products, which are finished with a proprietary coating made specifically to work with Latex inks, while providing durability and a soft hand to the fabric. EnduraFab Stretch is a great option for SEG frames (or sew-less frames like SignComp). Check out this video review from HP’s Timothy Mitchell on how EnduraFab performs on Latex. For hanging banners and other indoor soft signage, try HP Light Fabric, for brilliant prints that stand up to creasing and wrinkling — now available at a reduced price.

Aqueous

LexJet Water-Resistant Satin Cloth

You don’t need dye-sub to create great-looking fabric signage. You can get it done with an aqueous printer and the right printable textiles. For everything from banners to backlits to signage, LexJet Water-Resistant Satin Cloth is a lightweight option that is finished with a coating that will hold high levels of ink saturation and maintaining its water resistance. One of our customers says: “The cloth is very durable! The fabric holds the colors well, and can easily be folded to fit into convenient packaging for transport. Any creases or wrinkles can be quickly reduced with a light ironing upon arrival.” For a slightly heavier, versatile fabric, consider LexJet FlexTek 170g, an aqueous-compatible, budget-beating option that can be finished with either grommets or sewing, and works indoors our out. It also works well as an alternative to canvas, and wraps easily on stretcher bars.

Solvent/Eco-Solvent

We’ve got the versatile LexJet FlexTek SUV 200g in a solvent-compatible version, as well. Great for outdoor projects, and a cost-friendly option for banners and gallery wraps. For a lighter-weight option for backlit displays or trade show graphics, check out LexJet Poly Select Light SUV. The tight weave and satin finish give it an elegant finish that looks great in retail spaces or even for décor items.

Dye-Sublimation

Teardrop flags.

Tried-and-true printed fabric results are traditionally achieved with dye-sub, and now we offer Fisher Textiles in wide-format widths. We’ve got a full portfolio of Fisher Textiles to choose from for a variety of projects, but we wanted to highlight 4019 Nirvana BOB for its award-winning soft knit fabric that’s coated with a black backing, so you get the lightweight fabric with excellent opacity and flame resistance certification. If you’ve got requests for the popular teardrop flags, there’s no better option than Fisher Textiles 1701 Primary Flag.

For even more fabric ideas that match your printer technology, call a LexJet specialist at 800-453-9538 and grow your soft signage business, too!

Flex Tek for Aqueous Wins on Color, Durability & Price
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Flex Tek for Aqueous Wins on Color, Durability & Price

Earlier this year, we launched LexJet Flex Tek 170g for aqueous printers, and it’s turned into a fast favorite among print service providers looking for a cost-effective, easy-handling option for banners.

Photos: Jackson Beverages, La Grange, Ga.

This lightweight, 100% non-woven polyester is finished with a slight embossed texture that gives it the look and feel of a woven fabric, making it an ideal option for both banners and canvas wraps.

At Jackson Beverages in LaGrange, Ga., it’s become the new go-to for short-term outdoor banners.

“Since our primary use of banner/canvas material is outdoor signage, the two most important qualities are water resistance and physical strength in windy weather,” says Jackson Beverages’ Tom Weeks. “Flex Tek’s coating proved to keep the ink colors bright in foul weather and blazing southern sun.”

The polyester base also adds to its durability. “Although it is quite light and easy to handle, it is considerably more tear-resistant than any other non-woven fabric based banner material I have used,” says Weeks, who often finishes Flex Tek with grommets for easy hanging. “My overall impression of Flex Tek is that it is a very good medium for outdoor banners that will hang for less than a year.”

Photo: Orgill

For Vern Goodner, print services manager at Orgill, price was a big concern. Orgill supplies products to 6,000 hardware stores and dealers in more than 60 different countries. Goodner runs the print shop where he produces hundreds of flyers, posters and more for store displays.

Orgill also hosts a 1 million square-foot tradeshow two times per year, in which the company creates multiple mock stores to showcase the latest hardware goods. In these stores, Goodner makes 200 retractable banners, which he has now switched over to Flex Tek.

“I was looking for something with a bright white that gives an eye pleasing to eye popping color,” Goodner says. “And was as affordable as possible.”

At $0.50 per square foot he’s now considering switching all the tradeshow banners to Flex Tek. Both Weeks and Goodner print Flex Tek on Canon imagePROGRAF wide-format aqueous printers.

