Temporary Solutions: Have Your Walls Your Way

Not all wallcoverings are the same — and that’s a good thing! While sometimes a customer may want a long-lasting wall paper, chances are they are looking for a more temporary solution for company brand messages, home décor or trendy retail spaces. Digital print technology makes customizing the visuals simple. The right media will make installation — and removal — quick and easy, too.

Printed Photo Tex used in place of tiles on this kitchen backsplash

At LexJet, we offer a wide range of wallcovering options, from glossy vinyls to satin fabric textures with just the right amount of adhesive backing to stay on the wall … til you customer changes his or her mind.

Here’s a look at several of our most popular temporary wallcovering media options:

Photo Tex – Opaque (Solvent) is a 95% opaque fabric that won’t shrink, wrinkle or rip, but it will come down from a wall without any residue left behind. The matte finish makes it a good choice for residential spaces, and it will stick to any non-porous flat surface. The detailed print quality makes creating a faux finish a breeze (see kitchen backsplash photo). It’s also available in an Aqueous version.

Avery Dennison’s MPI 2600 Series Wall Film, pictured at top, offers scuff resistance that holds up in busy areas. The films also offer a variety of textures for extra interest, like canvas, crushed stone or stucco. Create quick, customizable wall decoration with easy installation and removal.

LexJet Simple Flo Vinyl Wrap offered awesome branding for Scorch Fitness

LexJet Simple Flo Wrap Vinyl is a favorite of both printers and installers, with a glossy white finish with an ultra-conformable calendared adhesive backing for easy handling. As one customer says: “It produces great image quality and the air-egress liner makes it extremely easy to work with.  This is a great go-to product for all types of different applications.”

LexJet Print-N-Stick Fabric is a customer favorite not only for its ease of use when creating an accent wall or an entire room, but it’s one of our most versatile products that can be used on walls, windows, floors and even metal (like elevators). It’s been Class A, ASTM E84 Fire Rated and provides a higher ink saturation for richer colors. It’s also available for Solvent printers.

HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP used on an accent wall in an office setting

HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP is a great vinyl that’s optimized for Latex printers, and priced just right. This newer product is quickly becoming a customer favorite for its ease of use, consistent results and budget-friendly price point. “The print quality is great, profiles are set, and I don’t have head strikes or color issues as compared to my other products,” says one customer. For similar results in a matte finish, try HP Prime Matte Air GR.

To learn more about wallcovering options, both temporary and permanent, call a LexJet pro at 800-453-9538 or visit LexJet.com/wall-murals.

Have You Joined the Digital Wallcovering Movement Yet?

According to market reports, digitally printable wallcovering is on the rise — in a massive way! Why? Because we’re able to offer high-performing wallcovering material to answer the call for more personalization and customization that we’re seeing in nearly every print application in the wide-format sector.

Source: Vescom Wallcovering

We also learned that residential use of digitally printed wallcovering makes up about 75% of the demand, so when you’re printing a canvas for your customer, why not pitch a wallcovering, too, for a full room application, wall mural or accent wall? Click on the infographic to see just how much of an impact digital wallcovering is making today.

When it comes to high-end finishes and consistent printability, we turn to the experts at Vescom, the world’s largest wallcovering manufacturing company. Here are five reasons why:

  1. Unique Textures – Vescom offers a number of finishes to add to the customized offering you present to your customers. Textures like award-winning Metallic Sand, Pearl Linen with its satin sheen, rich and unique Leather and super-soft Felt will enhance any room design, from casually modern to traditionally formal.
  2. Standard Top Coating – A common problem, plasticizer migration, is caused by chemical reactions in the vinyl that print inconsistencies and color changes. The competition has only one coating on their media, making it more susceptible to these occurrences. Vescom features a second coating standard on the entire portfolio.
  3. Pre-shrinking – Most wallcoverings are stretched before being applied to the backing to maximize product yields, this causes an unstable product that can curl or shrink causing printhead strikes or inconsistent panel lengths. Vescom pre-shrinks its material before attaching it to the backing creating a stable product with no curling.
  4. Sustainable – Vinyl wallcovering emits VOC over the course of its lifetime. Vescom wallcovering is a phthalate-free substrate and meets EPA requirements for low-VOC emitting products and is Class A fire-resistant.
  5. Made in the USA – Domestic manufacturing has a huge impact on communities and the economy. Vescom operates around the world and has manufacturing facilities in Europe and in the USA!

