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What They’re Saying: HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP – ‘It Really Shines’
Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Technology & Products
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What They’re Saying: HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP – ‘It Really Shines’

Husband and wife team Rick and Connie Rhind Robey are the owners of SpeedPro Imaging in Silver Spring, Md. Recently, the SpeedPro headquarters in Denver asked for volunteers to test one of the new HP Adhesive Vinyl products from LexJet. The Robeys responded and brought in a roll of HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP and HP Gloss Polymeric Overlaminate.

The first project they created with the Optimal and Gloss laminate was a wall mural. “Wall graphics can be tricky with the new paints,” Rick says. “We did a test with the Optimal and it was a go. It went up well and stayed up well. It was a great start.”

“We’ve been using another product, but it’s kind of pricey. The Optimal has the same characteristics and maybe even a little better holding power,” says Rick. “I’ve been using it [Optimal] based on what the 40C can do: vehicle decals, flat surface, even subtle rivets. One customer was so thrilled, he’s sending us another job.”

While the Optimal is perfect for walls, vehicle decals, and other outdoor signage, there was an opportunity to use it in an unorthodox manner in Rick’s hometown of Kensington, Md. Some of the stores in the downtown area planned a storefront-style appearance on the back of the buildings.

Local artists were commissioned to create art that would decorate these “storefronts” and Rick and his team printed the artwork on Optimal, laminated it with Polymeric Gloss and installed it to hide storage space from street view. 

“I loved the high-quality look of the images. Each section was designed by a different artist. It’s important that the final piece looks great and the artist loves it. It really shines in the high-end market place,” Connie says.

The artwork has generated a lot of interest on “Antique Row” in the quaint downtown area. “The pieces have garnered a lot of attention, it speaks to the work of the artist, the work of the printer and the material,” she says. “With this job, there’s no marketing message to hide behind. It’s showcasing art. And this product really shines.”

Connie, who is also the Marketing Director, says that they are delighted to have a product like this for customers. “It’s fun to find a product that we like so much. We are excited to use it moving forward.” Rick agrees, “the graphics go on and stay on. That’s important. We’ve gained a lot of confidence in the product and will recommend it to other SpeedPro locations.”

If you are interested in trying any of the products from the HP Adhesive Vinyl portfolio, give us a call at 800-453-9538 or visit LexJet.com.

What They’re Saying: HP Matte Polymeric Overlaminate is ‘Dynamite’
Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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What They’re Saying: HP Matte Polymeric Overlaminate is ‘Dynamite’

About a year ago, Adam Koppelman bought the SpeedPro Imaging in Totowa, N.J., from its original owner. “We’re growing, which is terrific. I’ve brought on a few large corporate clients,” Koppelman says of his clientele.

One corporate client that he and his team are working with is the Dave & Busters at Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, N.J. “The staircase is about 23 feet wide and 36-steps high, with a landing. The graphic isn’t going on the tread, only the risers,” Koppelman says. “I knew it wouldn’t be stepped on.”

Needing to protect the graphics from the occasional kick, Koppelman chose to use HP Matte Polymeric Overlaminate. “We’ve used it for other projects like wall murals,” he says. “With Dave and Busters, there’s corporate branding and color is important, I need it to be right and we didn’t have any issues. It looks dynamite and they are pleased with the results.”

Having used other brands through the years, Koppelman knows there are some issues when using a matte laminate: silvering, bland or faded colors, even installation issues. Laminates can be expensive, so replacing graphics can get costly if they need to be reprinted. “I switched over to the laminate because it is a nicer product than what we were using. Also, it is more efficient from a cost perspective.”

Not only does he feel the HP matte laminate enhances the colors, but his installers are also pleased with the way the product goes down.

“We printed a 6-foot by 10-foot wall mural and the installer asked what kind of laminate we used. He felt that install was easier for him due to the rigidity and thickness of the laminate and vinyl.” With the success of the smaller wall mural in his portfolio, other companies have requisitioned larger pieces for their corporate spaces. “We recently did one that was 8-and-a-half by 26-feet. The customer was very happy with the results.”

Koppelman is not only using the HP matte laminate on his projects, but he is also talking to other SpeedPro owners and they’ve started using it as well. “We’ve been going through the rolls pretty quickly over the last few months.”

