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Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Technology & Products
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Four-Part Series: Differences Between HP Latex 700 and 800 Series

Recently, we asked Timothy Mitchell to take a closer look at the new HP Latex 700 and 800 Series printers. In this four-part series, he will walk you through the differences between the two series, the innovative ink and printhead system, the new white ink, and he will walk you through the general printer information for all four printers.

Here is a quick overview of the technology behind the new printers. According to Mitchell, this generation is not about making modifications and changing the name. These printers are continuing to build on HP’s success with latex technology. “Almost every part of the printer has been adjusted, improved, updated, and innovated. It’s a new latex introduction,” says Mitchell. “But it still retains the hallmarks of latex: water-based ink, environmentally friendly, and safe for the user.”

Ink Cartridges:

The 800/800 W have 3-liter boxes and a reservoir tank, while the 700/700 W have 1-liter boxes with no reserve. Why does this matter? You get a lower cost per liter and a longer run time. “If you run out of ink in the box, it [the printer] will automatically switch over to the reserve tank,” says Mitchell. “It’s virtually impossible for you to run out of ink while unattended.”

The 1-liter inks in the 700/700 W series is an upgrade over the 775 mL of previous generations, but without the reservoir tank, it is possible to run out of ink if you are doing extended or unattended runs.

Speed:

While both series are faster than previous models, the 800/800 W is about 15% faster than its counterpart. So why are these printers faster than other generations? According to Mitchell, it’s due to the lower curing temperature. “Instead of printing at 230° F or 240° F, I’m going to be printing at 200° F or less, with more speed,” he says. “So, the prints are coming through quicker and at a lower temperature. More speed and more impact with less thermal deformation.”

Status Beacon:

One very noticeable difference between these two series is the flashing status beacon, a green/yellow/red light on the 800/800 W. Much like a traffic light, this multi-colored light will let you know if the printer is idle (solid green), working (flashing green), needs attention (flashing yellow), or completely stopped and something is wrong (flashing red). The beacon is an excellent way for production managers to run several printers and quickly identify any troubles with the fleet.

These are just a few of the differences. Be sure to click on the video above to learn more about the Latex 800 and 800 W from the 700 and 700 W and check out the HP printers in The LexJet Experience. Check back over the next few days to catch the rest of our four-part series.

 

If you still have questions, give us a call at 800-453-9538, and our printer specialists will be happy to help.

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Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Case Studies & Profiles
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Working with LexJet is a “Win-Win” for Arrow Photo

In 1943, renowned American photographer Wynn Bullock started Arrow Photo, a small commercial photo lab in Santa Maria, Calif. As the business grew, so did the product offering. In the 1950s, then-owner Hank Datter added film processing. In 1979, Margrit Holmes joined the Arrow Photo family. About 11 years ago, Holmes purchased the company where she has dedicated much of her life.

When she bought Arrow Photo, Holmes made the difficult decision to split off the camera store to focus on offering the best output for her clients. “I realized that the only way I can be successful in these challenging times is by offering customer service, connecting with my clients, producing high-end products, and most of all, giving quality,” she says. “The only way you can give quality is to use quality products.”

Holmes works with both aqueous and dye-sublimation printers. She uses LexJet Sunset Reserve Gloss on her two EPSON P6000 printers for her canvas prints. Recently, she added a SureColor F6370 and Geo Knight Maxi Press Air to improve her ChromaLuxe process.

Holmes’ decision to bring in the heat press ChromaLuxe prints to her clients was easy. The unique look of the aluminum panels creates durable and eye-popping images. “We offer the high gloss and the matte because not everybody likes the high gloss,” she says. “The colors are punchier with the gloss, but we have a lot of customers who prefer the matte, and we have no re-dos.”

The desire to provide high-quality products and customer service to her clients is one of Holmes’ main reasons almost exclusively with LexJet. She enjoys the wide variety of products, fast delivery, and friendly service from LexJet. “In the beginning, I was only ordering canvas, and then I realized how many products you carry, now I order from LexJet,” she says. “It’s because of the service and the fast delivery time. Often, we have the product the next day or two days later.”

With her diverse clientele – anything from customers ordering family photos to large canvas or ChromaLuxe prints for hotels and hospitals – Holmes knows the importance of getting what she needs when she needs it. “For us to fulfill everybody’s needs and do it successfully, we must use quality products and have the material available when I need it,” she says. “And we have LexJet to back us up and support us.”

