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What They’re Saying: HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP – ‘It Really Shines’
Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Technology & Products
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What They’re Saying: HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP – ‘It Really Shines’

Husband and wife team Rick and Connie Rhind Robey are the owners of SpeedPro Imaging in Silver Spring, Md. Recently, the SpeedPro headquarters in Denver asked for volunteers to test one of the new HP Adhesive Vinyl products from LexJet. The Robeys responded and brought in a roll of HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP and HP Gloss Polymeric Overlaminate.

The first project they created with the Optimal and Gloss laminate was a wall mural. “Wall graphics can be tricky with the new paints,” Rick says. “We did a test with the Optimal and it was a go. It went up well and stayed up well. It was a great start.”

“We’ve been using another product, but it’s kind of pricey. The Optimal has the same characteristics and maybe even a little better holding power,” says Rick. “I’ve been using it [Optimal] based on what the 40C can do: vehicle decals, flat surface, even subtle rivets. One customer was so thrilled, he’s sending us another job.”

While the Optimal is perfect for walls, vehicle decals, and other outdoor signage, there was an opportunity to use it in an unorthodox manner in Rick’s hometown of Kensington, Md. Some of the stores in the downtown area planned a storefront-style appearance on the back of the buildings.

Local artists were commissioned to create art that would decorate these “storefronts” and Rick and his team printed the artwork on Optimal, laminated it with Polymeric Gloss and installed it to hide storage space from street view. 

“I loved the high-quality look of the images. Each section was designed by a different artist. It’s important that the final piece looks great and the artist loves it. It really shines in the high-end market place,” Connie says.

The artwork has generated a lot of interest on “Antique Row” in the quaint downtown area. “The pieces have garnered a lot of attention, it speaks to the work of the artist, the work of the printer and the material,” she says. “With this job, there’s no marketing message to hide behind. It’s showcasing art. And this product really shines.”

Connie, who is also the Marketing Director, says that they are delighted to have a product like this for customers. “It’s fun to find a product that we like so much. We are excited to use it moving forward.” Rick agrees, “the graphics go on and stay on. That’s important. We’ve gained a lot of confidence in the product and will recommend it to other SpeedPro locations.”

If you are interested in trying any of the products from the HP Adhesive Vinyl portfolio, give us a call at 800-453-9538 or visit LexJet.com.

Posted on by Regan Dickinson Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Creating a Connection with Wall Murals and Display Graphics

Rudinec Prints Graphics for Museums

Rudinec & Associates is a “photographic services” company, but that doesn’t even begin to describe the company’s capabilities. Case in point is a project Rudinec is currently finishing up for The Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio, which opens its new museum displays to the public on Thursday, Sept. 12.

Rudinec Prints Graphics for MuseumsThe museum recently purchased an historic church building adjacent to the main museum, added a connecting skywalk, remodeled the old church and converted the classrooms to galleries to display the museum’s folk art and maritime collections.

Rudinec was charged with connecting the collections – which include historic carousel horses, duck decoys, model ships and other ephemera – with graphics that complement, inform and create additional interest. Rudinec does this for museums across the country, providing not only printed graphics, but creative direction, photography and other related services.

In this case, Rudinec mainly used LexJet Print-N-Stick Fabric for the various wall murals and informational panels. Rudinec also used LexJet Clear PreLume HD backed with LexJet Elite Coex Backer (5 Mil) for the subtle duck habitat scenery behind the decoys.

Rudinec Prints Graphics for Museums“The duck decoy display case has bars in the back and panels of LexJet Clear fit better for that application. We used Print-N-Stick for the side and bottom panels. We were able to balance the images perfectly between the two materials; the media profiles were remarkably close,” explains Sarah Hoefert, Visual Imaging Specialist for Rudinec. “We used our Epson 9900, and the printing went great. Print-N-Stick really pops; the saturation and image quality is really crisp. For application, it helps to have two people when you have a larger piece or if you’re in a tight spot, but a smaller piece can be applied with just one person.”

Rudinec Prints Graphics for MuseumsHoefert applied multiple panels throughout the rest of the museum’s expanded display areas, six murals for the carousel horse display and one 7′ x 8′ panel for the maritime display area, which Hoefert describes as a “ghost image” of the USS Constitution.

“We photographed a painting of the USS Constitution and created a line drawing of it. The mural turned out very sharp, and it looks like it’s a shadow of the model on the wall behind it,” explains Hoefert.

In the carousel horse gallery, Hoefert applied two 3′ x 5′ panels of Print-N-Stick Fabric above and to the side of the fireplace mantle, which are recessed about 18 inches. “Though the textured plaster surface was fairly uneven, the material had no problem adhering, and shows no sign of releasing,” says Hoefert.

Walls surrounding the carousel horse gallery were built around it to cut down on the amount of sunlight streaming through the numerous windows, mainly to protect the original paintings housed in the display from too much direct light.

Rudinec Prints Graphics for MuseumsHoefert applied four large panels of Print-N-Stick to these walls that are designed to be seen from the street through the windows. “We photographed the carousel horses that are in the gallery, printed the murals and applied them to the walls. When the lights are on at night, they almost glow in the windows,” adds Hoefert.