LexJet Flex Tek 170g Product Highlights:

  • PVC-free / recyclable
  • Versatile media for wall art, banners, gallery wraps
  • Can be grommeted or stitched and used indoors or out
  • Images look great close-up or at long-range viewing
  • Also available: LexJet Flex Tek SUV 200g, compatible with eco-solvent, latex and UV-curable inks
Keep Those Banners High & Dry with Water-Resistant Media
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Technology & Products, Tips & Tricks
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Keep Those Banners High & Dry with Water-Resistant Media

Sure, April Showers are supposed to be coming to an end, but let’s be honest: We all know that with our wacky weather this year, the rainy days will continue. When it comes to outdoor signage, water-resistance is a key factor for graphics that can stand up to the elements. We gathered three of our top-performing outdoor media in vinyl, polyethylene and mesh that’ll resist the rain:

LexJet TOUGHcoat Blockout ThriftyBanner: This cost-effective, aqueous-compatible scrim vinyl option not only handles the outdoors for up to six month, it also provides a black backing for 100% opacity. With a great color gamut and smooth surface, it’s an excellent option for event signage or when you need to keep unsightly areas covered, like construction sites or even old signage.

HP HDPE Reinforced Banner: A great option for your environmentally conscious customers who care about recycling, this high density polyethylene reinforced banner is a cost-conscious option (starting at $0.33/sq ft). An alternative to scrim vinyl, this lightweight banner material resists the elements thanks to an HP media surface treatment that’s durable and provides great-looking graphics, too.

HEYtex Mesh w/ Liner: This latex-friendly banner option not only withstands the rain, but can take on the wind, too. This 360gsm polyester base with a 60/40 mesh pattern is an attractive alternative that maintains the integrity of your graphics without having to cut wind vents. It’s easy to grommet and hang, making it a go-to for latex, solvent, eco-solvent or UV-curable print technologies.

Learn about these and other water-resistant materials, give a LexJet print specialist a call at 800-453-9538.

 

Buy 1 Roll of HP Opaque Scrim, Get 1 Roll Free
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Promotions & Rebates
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Buy 1 Roll of HP Opaque Scrim, Get 1 Roll Free

For a sturdier indoor or outdoor banner option, stock up now on HP Opaque Scrim. For a limited time, you can buy one roll of 36-in or 24-in wide HP Opaque Scrim and get another roll of the same product (matching SKU) for FREE!*

This water- and tear-resistant material has full 100% opacity for no show-through. HP Opaque Scrim produces long-lasting, sharp image quality perfect for a wide range of graphic needs. Plus, it’s environmentally sound and certified flame resistant, and can stand up to all sorts of demanding spaces, making it ideal for busy, high-traffic indoor or outdoor displays.

Product Highlights:

  • Durable, tear-resistant polyester fabric
  • REACH compliant
  • Perfect for long-lasting indoor and demanding outdoor conditions
  • Brilliant image quality
  • Flame resistant with approved fire certifications

To purchase online, add the product in multiples of two (2, 4, 6, etc.) and use coupon code BOGO in your cart, or call your LexJet representative to order by phone.

*While supplies last

Retail Signage Made Easy: Our Favorite Go-to Products
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Tips & Tricks
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Retail Signage Made Easy: Our Favorite Go-to Products

In the fast-paced world of retail promotion in the form of hanging signs, window graphics, floor stickers and much more, providing easy-to-install material is key. Whether it’s a teenage sales clerk or an experienced graphics installer doing the work, switching out retail signage has to be quick and efficient.

Here are some solutions for retail spaces that you can offer your customers who are looking for great print quality, speedy install and clean removal when it’s time for the message to change:

Allison-Kaufman-Display-350x727
LexJet Extreme AquaVinyl w/ PSA

Re-invigorate Display Cases: When Allison-Kaufman Company participated in a jewelry show, they needed an eye-catching display for the Queen of Black Diamonds pieces. The solution? Wrapping a dull display case with Art Deco-style graphics printed on a pressure-sensitive vinyl like LexJet Extreme AquaVinyl w/ PSA, which instantly upgraded the case and could be removed later. This aqueous-compatible waterproof vinyl is durable enough to be used outdoors or on vehicles for up to 12 months.

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