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Achieve a New Standard of Excellence with the Right Media
Posted on by Liliana Wright Posted in Marketing & Sales, Technology & Products
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Achieve a New Standard of Excellence with the Right Media

Schools and universities require a high volume of signage throughout various campus locations. One key to a school’s success is choosing the right media that will convey the appropriate message at the right place, and at the right time.

Printing your own signage is a flexible and cost-effective way for your school or university to promote school spirit and safety protocols from the classroom to the football stadium. LexJet offers a complete line of HP products for all your signage needs. Looking for matte, gloss, permanent, temporary, or repositionable vinyl for your indoor and outdoor campus spaces? We have it all with the high-quality, consistency, and performance you expect from the HP brand.

High-impact signage comes alive with HP Prime Gloss CP.  Budget friendly with ease of installation and lay-flat properties. It’s an excellent solution for schools to create colorful displays throughout campus announcing special school events, dressing up boring walls, or displaying safety signs. This product is compatible with latex, eco-solvent, solvent, and UV curable printers.

When searching for outdoor vinyl that is dependable and affordable, two great solutions are HP Prime Gloss Air GP and HP Prime Matte Air GP. Both products feature gray permanent adhesive that provides opacity for maximum coverage and high image quality. These products are ideal for long-term permanent outdoor signs at school bus stops, outside buildings, or as directional signs guiding students and guests. The air release liners also enable fast, easy, and bubble-free installation. Both products are compatible with latex, solvent, eco-solvent, and UV curable printers.

HP Prime Gloss Air GR and HP Prime Matte Air GR both offer outstanding image quality and “pop”. The gray removable adhesives are opaque for maximum coverage, making them a great solution for featuring long-term removable school logos or visually enhancing windows that may also provide privacy, such as locker rooms. This vinyl is easy to install with a low-profile air release liner. HP Prime Gloss Air GR provides a glossy finish with durable print performance with over ten years laminated display permanence. HP Prime Matte Air GR provides a matte finish. Both products are compatible with latex, solvent, eco-solvent, and UV curable printers.

For campuses that have challenging surfaces that make installation difficult, the right solution is HP Grip Matte Polymeric Air. It is a high-performance, calendered vinyl with a high-tack, clear permanent adhesive designed for hard-to-stick surfaces like low-energy plastics and rough or powder-coated surfaces. It’s the tough solution that can handle your toughest challenge.

HP Clear Gloss Cast Overlaminate can withstand many demanding outdoor weather conditions, as well as cleaning. With this overlaminate, long-term applications like school bus or van graphics are built to stand the test of time with UV protection and maximum flexibility. Pair this optically clear laminate with HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP, an easy-to-apply vinyl for wall graphics and fleet graphics, and you have a winning combination. .

Additional powerful solutions are HP Gloss Polymeric Overlaminate and HP Matte Polymeric Overlaminate. These two products offer the extra bonus of being calendered vinyl for long-term indoor and outdoor signs and vehicle graphics with brilliant image quality, as well as being overlaminates for printed images with the utmost protection.

There are countless school signage opportunities to announce career fairs, tournaments, performances, and so much more! For all your education media needs, please contact a LexJet Customer Specialist at 800-4-LEXJET.

Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Tips & Tricks
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Post-COVID-19 Prep: Optimize Your Inventory During Downtime

We’ve heard from some print shops that activity may be slowing down in some areas, so we put together some ideas of how you can use your downtime wisely. We all know that storage room inventory can get backed up, so now’s a great time to figure out what you’re using, what’s collecting dust and maybe identify some new, multiuse products that can save you both space and money plus you can earn up to 4X Edge Rewards.

“A good exercise is to put a list together of products you buy regularly and reach out to your vendor and let them know this is what I use regularly,” says LexJet sales rep, Ramiro Torrez. “And ask: Do you have something that is comparable at a better price point?”

Torrez worked with a customer who was buying 25 different products and he made recommendations to whittle the list down to 12 more versatile items. In some cases, the customer saved when buying more of the streamlined list.

“We saved her about $1,200 if she’d replenished one of everything in her old inventory,” he says. “Plus, when you buy in bulk, you’re going to get a better price for it.”