To find out more, call a LexJet wallcovering specialist at 800-453-9538.

Trend Alert: Touchy-Feely Textured Wallcoverings

This new wallcovering trend is hitting us right in the feels, and Vescom is answering the call with a variety of high-end, quality finishes with their digitally printable wallcoverings.

Textured wallcoverings are gaining popularity not simply because they offer a tactile experience, but because they can also add richness with that texture, along with color choices and strategic printing that can be completely customized. Linen finishes printed with natural colors and designs can bring an outdoorsy feeling inside, while a metallic-finish paired with Art Deco-type graphic designs will add modern shine to a room.

Embossments, embellishments and even metallic threads sewn into the wallcovering can really transform a room where visitors won’t be able to keep their hands to themselves.

Plus, wallcoverings with textured finishes can actually help mask imperfections in the wall’s plaster or drywall, while providing some additional protection for the wall, as well.

Vescom’s popular textured finishes include:

Watch the video above to get a close-up look at these textures from Vescom that are easy to install and meet EPA requirements for low-VOC and Class A fire resistance.

Epson S-Series Printers: Don’t Miss Out on Décor Opportunities

In the everchanging world of POP and temporary signage, there is a niche market that many print service providers have missed: décor. If you have an EPSON SureColor S80600, you know the color gamut is unlike any other printer available in the solvent market. With 98.2% Pantone coverage, color-critical art reproductions and wall décor are as easy to produce as banners and signage.

When it comes to creating the perfect art piece, it’s not just about the printer. These days, many people want their home décor to offer the same sophisticated ambiance of a fine art museum. To recreate that look, Print Service Providers turn to a printable canvas, such as EPSON GS Canvas Gloss and GS Canvas Satin, that can be quickly and easily finished with stretcher bars for the perfect, personal masterpiece.

With the introduction of the Epson S-Series printers came the debut of reformulated GS ink. The quick-drying UltraChrome GS3 inks don’t require a protective coating, which means PSPs can offer a quick turnaround on the production of these high-end requests – turning an idea into gallery wrap in one day.

The ability to work with a print immediately is important, especially with time-sensitive jobs. Josh King of Sacramento Giclee says that using his S80600 has improved his turn-around time. “We used to have to print one day, let it dry for a day, spray coat it one day, and let it dry before we could stretch it. Now, with the SureColor printer, within an hour, I can stretch a canvas,” says King.

Of course, what is a masterpiece without a perfect showcase? Having canvas prints professionally wrapped can be an expensive endeavor, which is why many of LexJet’s clients are using GOframe Stretcher bars to create gallery wraps for their customers.

The purpose of décor is to add warmth to a space. By creating personalized art pieces for your clients, you are not only offering them a print, you are helping them turn a house into a home.

Stand Out in the Décor Printing Field

These days, it seems like every wide-format print shop is trying to elbow into the décor market. That shouldn’t discourage you from finding your niche in this ever-expanding segment. We’ve compiled four key tips to help you find your place … and then stand out from the crowd.

State your case. Be sure the world knows that you’re offering new services. You can do that with a new tagline after your business name on your printed materials, business cards and website. Don’t forget to update your bio on social media accounts to include your offerings, too. Check out Full Color’s Twitter bio, for instance. You never know where potential customers will look to discover more information about your business before they ever pick up the phone or stop by.

