YouTube HowTo: How to Apply Wall Graphics with Photo Tex

How to apply inkjet printed wall muralsPhoto Tex is one of the most popular inkjet print materials available at LexJet, and for good reason. It’s versatile, easy to install and just as easy to remove, leaving little to no residue behind after it’s removed.

Though it can be used on a variety of surfaces, and has been, from windows to sign boards, it’s most common application is for wall murals and die-cut decals applied to walls in a diverse range of environments and applications, including convention center graphics, room décor, restaurant art and corporate lobby graphics.

Photo Tex comes in two flavors: One which is compatible with aqueous printers and another compatible with solvent, low-solvent, latex and UV-curable printers. Call a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538 to find out more and for information about the full slate of LexJet’s wall graphics solutions. Also, be sure to check out the free white paper, Increase Revenue by Offering Wall Murals.

In the video below, video production coordinator Sean McGettigan, he of the multiple talents, shows how easy it is to apply and remove Photo Tex, as well as the best method for application…

Tiling an Image in Onyx X10

How to tile images for wide format printing

It doesn’t matter how big your printer is. Eventually, you get a job that’s too wide to fit on a given roll of media. That’s where tiling comes in.

Tiling separates a job into two or more pieces so you can print an image that is larger than your media size or break an image into specific sizes for display or mounting purposes. Perhaps the job needs to fit into store-front window frames, or you’re wrapping a vehicle, or maybe you want to use tiling just to keep the installation manageable.

In the video embedded below, learn how to tile an image in Onyx X10.

If you have any questions about Onyx X10 or tiling an image, please contact a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538.

Look out Below! Sales and Application Guide to Floor and Carpet Graphics

Selling, printing and applying indoor floor graphicsAdvertising on floors is certainly not a new concept. Ever since the first electrostatic printers hit the market in the pre-Internet days, printer and media manufacturers have been preaching the possibilities of floor ads.

While most print shops were sold on the concept from the beginning, many end-use customers have been somewhat behind the curve. Now, businesses across the board are catching on and specifying advertising on floors for point-of-purchase, trade show, general retail, and special event promotions.

“Floor graphics reach a lot of people in a lot of different ways,” says David Snyder, owner of Premier Media Group (PMG), Lubbock, Texas. “We use floor graphics in our production area as safety signage for our employees and visitors, especially around our screen printing carousels and other automated equipment. At special events, arenas and trade shows, floor graphics can be used as directional and informational signage. For advertising at the point of sale it’s one of the most effective ways to reach the consumer.”

How to apply indoor floor graphicsSnyder says that PMG has seen a sharp rise in floor graphics orders over the past year or so as more companies and organizations have realized the benefits of this in-your-face advertising medium. This observation is echoed by Tim Green of InfoTrends, a research company based in Weymouth, Mass., who wrote in Fabric Graphics magazine: “For a reasonable price (less than $10 per square foot) retailers, museums, theatres, hospitals, airports and malls can better optimize their space using custom, digitally printed floor graphics. In recent InfoTrends studies, we found that professional wide format digital print buyers expect to increase their spending on floor graphics.”

Other studies by the Point of Purchase Advertising Institute (POPAI), Advertising Research Federation and Information Resources Inc., show an increased sales volume of products promoted with floor graphics of 10-13 percent.

Simply put, floor and carpet graphics boost visibility for the advertiser, not only at retail, but in other special event and trade show venues as well. With increased competition at the point of sale and beyond, savvy companies are finding that floor graphics simply sell their brands.

Floor graphics make consumers stop, look, and think and provide a cost-effective advertising medium in an increasingly fragmented advertising world. Floor graphics simply make the point and engage the viewer where it counts.

Applying floor graphics on marbleBrandon Bauer, graphics manager for Ben E. Keith in Denton, Texas, has found that floor graphics are an effective way to get the beverage distributor’s specialty brands the space they need at the point of sale. And, Bauer has transferred the floor graphic recipe to bar-top tables in Texas Roadhouses throughout the northern Dallas-Fort Worth area.

“We’ve been using LexJet’s floor graphic materials as cut-out graphics on bar tables at Texas Roadhouse, and I’ve heard that they like it so much that they’re making sure all their locations across the country have them,” says Bauer.

Beyond tabletops and countertops, floor graphics printed with the shop’s HP Z6100 have helped Ben E. Keith realize greater and more prominent placement at their accounts. And, the graphics tend to stay on the floor for longer periods of time, ensuring constant brand awareness.

