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Get the Most Out of Your Dye-Sub Printer
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Tips & Tricks
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Get the Most Out of Your Dye-Sub Printer

Adding a whole new technology to your wide-format toolkit can be daunting, but the versatility you gain with dye-sublimation transfer printing can open all new opportunities. With the Epson SureColor Production printers, you can get into it with an initial investment starting around $7,ooo for the F6200 ($14,000 for the F7200 and $25,000 for the F9370) for a 44- or 64-inch system. Once you’re up and running, the creative and money-making possibilities are only limited to your imagination.

Dye-sublimation transfer is particularly favored for textile printing since the ink from the transfer adheres into the fabric, rather than sitting on top of it, as it does with other ink technologies. Once sublimated, the ink won’t crack, fleck or scratch off, making it an ideal option for knitted textiles, particularly high-performance athletic wear. (Bonus: Dye-sub fabrics are also washable!)

Metal photo panels by ChromaLuxe, available at LexJet

In addition to garment fabric, textiles printed for soft signage perform extremely well with dye-sub transfers. Backlit displays, tradeshow graphics and flags are two of the top applications for dye-sub, as they fold and travel easily and are cheaper to ship than films or vinyl often used for similar signage.

Dye-sub is a great complement to your other wide-format printers, allowing you to get into high-demand print products like the popular metal photo panels, ktochkees like coasters, cups and more, and customized décor, like pillows, window blinds and upholstery.

In addition to the printer system, you’ll also need transfer paper. The LexJet InFuze line provides four transfer papers for all needs, including textile, apparel, rigid substrate and multi-purpose. You’ll also need a heat press to sublimate the image to your final substrate. LexJet offers a full line of options, from a 16×20-inch table-top swinger heat press for small jobs, to a 112x48x53-inch heat calendar machine.

If you’re ready to master the world of dye-sub, visit our LexJet.com/dyesub page to learn about more applications and watch some of the how-to videos to learn all the ways to make dye-sub work for you and your business. Here’s a quick look at how to create an all-over print for t-shirts:

New for Dye-Sub: InFuze™ Transfer Papers from LexJet
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in News & Trends, Technology & Products
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New for Dye-Sub: InFuze™ Transfer Papers from LexJet

Transfer paper is a vital element in the dye-sublimation printing process, and any dye-sub printer knows. At LexJet, we’ve developed the InFuze™ line of dye-sub transfer papers with a proprietary microporous ink-receptive coating that handles and performs better than other papers on the market.

The microporous coating is different because when the ink is printed, it sits on top of the paper, rather than soaking into the paper, like other papers that are considered “swellable.” The LexJet InFuze™ line of papers won’t cockle the way others do, and it’s a lay-flat, fast-dry solution that makes transferring easier. The coating also helps to minimize ghosting of the image, even with heavy ink loads.

With the InFuze™ line, we’re offering four transfer papers that provide good imaging and easy release, and cover a wide range of substrate applications to optimize your dye-sub capabilities:

LexJet InFuze™ Multipurpose Dye Sublimation Paper: Ideal for transferring on flexible fabric or rigid substrates, like mugs, promotional items, banners, snowboards and more.

LexJet InFuze™ Textile Dye Sublimation Paper: Suitable for a wide range of flexible polyester fabrics for fast fashion, sportswear, banners, flags and other soft signage.

LexJet InFuze™ Apparel Dye Sublimation Paper: Made with a tacky surface that’s designed to prevent slippage between transfer paper and elastic-type textiles, like moisture-wicking, quick-dry performance sports apparel.

LexJet InFuze™ Rigid Substrate Dye-Sublimation Paper: Approved by ChromaLuxe® as an optimized transfer paper for metal panels used for wall art, table tops, high-end photo art and more.

Give one of our print specialists a call at 800-453-9538 to learn more about the advantages of these new papers. They can also help you discover the possibilities and new business opportunities that dye-sub printing offers. Visit our dye-sub page to learn more about the full dye-sub solution we offer, including printers, inks, transfer papers, ChromaLuxe® panels and heat presses.

Year in Review: The 11 Biggest Product Launches of 2017
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Technology & Products
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Year in Review: The 11 Biggest Product Launches of 2017

As we look back on the year that 2017 was, there’s no denying that our customers are branching out into new areas and looking to offer their customers better performing, more cost-effective wide-format solutions. At LexJet, we strive to stay in-step with those demands. Our 2017 product launches brought to market everything from new outdoor banner materials and high-end fine-art paper options to all new technology portfolios and exciting, versatile media for multiple applications. Let’s take a look back at the changes 2017 brought in media products and equipment advances:

NEW MEDIA:

A Glossy, Opaque Banner: Many of our aqueous printer customers were requesting a glossy version of our ThriftyBanner, so we answered with LexJet Gloss Blockout ThriftyBanner. Not only does the gloss finish add extra pop to graphics and photos, it also eliminates the need to add a gloss laminate when requested, making it a one-step, cost-effective option. The 100% opaque blockout adds another unique feature for one of our most popular launches of 2017.

