Best of Both Worlds: New Sunset Photo Paper Combines Fibre and Cotton Rag

Fine art printing on a fibre based cotton ragLexJet has just introduced Sunset Fibre Rag 335g as an answer to the call from photographers and fine art reproduction companies looking for the high-end air-dried look and feel on a 100 percent cotton rag base.

“This paper has a great Dmax, the color gamut is pretty amazing and the surface is nice,” says Jon Scott, owner of JS Graphics Inc., a fine art reproduction company based in Chicago. “It also comes in various sheet and roll sizes, which is great, because it gives us more flexibility in our printing. I also like working with LexJet because the pricing is fair, I like the products and I can get what I need tomorrow. I love that. We can’t afford to keep everything on the shelf, so we basically order on-demand when we need it.”

Sunset Fibre Rag is available in 8.5″ x 11″, 13″ x 19″ and 17″ x 22″ sheets and 17″ x 50′, 24″ x 50′, 36″ x 50′, 44″ x 50′ and 60″ x 50′ rolls. It has a subtle gloss finish with a very subtle textured surface with no optical brighteners, though it has a very bright neutral white point.

“Like all of our Sunset fine art and fine photo inkjet papers, this latest addition was developed to maximize the latest ink and printer technology from Canon, Epson and HP,” says LexJet product manager Alex Ried. “Sunset Fibre Rag builds on the Sunset Fibre line, applying the inkjet technology used in that line to a cotton rag base; that’s the secret sauce that makes this paper an excellent addition to anyone’s arsenal of inkjet printable materials.”

Sunset Fibre Rag 335g, like all LexJet and Sunset products, comes with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee, as well as $9.99 flat-rate shipping from LexJet’s nationwide network of distribution centers for quick, economical and hassle-free product delivery.

For more information, and to order, contact a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538.

Matte Black Ink: The Right Profile and Media Type

Printing with Matte Black and Photo Black InksIf you’re considering upgrading to the latest aqueous ink printers from Canon, Epson or HP, consider no more. Reports from the field have shown that these next-generation models print up to twice as fast and use less ink than their predecessors.

They also use additional ink channels in the printing process, which increases the color gamut. As part of these expanded ink sets, all the latest printers now include Matte Black and Photo Black channels. While HP and Canon printers can switch from Matte Black to Photo Black on the fly, Epson printers require you to purge the line to switch inks, so keep that in mind as you switch between the two if you have an Epson printer.

Because of this expanded ink set, it’s necessary to pay close attention to the profile or media type being used, and to use a matte material profile/media type with matte materials, and a satin/luster or gloss material profile/media type with gloss materials. Note: If you’re using a RIP like Onyx, you’ll choose a media profile, which will determine which black ink is used. If you’re printing through the driver, you choose a profile as well, but it’s the media type that will choose the black ink channel that will be used.

Matte Black provides an image quality advantage as it yields much better density, which works extremely well on backlits. However, Matte Black ink is not compatible with all media. If you choose the wrong profile/media type, the Matte Black ink will wipe right off, even after the print is completely dry. This is especially true with media that has a microporous inkjet coating, such as LexJet 8 Mil ImagePro Gloss.

On the other hand, using Photo Black ink on a matte material will result in lower density in the dark areas and a more washed-out look, though Photo Black ink will have better dry times and durability, regardless of the material. Photo Black is more water-resistant and is best for unlaminated outdoor applications.

On large production runs, a lot of print shops use a standard generic profile/media type like Heavy Weight Coated, which is a bond paper profile that lays down less ink. If this profile/media type is used on gloss materials, it will activate the Matte Black channel, which is largely incompatible with gloss materials and will not absorb into these types of coatings.

A good generic profile/media type for matte materials is Heavy Weight Coated. A good one for gloss materials is Glossy Photo, which, like Heavy Weight Coated, uses less ink. If you have any questions about the right profile or media type to use for the material, contact a LexJet account specialist at 800-453-9538.

LexJet Extends its Nationwide Delivery Network to Five More Cities in July

One day and same day shipping for large format inkjet productsWith the addition of five new distribution centers to its nationwide Delivery Network next month, LexJet will reach 90 percent of the contiguous United States and 98 of the top 100 major metropolitan areas with one-day ground delivery, and customers in LexJet’s 15 distribution center cities can receive same-day delivery within a 30-50 mile radius of those cities.

The new distribution centers – scheduled to be fully online, operating and tied into LexJet’s real-time delivery tracking system in July – are located in Charlotte, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Phoenix and Portland.

“On-time, consistent delivery is extremely important to our customers. It gives them a competitive edge in their markets, it helps them reduce inventory and it ensures they meet every tight deadline,” explains John Lane, LexJet’s vice president. “The addition of five distribution centers to our Nationwide Delivery Network gives our customers the reach and flexibility they need to enhance and streamline their business, whether they’re print-for-pay providers, digital photographers, fine art reproduction companies, in-house corporate and public sector large format print facilities or anyone else involved in large format inkjet production.”

The new distribution centers join LexJet facilities in Albany, N.Y., Birmingham, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Jacksonville, Fla., Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Reno and Wilmington, Del. LexJet also ships OEM products from 30 additional warehouses across the United States.

“I can’t count how many times LexJet has totally gone above and beyond to get us materials next-day in order for us to put out a quality product,” says Bob Lizza, owner of Lizza Studios, Tunkhannock, Pa. “The LexJet team is always there to answer questions and get us whatever we need in an expedited fashion. They’ve been a big part of our success.”