What he likes most about the product is the rigidity, his customers like the look of the finished graphics, and his installers like the way it handles. Of course, saving money is also an added benefit.

If you are interested in learning more about the HP Matte Polymeric Overlaminate or the other products in the portfolio, call a LexJet sales representative at 800-453-9538 or visit LexJet.com.

Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Putting it to the Test: HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP is “a Winner”

Recently, Scott Kaiser and his installation team at Sunrise Signs in Gloucester City, N.J., received a roll of HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP from LexJet. Before using any new product for a project, Kaiser says they like to push the material to the extreme. “Any time we try out new material, we torture it to see what it’s going to do,” he says.

So how did the Optimal fare? “We tortured it and it stood up great,” Kaiser says. “We stretched it and it didn’t white out, which can sometimes be an issue with latex inks. I also like the repositionable quality, and it really does take to those rivets!”

In the video above, you can see the intense testing of the Optimal laminated with HP Gloss Polymeric Overlaminate which includes stretching, overstretching, heating, rolling over rivets and repeated repositioning. Not only is an installer looking to see how well the color sits on the material, but checking performance on different surfaces is also important.

“We put it on some rough surfaces on that truck. It’s an old, beat up box truck and it was in terrible shape,” Kaiser says. “We wanted to see how it does when problem areas arise. We lifted it back up and reheated it to see if it went back to its shape. It did.”

When it comes to fleet or box truck graphic installations, there can be some challenges. “He (the installer) was putting some graphics on a super smooth trailer, and he liked working with it, but for another trailer, there were lots of rivets.”

Although there were many rivets on one of the jobs, Kaiser says the vinyl held tight. “They just had to work a little bit slower through those areas, but the vinyl held, and the rivets look tight.”

Kaiser says that he will continue to use the HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP protected with HP Gloss Polymeric Overlaminate for trailers and box trucks. “I’ve used other well-known brands before, and I think the HP Optimal had great success when compared to the other products,” he says. “Our installer even put it on his own trailer.”

Whether testing against the rigors of installing on a less-than-perfect surface or overstretching it to look for white-out conditions, Kaiser and his installer put the Optimal Gloss Air GRP through its paces, and both have declared it a “winner.”

If you are interested in learning more about the performance of the Optimal Gloss Air GP – or any other products in the HP Adhesive Vinyl line – call a LexJet specialist at 800-453-9538 or visit LexJet.com today.

For Wall Graphics, HP Adhesive Vinyl Saves Money & Improves Results
Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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For Wall Graphics, HP Adhesive Vinyl Saves Money & Improves Results

Tyler Birch of Atchley Graphics in Columbus, Ohio, was browsing the LexJet website looking for an alternative to his current vinyl and laminate solution that would still be compatible with his Latex 360 and 570 printers. That’s when he found the HP Prime Gloss Air GP.

“I called Dave [Grotkiewicz], my LexJet sales representative who is very knowledgeable and helpful, especially with new products. We discussed the product and he sent me a roll to try,” Birch says.

With a mission to provide quality and value to his customers, Birch is selective about the products he uses. “It’s about peace of mind and long-term value,” he says. “You don’t want someone coming back in two years because their graphic failed or they had a bad experience. It comes down to the materials that you use, and the people who are printing, laminating and installing.”

Birch looked at what he was paying for his current materials and realized he could save as much as $100 when buying a roll of each vinyl and laminate. Because it’s not just about saving money, he needed to see how well the product would image. “The print quality is great, profiles are set, and I don’t have head strikes or color issues as compared to my other products.”

Birch wears multiple hats at Atchley — “As a press operator, I knew the product was doing its job, just like Dave told me it would,” he says.

He also finishes projects, which includes laminating graphics or working with print & cut. “The Prime laminated great with the HP Polymeric Overlaminates and the print and cut capabilities are also excellent,” he says. “The adhesive is a little different. It’s a bit harder, which means you won’t see gray adhesive poking out of the edges of a cut application.”

Not only has the new HP Adhesive Vinyl line helped Birch improve his output, but it also helps ensure his customers are benefiting from the increase in image quality and the decrease in cost. “HP Prime Air really helps us provide value to our customers and at a price point that makes us competitive, which is great since we are a small shop,” he says.

