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Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Technology & Products
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Squid Self-Adhesive Textile Now Available for Latex

You’ve heard about Squid and the unique way it dresses up windows, and now it’s available for latex ink technology, exclusively in the U.S. through LexJet.

Squid gives windows in offices, healthcare facilities, restaurants, hotels and homes an elegant finish that’s easy to install after printing. It can also be cut into odd shapes for partial coverage.

Squid has many design and eco-friendly benefits, such as:

  • Prints easily using wide-format technology, including solvent, eco-solvent, UV-curable and latex
  • Crisp output is ideal for branding or advertising messaging
  • Reduces glare and reflects heat from the sun
  • Creates privacy
  • Resists humidity and has antibacterial properties
  • Can be used printed or unprinted
  • Fire retardant and PVC-free
  • Alternative to plastic film products typically used for window graphics

Squid is available in six base colors (latex is only available in Chalk) to provide a variety of warm, contemporary and minimalistic finished looks. Because the adhesive is only placed on the fibers of the textile, Squid still provides a bit of transparency while still blocking about 1/3 of the sun’s energy.

If you have used Squid with other technologies and want to switch to latex, please note that the liner has changed and the rolls are wound with the printable Squid fabric on the outside of the media roll, versus on the inside for the other printer technologies. If Squid for latex needs to be trimmed on a cutting machine, we recommend testing it advance with your preferred cutting equipment.

To learn more about Squid, visit our product page and call a LexJet printer expert at 800-453-9538.

Our Top Window Graphics Tips
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Tips & Tricks
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Our Top Window Graphics Tips

Window graphics have come a long way from the corner gas station. And while those bottling and promotional graphics are still in high demand, using window space to apply signage and brand messaging or even create a sense of privacy have inspired a new batch of window graphic materials for ease in installation and replacement. Here are a few of our top window graphic tips:

To Perf or Not to Perf?

Perforated window graphic film, such as LexJet Simple Perforated Window Vinyl (70/30), allows you to print on 70 percent of the surface, while 30 percent of it is tiny perforations, or holes. This allows for excellent image reproduction and shading coming into the window from outside, while people inside the building can still see out the window, through the perforations. Since this product is mounted outside, we suggest LexJet’s Optically Clear Cast Laminate for extra protection. Window perf is also available in 60/40 vinyl.

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Do You Have a Winning Lineup for Outdoor Graphics?
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Tips & Tricks
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Do You Have a Winning Lineup for Outdoor Graphics?

Now more than any other time of year, outdoor signage and graphics are front and center and in demand. We hold outdoor graphics to higher expectations in terms of durability and longevity, but also in photo and color reproduction and overall strength and visual appeal. We gathered some of our customers’ favorite outdoor products for a variety of applications. Check out this list to find your tried-and-true choices, as well as some new products that you’ve yet to discover:

Although it’s not technically specified for outdoor use, our customers have found that LexJet TOUGHcoat ThriftyBanner can take the heat … and the rain. Photographer Carl Caylor reproduced football player images, shown above, and displayed them on the field in frames attached with BannerUps for an entire football season. “We had a few games with really nasty weather, and they really held up great,” he says. “The ThriftyBanner got wet, but after the game we hung them up to dry, and everything was fine. It was amazing for a product that’s not really rated for outdoor longevity.”

LexJet Simple Adhesive Vinyl SUV is a tried-and-true outdoor self-adhesive option. It can be used to cover up eyesores, like Spectra Imaging achieved quite stylishly by covering a generator and finishing it with a film laminate for extra outdoor protection, pictured here. Another self-adhesive favorite is LexJet TOUGHcoat AquaVinyl PSA, a go-to choice for durable outdoor signs, like those used for election season yard signs when paired with Coroplast or foam boards. And don’t forget that LexJet now carries a full line of Avery Dennison films and laminates made specifically for long-term outdoor use for vehicles, transit and marine graphics, as well as floors, windows and walls.

Need a lasting window option? We’ve got dozens of window graphics choices, but if it’s a retail space and you want to see through the graphic, a favorite option is LexJet Simple Perforated Window Vinyl (70/30). Because 70% of the surface area is printable, you get great graphic reproduction and color punch with the added benefit of not obstructing the visibility through the window. Compatible with solvent, eco-solvent, UV-curable and latex inks, it’s designed to mount on the exterior of the window and will cleanly remove from the glass within the first year of installation.

Try LexJet Production Display Film SUV for banner stands. If you’ve got a customer request for banner stands that’ll be used outdoors, this is an ideal option for you. Our Production Display Films were a huge success when they launched, and it’s not hard to see why — this true lay-flat option won’t curl on the sides the way some material will, especially when they’ve been displayed for some time. The solvent option means you don’t have to apply a laminate top coat, and it’s super versatile. LexJet Production Display Film SUV is ideal for trade shows when you don’t need it to stand up to the outdoor elements.

If you’ve got dye-sublimation capabilities in your facility, a high-end, durable solution is ChromaLuxe EXT, made specifically to be used outdoors and guaranteed to last up to and beyond three years. These metal panels create stunning, high-end signage or décor with the vivid color reproduction we expect from dye-sub transfers. Stay tuned to our blog for more information and real-life examples featuring ChromaLuxe EXT!

Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Technology & Products
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Now Available at LexJet: The HP Latex Family of Cutters

Recently, HP launched the Latex Print & Cut solution by bundling the HP Latex 115, Latex 315 and Latex 335 with cutters, giving print providers the opportunity to trim and cut graphics without interfering with their workflow, saving both time and money.

Realizing that many latex printers were purchased prior to the release of the bundle, HP knew that those users could benefit from the addition of the HP Cutter with the latex they already have in house, so they company released the HP Latex Cutting Solution at the ISA show in March.

The new cutters will give all users of the HP Latex 300 and 100 series printers a true print and cut option, that includes FlexiPRINT and CUT RIP. With three options, there is a solution available to everyone, from beginners to seasoned shop veterans:

  • The HP Latex 54 Basic Cutting Solution is an easy and affordable option for those whose graphics demand don’t exceed 54 inches and has a maximum cut speed of 33in per second (84 cm/sec)
  • The HP Latex 54 Cutting Solution is a great way to grow your business with your 54-in latex in the graphics market. This cutter offers a faster maximum cut speed (44 in/sec; 113 cm/sec) for quicker turnaround times
  • The HP Latex 64 Cutting Solution will accommodate graphics as wide as 62.2 inches (158 cm) with the same maximum cutting speed as the 54 inch model (44 in/sec; 113 cm/sec)

The addition of an HP Cutting Solution or Latex Print & Cut will open up opportunities in applications like labels and stickers, floor graphics, wall decals and window graphics.

If you currently own a Latex 300 or 100 series printer and are interested in adding one of these solutions to your workflow, call one of our LexJet sales specialists at 800-453-9538 or visit us online at LexJet.com.

Now: Simple Grip for Windows — 3 Easy-to-Install Options
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in News & Trends, Technology & Products
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Now: Simple Grip for Windows — 3 Easy-to-Install Options

Original LexJet Simple Grip

Our award-winning LexJet Simple Grip Backlit film was such a fan favorite that we’ve added two more versions that deliver great window graphic results and are just as easy to install.

Original Simple Grip has a slightly frosted finish that is ideal for high-end retail environments that are enhanced with natural or artificial light — from the front or back — to really make the images pop off the window.

Prepping Simple Grip Clear

LexJet Simple Grip Clear offers a truly transparent film to add a hint of graphics or a dynamic display that allows for some see-through capabilities without perforation holes. Like original Simple Grip, graphics printed on Simple Grip Clear are visible from the inside or outside of the window. Print on the surface of the film to apply on the outside of the window or reverse print to face-mount the graphic from the inside for extra protection.

Printing LexJet Simple Grip White on HP Latex

LexJet Simple Grip White is our third, quick-dry polypropylene option with lay-flat construction that looks great with front lighting. The matte finish adds some opacity and colors and details really pop, especially with added lighting.

Want to see how easy it is to print and install any of the Simple Grip options? Watch this video for step-by-step instructions:

Digital Décor Printing Goes Beyond Wallcoverings
Posted on by Shellie Terry Posted in Tips & Tricks
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Digital Décor Printing Goes Beyond Wallcoverings

A lot has been said over the past few years about the opportunities in digital décor printing … and most of them have been focused on wallcoverings. And while we love a good digitally printed wallcovering as much as the next guy, we wanted to take a moment to focus on other opportunities in decor printing … beyond wallcoverings.

Take a look at some of these inventive, imaginative projects our customers have done using a variety of ink technologies and media types. And the next time someone asks you to print a wall project, consider pitching them on some custom print jobs off the wall.

TABLES: Opportunities are almost limitless for both surface and object printing. Take, for instance, the tabletop creations by Jamie Birch, who used LexJet Print-N-Stick Fabric and LexJet Crystal Low Tack for sports-themed customized tables. Want to keep them looking good? Our friends at Fredrix used Fredrix 575 Tempo Canvas top coated with Marabu coating and mounted to a puzzle board and routed into circles to create these branded coasters.

 

 

 

 

 

WINDOWS: Create customized decorative prints on either the window itself or shades to block the sun. Window shades can be created with a variety of products, such as LexJet Poly Select Medium, EnduraFab™ Frontlit Premier or HP Light Fabric. To add some privacy or a graphic element to the window itself, try LexJet Simple Grip Backlit, which can be seen from either side of the window and is enhanced by artificial or natural light.

 

 

 

 

 

LAMPS: A little punch of color can go a long way to enhance a room. Lamp shades have become a favorite among digital printers, using products like LexJet Sunset Textured Fine Art Paper 310g and finishing it with a UV coating for extra protection. Retailers like Lamps Plus give customers a variety of pattern and color combinations so they can create their own one-of-a-kind look.

 

 

 

 

 

PILLOWS: These are just two examples of how you can add some major customization to your throw pillows with a latex printer, courtesy of Fredrix, using Fredrix Natural Raw Canvas, and HP, featuring the versatile HP Light Fabric.

 

 

 

 

 

PRINTS: So, technically these prints go on the wall, but offer a decorative option if adding wall paper or a mural isn’t an option. We love all types of hanging wall art including acrylic-mounted prints, floating canvases, wrapped canvases, framed photos and ChromaLuxe panels. There’s something for everyone and every ink technology in our product mix!