The expansion of LexJet’s Nationwide Delivery Service follows the company’s move to a new state-of-the-art technology center in Sarasota, Fla., where LexJet customers receive free and unlimited personal support and service coupled with the power of real-time networks tied directly into LexJet’s distribution centers.

For more information about LexJet’s new distribution centers, its Nationwide Delivery System, and specifics about one-day and same-delivery areas, contact a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538.

LexJet Adds Latex: HP’s L25500 Latex Inkjet Printer Now Available at LexJet

HP's environmentally friendly HP L25500 latex inkjet printersHewlett-Packard has selected LexJet as an authorized reseller of the 60-inch and 42-inch wide HP Designjet L25500 latex inkjet printers. With the addition of the L25500, LexJet expands its portfolio of inkjet printing technology, fitting perfectly into a range of LexJet printable inkjet media already developed to be compatible with latex inks, including LexJet’s Simple line of vinyl for vehicle, specialty, window, wall and other sign and display applications.

The HP L25500 can print on a wide range of media, papers and textiles, including media optimized for solvent and low-solvent inks. Designed for both indoor and outdoor graphic production, the HP Latex Inks are durable, odorless and emit very low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) so that no special ventilation is required. Moreover, the inks do not require special handling, are non-flammable and non-combustible. The printer uses internal radiant heaters and forced airflow to cure the inks, speeding up turnaround times on printed graphics.

The HP L25500 utilizes six ink colors with print resolutions up to 1,200 dpi, combined with HP Double Swath technology with three pairs of HP 789 Designjet Printheads and the HP Optical Media Advance Sensor for saleable output up to 246 square feet per hour.

The printheads have a simple snap-out, snap-in design for easy replacement. A built-in automatic printhead service station and automatic nozzle testing system, plus large 775 mil ink cartridges, eliminate the need for daily maintenance and ensure long periods of uninterrupted production. Used HP 789 Designjet Printheads and HP 780 Latex Ink Cartridges may be returned and recycled through HP’s free and convenient Planet Partners Program.

For more information about the HP L25500, and to find the right printer for your business and its applications, contact a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538.

LexJet Enhances, Simplifies PSA Laminate Line: Performance, Elite, Specialty

Laminates for trade shows and displaysLexJet has updated its line of PSA laminates and backers to provide a practical way for print shops to produce and sell laminated large format inkjet solutions to their customers, and provide added value for added profits.

“We’ve taken our 17 years of experience developing inkjet media, laminates and backers, as well as crucial input and advice from our customers, to give them a product line they can sell and depend upon,” says LexJet product manager Dione Metnick. “The whole point of a laminate is to enhance and protect the graphic, and exceed the end user’s design and visual expectations. We used that criteria as our baseline, then built our laminates and backers to eliminate costly color shifts and adhesive failures for the dependability and consistency our customers require.”

Conveniently grouped into three basic product categories – Performance, Elite and Specialty – print shops have a simple yet diverse choice of superior laminates not available elsewhere in various thicknesses, base materials, textures and widths. The adhesives in all three product lines are compatible with aqueous, low solvent, solvent, UV curable and latex inks.

“I have never noticed any discoloration with a LexJet laminate, as opposed to others I’ve seen that tend to yellow over time or give the graphic a different tint,” says Christian Schmid of Essyx Design + Fabrication, Johnson City, Tenn. “When our customers invest in graphics they don’t want them damaged, either by UV or people handling them, so we make sure we give them the peace of mind that comes with a more durable, brighter laminate.”

Performance: The industry’s best-in-class economically priced line of laminates and backers. Like all LexJet products, they come with a 30-day money back guarantee and are built to last. Most products in the Performance line feature the same high-quality adhesives and base materials as the Elite line.

Specialty: This product line was designed based on customer feedback for warranted, durable laminates that meet all the demands of specialty applications, including floor, carpet, vehicle wrap, optically clear and dry-erase.

Elite: Offers the highest possible performance and quality that exceeds the durability and visual expectations of end users. Most products in the Elite line come with a Lifetime Warranty, while all of them feature the most durable solvent acrylic adhesive in the industry and PreLume, an optical reflection technology built into the Elite laminates that ensures brighter and cleaner white areas for a longer period of time. PreLume Inside means greater contrast and dynamic range, producing graphics that stand out and grab the attention of passersby in a variety of indoor applications.

PreLume, licensed by LexJet in 2003, is only one innovation in a long line of innovations since LexJet introduced the first reverse-print polycarbonate (LexJet Clear) to the graphics market in 1994. Since that time LexJet pioneered the first white backer to partner with LexJet Clear, the first polycarbonate laminate guaranteed not to tunnel or delaminate, the next generation of solvent acrylic mounting adhesives, new adhesives resistant to and compatible with solvent and UV-curable inks and the first Lifetime Warranty, to name just a few.

Whether your graphic is short-term, long-term or somewhere in between, with LexJet’s updated and enhanced line of laminates and backers you have a variety of options to choose from that no one else in the industry offers… Proven, quality laminates in a variety of thicknesses, finishes and base materials to protect and enhance your graphic, eliminating costly color shifts and adhesive failures… Guaranteed. 

How to Update Firmware on a Canon iPF Inkjet Printer

How to update firmware Canon printerUpdating your printer’s firmware is an important step that should be performed once a new printer arrives and then on a regular basis. By updating the firmware, you are ensuring that your printer is being used to its fullest capacity.

Firmware updates typically include fixes or patches that, in the past, have improved things like print speed and have helped to reduce paper waste and ink consumption. At the very least, you should check for new firmware updates every six months and update your firmware when new releases are available.

In the videos below you will learn how to update the firmware on a Canon imagePROGRAF printer using a PC or a Mac.