With many more projects lined up, Birch is excited to try other products as well, including HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP – a high-performance product that offers a gray repositionable adhesive – and the new Prime Matte Air GR, which offers a gray removable adhesive.

To learn more about the HP Adhesive Vinyl products, visit LexJet.com or call one of our sales specialists at 800-453-9538 to find out which solution is right for your next project.

Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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HP Adhesive Vinyl Case Studies: ‘The Easiest I’ve Ever Used’

Shannon Norwood of Fullmoon Graphics in Athens, Tenn., has been making graphics for race cars for more than 22 years. Recently, his LexJet sales representative, Dave Mayer, told him about the new HP Adhesive Vinyl products. “At first, I was hesitant to switch,” Norwood says. “I’d never had any complaints, but nobody ever said anything about the other stuff I’ve used.”

That’s not the case anymore. “I have one driver who usually installs his own graphics,” he says. “After I switched to the HP vinyl, he called me and wanted to know what material I’d used to print his images. I was initially worried. Usually, nobody asks. I asked him why and I knew I’d get a straight answer from him because he’s very blunt. He said ‘I love it! It went on so easy, it almost falls on. It’s the easiest I’ve ever used.’ I was glad to hear it.”

Norwood orders 2-3 rolls a week, using the HP Prime Gloss Air GP with both the HP Gloss and Matte Polymeric Overlaminates, depending upon his customers’ requests. “I used the matte finish for a rust effect on a car and the finish was perfect. After all, you don’t want glossy rust. Some matte finishes are too coarse and when you take pictures at night, there’s a glare.”

Norwood created a faux rust look using HP Matte Polymeric Overlaminate

While he has been getting positive feedback from his customers who install their own work, it’s the person who is doing the printing who is the hardest to please: himself. “It prints much brighter than my last vinyl. My colors seem to pop better. Also, the images don’t have the mottled look,” he says. “My ink goes on real heavy and on other products, it would look like it was puddling. When I print with this on my 64-in Mutoh, the image is completely smooth, no mottling.”

With drivers all over the country, from Blue Ridge, Ga., to Arizona, to Mississippi, Norwood says that all of them tell him the product is a dream to install. “Nearly everyone tells me it almost installs itself, it’s so easy. All of my guys have worked with products from 3M and other brands.”

If you are working with adhesive vinyl and laminates and would like to learn more about the benefits of the HP Vinyl portfolio, call us today at 800-453-9538 or visit LexJet.com.

FREE Downloads: Tips for Installing HP Adhesive Vinyl
Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Tips & Tricks
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FREE Downloads: Tips for Installing HP Adhesive Vinyl

Our customers have spoken, and the feedback on the new HP Adhesive Vinyl line has been overwhelmingly positive. We’ve heard it time and again: It’s so easy to handle and install. To ensure that your installation goes smoothly, too, HP created three helpful “Tips & Tricks” guides.

1. “HP Adhesive Vinyl and Overlaminate Installation Tips and Tricks” covers the wide variety of retail, POP and fleet applications this suite of vinyl can cover and offers installation and surface preparation suggestions for general use. DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE HERE

Additional applications for HP Adhesive Vinyl and Laminates include:

  • Wayfinding
  • Indoor/Outdoor signage
  • Promotional decals
  • Advertising

2. “HP Adhesive Overlaminates for Windows” discusses how to properly prepare the surface and install the clear Gloss and Matte Polymeric Overlaminates for window applications. DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE HERE

Common applications include:

  • Indoor/Outdoor signage
  • Special effects
  • Privacy
  • Décor
  • Promotional decals
  • Increasing brand recognition
  • Lamination

3. “HP Adhesive Vinyl and Overlaminate Wall Covering Tips and Tricks” addresses the use of these products in the ever-growing market of digital wall décor. This guide offers suggested paint finishes and surface preparations. As always, we recommend testing the painted surface prior to installation. Pair HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP with either the matte or gloss laminate for long-term wall graphics. DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE HERE

To learn more about these game-changing products and additional ways to grow your business, visit LexJet.com or call your LexJet sales representative at 800-453-9538.