Next, we identified several applications that can be covered by one super-versatile product. Learn more about these products and stock up, so you’re a step ahead when it’s time to ramp up production once again:

VINYL: If you are stocking up on different products for self-adhesive window, signage and car decal graphics, HP Prime Matte Air GP is a one-size-fits-all option. Additionally, HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP can work across the board for wall graphics, corrugated plastic, windows and can even be mounted to Styrofoam.

SIGNAGE FILM: Another super versatile option for signage is LexJet’s Production Display Film, which can stand in for grommeted banners, retractable banner stands, and hanging signage, thanks to its lay-flat characteristics. It’s a cost-effective solution for indoor or short-term outdoor graphics, which is also available in a Solvent version.

POSTER PAPER: If you’re looking for a poster paper that works well outdoors and also doubles as a photo paper with good resolution, check out LexJet Satin Poster Paper 200g. At $0.12 per square foot, it’s a highly cost-effective, PVC-free option that delivers richly detailed, water-resistant prints.

FABRIC: When events start back up, you’ll want to have a fabric on hand that can work on a variety of applications. EnduraFab Frontlit is a 100% polyester knit fabric for Latex users that’s appropriate for lightweight and elegant table skirts, backdrops, step-and-repeats and flags. For aqueous printers, try LexJet Water-Resistant Satin Cloth for a multitude of applications.

MULTI-PURPOSE: One of the most exciting product launches in recent years is LexJet FlexTek. This non-woven technical fabric is a winner thanks to its highly functional and versatile characteristics. It’s recyclable and PVC-free, making it an environmental win, too. FlexTek can be wrapped around stretcher bars to create canvas wraps (as an alternative to polyester canvas) or used for posters, banners or even hanging signage. It’s also available in a Solvent version, and both versions offer long shelf life.

For more ideas for versatile products and good-better-best options for your application, call a LexJet print specialist at 800-453-9538.

HP Adhesive Vinyl: ‘The Colors are Amazing’
Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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HP Adhesive Vinyl: ‘The Colors are Amazing’

About a year ago, William Roll opened a Signarama franchise in Dothan, Ala., and he’s been growing ever since. Working with an HP Latex 365, Roll and his team create vinyl signs, car wraps, box trucks, yard signs, etc. As a franchisee, Roll was given a pallet of a variety of adhesive vinyl products to kickstart his business. “Those products made things difficult,” he says. “We were redoing jobs over and over.”

Roll reached out to his LexJet sales specialist to see if he could help find a solution. That’s when he first heard about HP Prime Matte Air GP and the Matte and Gloss laminates. “We got a sample roll and did some color calibrations on it,” he says. “The colors are amazing, and it makes us look good. It’s important for a new shop to work with good products.”

The versatility of the product has also helped Roll keep his expenses down, another key to success for a new shop. “We use it for yard signs now because it’s cheaper. I can have the guys use the Graphtec and cut a square, adhere it straight to the yard sign,” he says. “You don’t have to lay it out, face tape it or anything else. It saves time and makes the project more cost-effective.”

While he has a rack full of vinyl, he narrows the selection to just a few products. “We use HP almost exclusively. I have two types of perforated vinyl and we use Avery 1105 for car wraps, but the rest is HP,” Roll says. “If it’s not backlit, we’re going to use it first.”

The wide color gamut is important to Roll and his customers, but another reason he and the team enjoy working with HP vinyl products is because they are easy to install. “We do our own installations. This stuff is the easiest stuff to lay down. It’s probably got the best air-release out of all the products we use,” he says. “The learning curve with HP is excellent.”

Roll had a project in the winter when conditions were less than ideal, and the HP products installed easily. “It was extremely cold, and our guys were on a lift 20 feet in the air. We were afraid it wasn’t going to stick because it was freezing, but we got it done,” he says. “It still looks amazing today.”

Whether creating yard signs, menu boards and food trucks or decorating his store for Christmas, Roll has discovered the versatility of the HP Adhesive Vinyl line keep his customers happy. “It doesn’t matter how cheap a product is, if your customers aren’t happy, it’s expensive. Our customers love the results when we use HP.”