Show off your work. In the décor market, nothing sells printing services better than printed samples. If you’ve got room in your shop, cover a wall with the new customizable wallcovering you’re offering. If you don’t have a free wall, consider stretching printed wallcovering over stretcher bars (like GOframe), to provide a nice-looking work sample. When working on a project for a client, pull out your phone and take before and after photos for your portfolio. If your client is willing, be sure to post them on social media with all the appropriate hashtags (#beforeandafter #decorprinting #interiordesign, etc.). If you’re not into posting your projects, give us a call at 941-256-7915, and we’ll happily feature you on the LexJet blog!

Get specialized. You can truly set yourself apart by offering something unusual in the market. LexJet has long-been known as a provider of specialty products, and we can help fine tune your services. We’ve seen some genius ideas from our customers. Check out our blog on Bumblejax, featuring the face-mounted photo displays utilizing LexJet Sunset Photo Metallic PaperCrystalClear Permanent Adhesive and various widths of acrylic. We were also inspired by the bar stools and bar tops that Jamie Birch crafted using LexJet Print-N-Stick Fabric and LexJet Crystal Low Tack. And who could forget Michael Macone’s lamp shades printed on LexJet Sunset Textured Fine Art Paper 310g? If you’re creative with what you can do with print, you can develop a one-of-a-kind business.

Build demand. Sometimes being able to sell a new idea is simply letting people know it can be done. Consider visiting business networking groups or interior design associations to let them know what you can do. Bring samples and fresh ideas. Be willing to write for their blogs or give a mini demonstration.

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Art Works! Office Space Is a Big Opportunity for Printable Canvas

More corporations are realizing that the benefits of art in the workplace go beyond aesthetics. Corporate art for office walls can display a company’s culture and brand values. Since innovation and creativity does not easily spring from behind the gray fabric walls of an office cubicle, Corporate America is creating open, collaborative work space filled with art and inspiration.

Studies have found that art in the workplace can boost productivity, reduce stress and enhance communication. A survey conducted by the Business Committee for the Arts and the International Association for Professional Art Advisors showed that 78% of respondents thought that art in the workplace reduced stress, 67% agreed it increased creativity and productivity and 67% thought it enhanced employee morale. Companies are following the example of Google and Deutsch Bank and canvasing their walls with stimulating, creative art work.

Canvas Triptych Print by Broadstreet Fine Art“The workplace art collection is often an underutilized, sometimes overlooked, business asset,” said Judith A. Jedlicka, President, BCA. “The results of this survey point to the fact that art in the work environment fosters creativity, boosts employee morale and sparks dialogues – all of which are essential to a company’s success.”

Look to commercial art services, corporations, retail and hospitality fields for opportunities in canvas print reproduction. Fredrix Canvas, available exclusively in the U.S. through LexJet, offers superior printable canvas that has proudly hung on the walls of corporations for decades.

Canvas media for office spaces:

Latex & Solvent: Fredrix 901SGSJ Artisan Semi-Gloss Canvas is a heavier canvas with a toothier texture that gives a more authentic look for fine art reproductions. Because it has a nice semi-gloss sheen and is compatible with latex, solvent and UV curable inks, this canvas doesn’t need a coating, saving on finishing time. It delivers a uniform, consistent look, especially when paired with the sheen of latex inks. Try Fredrix 901SJ Select Matte Canvas for artists who prefer a more matte finish, or Fredrix 901 GSJ Encore Gloss Canvas for photographic prints that pop with a more glossy finish.

Aqueous: Deliver high-end photography prints on Fredrix 777VWR Vivid Matte Canvas, with a smooth finish of this canvas and the same quality as Fredrix’s other options. For aqueous printers reproducing artwork, Fredrix 901VWR Crystal Matte Canvas will provide a more heavily textured base that works great for authentic-looking artistic prints.

Fredrix canvas is made in the USA, with 150 years of experience and offers a range of canvases for printing. Check out our line of Fredrix products at LexJet.com.