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Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in News & Trends, Technology & Products, Tips & Tricks
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HP Latex Academy: Everything it’s Cracked up to be and More

HP Latex Academy with LexJet
LexJet customer specialists that attended HP Latex Academy last week were not only impressed with the professionalism of the event, but more importantly, the depth and breadth of information provided by HP trainers and experts. Photo by Kara Work

 

Last week, LexJet sent a group of its customer specialists to Alpharetta, Ga., home of the HP Graphic Arts Experience Center, to receive more in-depth and hands-on training on HP’s line of Latex printers, including the Latex 210 61″ Printer, Latex 260 61″ Printer and Latex 280 104″ Printer.

HP Latex Academy with LexJetThe crew was also charged with finding out if HP’s Latex Academy is good use of your time if you either own an HP Latex printer or are interested in procuring one for print production. The overwhelming response from the LexJeters who attended was a resounding, “Yes!”

Joe Pudlo, one of the LexJet customer specialists who attended said: “Latex training consisted of both classroom and hands-on applications. Our trainer was extremely thorough and knowledgeable; he has tested a majority of inkjet media on the market.”

This shows a continuous image printed on a variety of inkjet media with an HP Latex printer at HP Latex Academy.
This shows a continuous image printed on a variety of inkjet media with a Latex printer at HP Latex Academy.

The next HP Latex Academy for HP Designjet L2 Printers with LexJet, which you’re invited to attend, is Oct. 2-3 (call 800-453-9538 for more information). Like the LexJet representatives who just attended the Academy, you’ll learn the ins and outs of this technology, including crucial marketing and production tips to ensure a growing and profitable market for your work.

Among other production-oriented tips and tricks, LexJet customer specialist Kara Work says that she learned about the free HP WallArt software solution and how it makes laying out a wall mural simple, HP’s PVC-free Wall Paper for a sustainable and easy-to-apply wall covering alternative, that Latex works great for backlits and for printing LexJet Clear PreLume HD (more on that in the next post), and a lot about which applications are showing growth in the market.

In addition to gaining a greater understanding of the L260 and L280 print technology platforms, learning about the latest in media from HP and third-party sources and networking with HP technology experts, you’ll also learn about:

  • The variety of applications and media you can use to grow your business, from signage and fabric graphics to wall coverings and vehicle and window graphics
  • Find out how Latex increases productivity with no dry times, no downtown, reduced operating costs and overnight unassisted printing
  • ROI plus, with examples that show ROI calculations for production printing

If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment for some time other than the official Latex Academy dates, or would like to join us Oct. 2-3, contact a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538.

And, be sure to check back here at the LexJet Blog for the latest profiles of some of our most popular inkjet materials so you can further expand your application capabilities.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Graphics Transform a Garage where it all Started

Spectra Imaging Garage Graphics

Spectra Imaging, Louisville, Ky., is a true American success story. Owners Brian and Leslie Rogers started the powerhouse print shop in their garage about seven years ago.

What once housed print production as the couple beat the pavement to sell their services is now home to something garages were originally intended to house… a vehicle. In this case, it’s a fine driving machine manufactured by Bavarian Motor Works.

Garage Graphics by Spectra ImagingThe Rogers have moved their business from the garage to a large print production facility in Louisville. The growing and dynamic company has realized the fruits of their hard labor in the early years and has become a fixture in the Louisville area.

The garage, meanwhile, has been transformed into something completely different with the use of a variety of inkjet media from LexJet.

Rogers went all out, wrapping the walls in faux brick with Photo Tex from LexJet, printing BMW photos on LexJet 8 Mil Production Gloss Photo Paper, laminated with D&K 6 Mil UV Textured Vinyl PSA and applied to 1″ Gator Board with LexJet GraphicMount White Adhesive. There are 1″ cleats on the back of the panels that attach to the wall.

Floor Graphic by Spectra ImagingThe floor graphic was printed on LexJet Simple Adhesive Vinyl SUV – Gloss (5 Mil) and laminated with the D&K Textured material. Rogers says he went with a more permanent vinyl, rather than a more temporary floor graphic material that can be easily removed, since he expects it to be there for years to come.

The brick graphics essentially frame garage, complementing and contrasting for a blend that is rugged, classic and classy.

Rogers created one large image, cropped each panel at about 50 inches wide, printed them individually and applied them in order so they lined up. Rogers says it took about three hours to apply the wall graphics, with some more to come soon. Check back here for updated photos in the next week or so…

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in News & Trends, Technology & Products
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LexJet Now Offers High-Speed, Economical Canvas Stretching Machine

Canvas Wrap MachineLexJet was recently tapped as the exclusive North American distributor of two economical, production-oriented canvas stretcher machines from Meath, Ireland-based GAPP Engineering: the Canvas Stretch Master and Studio Canvas Master.