For more information on HP Adhesive Vinyl products, call a LexJet sales specialist at 800-453-9538 or visit LexJet.com.

When It Comes to Performance, HP Prime Matte Air GP Vinyl Delivers
Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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When It Comes to Performance, HP Prime Matte Air GP Vinyl Delivers

If you are looking for high-performance adhesive matte vinyl to create indoor or outdoor graphics, HP Prime Matte Air GP delivers rave-worthy results and is compatible with solvent, UV curable and latex printers.

Introduced last year at SGIA, customers have been singing the praises for the new HP Adhesive Vinyl products.

Rick Haines of Dimension Design in Jacksonville, Fla., has been using one of the industry’s leading calendered vinyl for years. “HP set out to create a media capable of matching the performance of a tried-and-true product,” he says. “From my experience, they have done just that.”

Haines says that his team has incorporated the Prime Matte into their everyday use and paired it with HP Matte Polymeric Laminate.  “The results have been as advertised, and we’re very pleased that we can save some money without losing any quality,” he says.

The versatility is why William Roll of Signarama in Dothan, Ala., and his team like the Prime Matte. “My guys love the HP,” he says. “They grab it for every application they can use it on, and they tell me that the air-release component is the best they’ve ever used. It’s been used for interior menu boards at a garage and economical seasonal window displays.”

Are you ready to try HP Prime Matte Air GP? Call a LexJet sales specialist at 800-453-9538 or visit LexJet.com.

 

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.

HP Adhesive Vinyl Case Studies: ‘The Best We’ve Ever Used’
Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Case Studies & Profiles, Technology & Products
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HP Adhesive Vinyl Case Studies: ‘The Best We’ve Ever Used’

Last month, the launch of the new HP Adhesive Vinyl products had everyone talking at SGIA. By the sound of it, they’re still talking! For the print service providers who work with calendared vinyl every day, the new line has proven to be an easy and profitable alternative to other major brands.

Whether applying to rigid substrates, wall graphics, outdoor signs or die-cutting for stickers, LexJet’s customers are excited about a versatile product that reproduces images well, is easy to install and is cost-effective:

Sara Smith with Goodyear, Ariz., based Needle Supply Printing, recently purchased the HP Prime Gloss CP to print custom stickers. “The print was very fluid and made the colors pop,” she says. “There is very little deviation from the colors printed to the proof PDFs and the cuts are nice and crisp.” When compared to working with other brands available, she says, “the colors are truer than with my previous material and the gloss is more vibrant.”

William Roll of Signarama in Dothan, Ala., used the HP Prime Matte Air GP, laminated with the HP Matte Polymeric Overlaminate to create outdoor signage. For Roll and his team, the HP products are preferred over other options that are in the print shop. “My guys love the HP,” he says. “They grab it for every application they can use it on, and they tell me that the air-release component is the best they’ve ever used.”

Tyler Birch of Atchley Signs & Graphics in Columbus, Ohio, used HP Prime Gloss Air GP for an indoor application at a local gym. “We did an install onto a gym wall mat and it went on without a hitch! The rigidity of the material and the strength of the backer lead to a smooth installation,” Birch says.

Rounding out the first wave of customer reviews is Mason Ross of AlphaGraphics in Rexburg, Idaho. To create an in-house wall graphic, pictured at top, Ross chose the HP Prime Gloss Air GP and the Polymeric Matte Overlaminate to create a wall mural that was full of detailed text, spot-on colors, and multiple image depths. “The printing quality is just as good, if not better than other products I’ve used,” he says. “Since (LexJet sales specialist) Vince told me about the new HP products, I’ve switched completely from other brands.”

Due to the enormity of the project, with the various relief aspects, Ross estimated the whole install took about six hours; however, he said, “the vinyl installed very smooth and then when it came time to put the vinyl on the wall, that took the least amount of time for the whole project.”

These examples showcase the versatility of the new product line, giving PSPs the ability to condense the number of items kept on hand, freeing up space and reducing costs. If you are interested in trying one of the new HP Adhesive Vinyls, contact your LexJet sales representative at 800-453-9538 or visit us online at LexJet.com.