Installation Guidelines
For floor and carpet advertising, the two most important things to keep in mind is to make sure the application surface is clean and dry before installation, and to keep the cleaners away (floor waxes, vacuums, etc.) for about 24 hours after the application.

How to apply and use carpet graphicsAfter that, it’s okay to treat it as if it’s part of the floor with typical floor cleaners/wax. When applying the graphics to a tile floor, keep the edge of the graphics a half-inch or so away from the grout line. If the edge is too close to the grout line, the material is more likely to lift at the edge.

Also, and when possible, try to cut the graphic so the corners are rounded, which also decreases the likelihood that the graphic will lift at the edge. For all types of floor and countertop graphics, warm water, mild dish soap, and a sponge can be used to periodically clean the surface of the graphic.

The following instructions for installing floor and carpet graphics are specific to LexJet’s Simple Indoor FloorAd, Simple Clear Indoor FloorAd and Simple CarpetAd combined with an approved laminate (see below). Both solutions are warranted and are UL listed for slip resistance. If you’re using another combination, be sure to consult with the manufacturer about warranties and slip resistance. There are also combinations available for aqueous printers. Whichever product combination you choose, the same principles below apply. For an installation video for both floor and carpet advertising, click here.

For more information about effective floor graphics material combinations, and for LexJet’s Indoor FloorAd and CarpetAd Advertising System installation guidelines, contact a LexJet account specialist at 800-453-9538.

Arena Graphics with a Twist

Printing and installing arena graphicsPrinting and assembling 84 panels, each one 12 feet long and 42 inches wide, might seem like a grueling task, but it was one Vickey Williams of Mountain Dreamworks in Ketchum, Idaho, was more than up to.

The panels were hung along the length of two walls at the Sagebrush Horse Arena in Hailey, Idaho in honor of the Sagebrush Cowboy Ball on July 7, a fundraiser for the Sagebrush Equine Training Center for the Handicapped (SETCH).

Once installed, the panels created a full-length mural. Williams worked with the party planners to create the backdrop using stock photos of horsesPrinting and hanging graphics in an arena scattered around a sunflower-filled carnival theme.

Though the impressive outcome was certainly worth it, as was the $450,000 SETCH raised from the event, it was a time consuming project. Williams did all of the printing on her Canon iPF8100 using LexJet TOUGHcoat Water-Resistant Polypropylene, to which she credits much of the success of the project.

“That material made it so much easier to deal with a project this size, because it doesn’t tear, and it doesn’t seem to wrinkle all that much. Plus, the Canon will print borderless so I didn’t have to trim the unprintable area of the print,” says Williams. “We used LexJet Heavy Duty Banner Tape to create the hem pockets and make it easier to install, so I was able to do the whole job myself.”

Williams contracted a cherry picker to help with hanging the panels on-site. “Basically, we got into mass production mode at the shop, printing the panels and then stapling wood lathing in the top and bottom hem pockets so it would stay put, and drilling holes in the top hems. That way, all we had to do when we got there was unroll it and zip-tie it to a wire that went horizontally around the whole arena. They hung like drapes.”

Printing graphics for a special eventWilliams admits that a project of such large volume might have been a nightmare if she didn’t have just the right combination of printer, print media and support from her LexJet customer specialist, Michael Clementi.

Her own personal skills and innovation played a key role, but Williams says that calling Clementi and sharing the scope of a project was equally important. “I may have been able to do most of this job myself, but in reality it was a group effort. Michael learned about what we were trying to accomplish and recommended the perfect material for the job,” she says.

The short video below was taken during the installation of the panels…

Installing LexJet WallPro SUV Video

Installing custom inkjet printed wall muralsIn February, LexJet moved its headquarters to a new location in Sarasota, Fla. To personalize the space even more, we decided to print custom wall murals on LexJet WallPro SUV and hired a professional paper hanger to take care of the install.

In the video embedded below, you’ll see the highlights of the installation, including:

  • A technique for lining up panels containing straight lines and text
  • How to trim overlapped graphics for a seamless seam
  • Techniques for smoothing out the wallpaper on the wall
  • Before and after footage of the installation

Check out these case studies and a guide for more application ideas and information…

Getting a New Wide Format Inkjet Printer? Read this First

Besides the actual installation of your new printer, the most crucial aspect is preparing for its delivery. Being adequately prepared and having all the details ironed out beforehand will make the installation itself go that much more smoothly so that you can get right into production.

Pre-installation Checklist:
1. Note the dimensions of the printer so that you can prepare enough space for both its installation and the path to the print shop when it’s delivered. A minimum of three feet of working space to the front of the printer is recommended.