The Studio Canvas Master, which retails at less than $3,000, can wrap up to 35 canvas prints per hour while the Canvas Stretch Master, which retails below $11,000, can wrap up to 60 canvas prints per hour. Both are pneumatically operated and available in two models: one that can stretch canvas prints up to 48″ x 48″ and one that can stretch canvas prints up to 60″ x 60″.

“Print shops, photographers and fine art reproduction companies now have a true turnkey canvas printing partner with LexJet. The canvas stretching machines are the perfect complement to our line of canvas products, which includes Fredrix Print Canvas, LexJet Sunset Canvas, Sunset Coatings, Sunset Stretcher Bars and the latest printer technology from Canon, Epson and HP,” says Alex Ried, LexJet product manager.

The Canvas Stretch Master is easy to install, simple to operate and takes up relatively little shop space since it sets up against the wall like a vertical panel saw. Virtually maintenance-free, the Canvas Stretch Master requires only a 120 psi air compressor to run it.

“We just started doing canvas wraps on the Canvas Stretch Master. It’s simple to use, doesn’t have a lot of moving parts, is solidly built and does the job well,” says Adam Rutkowski, operations manager for Linemark, Upper Marlboro, Md. “The machine will be a big help to us as we grow our market for canvas wraps.”

The Studio Canvas Master can be either bench- or wall-mounted, depending on space needs, and is ideal for imaging professionals who don’t require a high-production machine but are looking for an easier and more consistent method for finishing canvas.

Both machines feature guides that ensure even stapling, control points for flexible and consistent tensioning, and adjustments that allow for the stretching of other materials, like fabric. Constructed of steel and high-quality parts both machines are built to provide stability and durability for consistent and uninterrupted production.

The Canvas Stretch Master and Studio Canvas Master are available for demonstration at LexJet’s Sarasota headquarters and are expected to begin shipping in June. For more information and to schedule a demonstration, contact a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538.

To see a video demonstration of the Canvas Stretch Master check out the embedded video below…

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Promotions & Rebates
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Add a Printer to Your RIP for No Charge with this ONYX Thrive Promo

Printer production workflow softwareONYX announced an SGIA show special that starts now: Purchase Thrive 211 by Nov. 30 and you can add another printer to the RIP software at no cost, a $1,295 value. The SGIA Expo is in Las Vegas this year and runs from Oct. 18-20, but you can take advantage of this deal through LexJet any time between now and Nov. 30.

Thrive is an Adobe-based workflow product for production printing. The big news here is the ability with Thrive to run on multiple computers with one license, and Thrive’s Adobe PDF Print Engine.

“One of our customers was trying to drive six printers with one ProductionHouse license, but now with Thrive they can spread it out to other computers without having to buy multiple licenses and they’ve been able to double their production,” explains Mark Maynard, ONYX general manager for the Americas. “With PDF files, sometimes you have to go into Illustrator and flatten the file or save it as a TIFF, so there’s an extra step involved in that case. Since Thrive is an Adobe-based workflow solution it RIPs the file the first time around without having to do additional work to the file.”

Maynard adds that Thrive offers print shops a cost-effective way to grow their business by spreading out the workflow across multiple computers and streamlining the Adobe print process. Therefore, Thrive is more easily scalable as the print shop adds more printers and grows their business.

Plus, you can drive production from a mobile device, like an iPad, with the new Thrive Production Manager. With Thrive Production Manager on a secure network you simply open a browser, point it to the RIP Queue, and away you go, wherever you are.

ONYX Thrive comes in three different configurations: 211 for $3,295 (two RIPs, one large-format or grand-format printer and one Job Editor, formerly known as Preflight), 642 for $6,995 (six RIPs, four printers, two Job Editors) and 862 for $8,995 (eight RIPs, six printers, two Job Editors).

With ONYX Thrive, you can also add ONYX Advantage, a service program that includes software maintenance and Live! Web-based training – where you choose any three of a variety of instructor-led online sessions for the training that best suits your needs – and personalized training – a  two-hour personalized and custom Web-based training session for your print shop that provides the confidence that operators are maximizing the performance and automation of your ONYX Thrive workflow.

For more information about ONYX Thrive and ONYX Advantage, and to help figure out which products will work best for your business, contact a LexJet customer specialist at 800-453-9538.