ClearShield SoftFeel Low Melt laminate applied to a menu.

Print Protection Portfolio: If you’re looking for any type of print protection, LexJet is the go-to source. We relaunched some products and added many new items to our Print Protection portfolio, which includes thermal laminates, water-based liquid coatings, UV liquid coatings and pressure sensitive laminates. This line includes nearly 70 options from the best brands in the industry: Marabu, ClearShield, Sunset, EnduraCoat, MaraShield and LexJet. If you need to protect a print in any application, our Print Protection page is the place to start.

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Print to Fabric in One Step with Kornit Allegro
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Technology & Products
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Print to Fabric in One Step with Kornit Allegro

Anyone who has printed to fabric knows that traditional methods include many steps, like pre-treating the fabric, waiting for it to dry, printing, steaming, washing and even more drying time. Our friends at Kornit have streamlined the fabric printing process down to one step: pressing the print button.

Utilizing digital files and its seven-color NeoPigment ink set, the Kornit Allegro print system requires just one operator who can take a digital file to printed fabric in about six minutes; plus, the Allegro outputs 200 square meters per hour to nearly any type of fabric.

“This is a remarkable new system that some of our customers can really use to expand their operation into fabric and décor printing,” says Matt Radauscher, LexJet Enterprise Account Executive. “As consumers and the market seek more on-demand, customizable short-run printing, a system like Kornit Allegro is offering the perfect response.”

The Allegro print technology is ideal for personalized, one-off to high-production of home textiles, fashion, swimwear, and more, and has light- and color-fastness testing lasting up to eight washes. With its patented “fixation on the fly,” Kornit eliminates the need for pre-treatment. “It’s refreshing to see technology that responds to market demand while also eliminating the need for companies to stock massive inventory,” Radauscher says.

The innovative Kornit Allegro’s direct-to-fabric system is the preferred technology for Spoonflower, an online fabric print provider who offers designs for customers with no minimum order. Its fabric production has been so popular that Spoonflower is on its way to purchasing a third Allegro printer. Watch the video below to learn more about Spoonflower’s operation:

Want to learn more about Kornit Allegro? Download this brochure, and give our account executives a call at 800-453-9535.

Innovation Inspired Us at SGIA Expo 2017
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in News & Trends
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Innovation Inspired Us at SGIA Expo 2017

The weather may have threatened, but that didn’t stop the SGIA Expo from going on! And we were so glad that it did. We found inspiration everywhere we looked around the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. With 600 exhibitors and more than 19,000 people in attendance, the power of printing — on nearly every conceivable surface — could be heard loud and clear.

Walking the show floor, we were thrilled to see some of our partners featuring and launching some great new products. From HP, we we learned about the upgraded HP PrintOS Mobile, which not only helps printers stay on top of printer data, job history, KPIs and service calls, it allows their supplier to track their needs, too. A great tool to enhance those relationships and keep production running right on time.

We couldn’t help but stop in our tracks when we came across the Fredrix Canvas booth, where they made pillows with Fredrix Natural Raw Canvas printed with latex technology, and cool customized coasters fabricated with Fredrix 575 Tempo Canvas and finished with a Marabu top coat. At Fredrix, they are really changing the way we think about printing everyday products.

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A Easier Way to Apply Textiles to SEG Frames
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Technology & Products
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A Easier Way to Apply Textiles to SEG Frames

Our partners at Banner Ups have discovered an easy way to finish textiles in silicone edge graphics (SEG) frames, with the new LexJet Adhesive Backed SEG Keder Tape. This aggressive peel-and-stick adhesive makes SEG frame finishing less complicated, with no sewing, heating or additional equipment required (and the staff to run it)!

The application of Keder Tape is quick: Just peel off the release liner to expose the adhesive; stick Keder Tape onto the fabric; tuck the taped fabric into the SEG frame, and press it into place for a taught, secure finish. We had great results using Keder Tape with EnduraFab Textiles as well as HP Light Fabric. This product has gone through extensive testing and demonstrated long-term durability needed for single-use SEG frames.

Insider tip: Since the tape is repositionable before your firmly adhere it, place it lightly on the back of the graphic and align it to the frame. Reposition it if needed without damaging the graphic (another benefit of not sewing it). Once it’s positioned correctly, firmly press the adhesive onto the textile, and then place it into the frame.

For more details, download this Keder Tape Instructions flyer and call a LexJet representative to learn more about textile printing and finishing.