  • Include specifications and special needs to get the equipment from the delivery truck into the print shop: Elevator size, loading dock, lift gate, etc. (where applicable), and where the print shop is located in the building in relation to where the printer will be delivered. All doors, passageways, arches, and corners should be measured to accommodate easy movement of the equipment.
  • Develop a simple scaled floor plan diagram showing power outlets, network drops and where equipment will go.
  • Plan the location of each component (printer, work tables, cutters, etc.). Make a complete list of all equipment, storage, and supplies to be accommodated in the printing area. Define the workflow between equipment and identify efficient operational techniques.
  • Arrange the components in the workspace based on your analysis of workflows and efficiencies. Be sure to allow sufficient aisle space for movement of media and personnel. Allow for maintenance access to equipment.

2. Make sure you have the proper power outlets and network drops ready in the space allotted for the printer.

  • Power outlets should be in close proximity to the printer.
  • Extension cords and surge protectors should be planned for as well.
  • 110v is required for aqueous printers; 220v for solvent and UV-curable printers.
  • Most printers give you the option to connect directly via USB to the computer. For USB connections, a cable no longer than 10 feet is recommended to avoid any potential connectivity issues.
  • For printers connected to a network, drops are required for each piece of equipment that will be on the network (all printers), and should be close to the printer.
  • Every piece of equipment that will be on the network will require a unique IP address, which will be needed on day of installation. This is applicable only for users that have a primary domain controller in a corporate or administrative network.
  • For printers connected to a network, administrative access will need to be granted so that drivers and software can be installed to the network.

3. Ensure that all preparations for the printer installation are complete. It is essential to have all utilities (HVAC, exhaust, electrical) available at the time of installation.

  • It is your responsibility to ensure that room and equipment exhaust, makeup air supply, equipment supports, and electrical services meet all applicable codes and ordinances.
  • Check with the printer manufacturer for the environment for your printer. A general range is between 68-85 degrees F and 30-70 percent humidity, non-condensing.
  • Additional measures may be required or desirable because of the particular or exceptional conditions or circumstances present in the user’s work area or because of the requirements of applicable local law.
  • Do not assume that all necessary procedures, warnings, and precautionary measures are described here.

Shipment Checklist:
While most printer deliveries proceed as planned without any hitches or damage to the printer, if you notice any damage to the crate/box, the following procedures will prove helpful…
1. Inspect crates and cartons for any damage. If at all possible, do this with the delivery carrier’s agent present. Photograph any damage and immediately file a claim with the carrier. Carriers cannot be held legally responsible for shipping damage unless they are notified within 15 days of delivery. If an indication of damage is observed, then the following steps must be taken:

  • You may refuse shipment of the printer, which is the best thing to do in this situation. If you refuse shipment, contact your LexJet account specialist who will ship a new printer to you.
  • If you do not refuse the shipment, record the indicated state in the appropriate place on the shipping/delivery documentation before the delivery agent leaves your shop.
  • Notify the shipping agent that a mishandled item of packaging has been detected.
  • Obtain authorization from the shipping or insurance agent before mishandled package is opened.
  • Notify your LexJet account specialist about the observed condition.

Also, check the outside of the box to make sure you’ve received the printer model you actually ordered. This happens occasionally, and it’s a simple precaution that saves a lot of headache if you take the printer out and find it’s not the model you ordered.

2. Use personnel and equipment appropriate to move the equipment from the receiving area to the staging area. Measure aisle, doorways, and archways to be sure there is enough clearance for the printer. Provide a sheltered area for the shipment close to the installation site to unpack and prepare the equipment for installation.

3. If you have asked for lift gate service to get the printer off of the back of the delivery truck and the delivery company arrives without a lift gate, you have two options:

  • If you have enough help on hand, you can opt to unload the printer yourself. Please call your account specialist to let them know that the delivery was made without a lift gate so we can credit your account for the lift gate charge.
  • You can refuse delivery and ask that it be redelivered with a lift gate. In this case, call your account specialist to let them know what has happened so they can contact the freight company to arrange for the printer to be re-delivered with a lift gate. Keep in mind that it may take a few days to get the printer re-delivered.

When the freight company delivers the printer it is considered curbside delivery. Be sure that you have help on hand to get the printer inside your location.

4. Don’t forget to fill out and send in any rebate forms within 30 days of purchase.

5. Download updated firmware and drivers from the manufacturer’s website.

Need help? Call a LexJet account specialist at 800-453-9538.