Knowing she can get products she loves and trusts on time is not the only reason Holmes has partnered with LexJet. Perhaps, more importantly, is knowing that when she needs help, she can call and get her personal sales manager, Terry Brown, on the phone. “I know Terry will be there for me if I need him. It’s about having that human connection, and that’s important”, she says. “I always appreciate companies that recognize that customer service is important, and there are so many companies getting away from that.”

With her long and storied history with a long and storied company, Margrit Holmes knows what it takes to make customers happy, and she values the partnership she has with Terry Brown and LexJet. “Perhaps if it weren’t for LexJet, we wouldn’t be so successful, so really it is a win-win,” she says.

We’d love to see how we can positively impact your business, too. Reach out to a LexJet sales specialist at 800-453-9538 or browse our wide variety of products at The LexJet Experience, a virtual world with everything LexJet has to offer.

Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Technology & Products
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Floors, Walls, and Windows. Oh My!

There’s been a lot of talk about floor, wall, and window graphics lately, so we decided to go to Michael Clementi, LexJet’s in-house solutions expert, to discuss some of the most popular and easiest products to use for floor, wall, and window applications.

Clementi talks about several products in LexJet’s portfolio in the video above. Here are some of the highlights:

Floors –

When it comes to floor graphics, there are two options: a one-step solution or a two-step solution. Clementi suggests the one-step method for short-term graphics, and the two-step application will be down for an extended time.

“A product like LexJet Textured Indoor Floor and Wall has a slip-rated surface so you can print it and put it directly on the floor,” he says. “The two-step process requires you to have a printable product and a laminate. This solution is for medium to longer-term floors graphics.”

Walls –

Wall graphics offer everything from short-term needs (up to two years), to intermediate-term (up to five years), to long-term (7+ years). LexJet Solvent Print-N-Stick Fabric has been a favorite among LexJet clients for the past few years for many reasons. It images well and will last up to two years, but it is also easy to install for just about anyone, from kids to adults.

“The difference between Solvent Print-N-Stick and a regular calendered wall film is that Print-N-Stick is a fabric so airflow can go right through the product [reducing air bubbles],” says Clementi. “Also, there’s no overstretching it. If adhesive vinyl gets overstretched, it might not match the panel next to it.”

Windows –

For window solutions, there are several options: some visibility, total coverage, or privacy. Simple Low-Tack Clear and White are quick and easy options for minimal or full coverage and are great alternatives to static cling. LexJet Simple Perforated Window Vinyl 60/40 is the perfect “go-to” solution for privacy.

“Low Tack Clear and White have the same adhesive. It’s a very low tack microsphere adhesive that doesn’t have problems sticking to the release liner, and it won’t come up and ribbon on you at the edges when you are contour cutting like static cling can,” says Clementi. “The last alternative is window perf. It has 60% vinyl and 40% perforation, excellent for retail environments. The liner is super thick and holds the product extremely well, all the way through the print process and on to the install.”

For additional solutions, visit The LexJet Experience or contact a LexJet Applications Expert at 800-453-9538. And don’t forget to check out the video above to hear more from solutions expert Michael Clementi.

Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in News & Trends
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The Top Five Digital Printing Trends for 2022

As the year kicks off, we took a look at some of the hot topics we expect to see over the next 12 months. So, what are we expecting in 2022? Let’s take a look:

Election Year Means Election Signage

No event requires more temporary signage than an election. From yard and large commercial signs to bumper stickers to direct mailers, the campaign season offers a bevy of applications that could keep commercial printers and print service providers busy through November.

Start planning now for the upcoming election cycle. HP Self Adhesive Vinyl and HP 15 oz Prime Double-sided Blockout Banner are easy solutions for yard signs, bumper stickers, and banners any time of year.

Sustainability Efforts Continue to Dominate the Market

Manufacturers are investing more into creating solutions that don’t just appear green but genuinely are sustainable. Consumers ask PSPs to provide alternatives, from recyclable materials to media made from recycled water bottles, even at a higher cost.

To get the eco-friendly applications into the hands of the consumers, manufacturers are creating ground-breaking solutions like Elements Andes Recycled Satin Canvas SUV. Other companies continue to improve their already strict sustainable guidelines. Earlier this year, Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World listed HP for the sixth consecutive time.

As more companies implement eco-goals by decade’s end, it seems the sustainability trend won’t be going anywhere for a while.

Increased Personalization

Printing is already a personal service, with the ability to customize everything from mugs to hats to reusable grocery bags. But now, as people continue to work from home or split their time between home and the office, they are looking to personalize their at-home workspaces.

According to CraftJack.com, 41% of people working out of a home office have purchased art and décor or printed pictures to improve their backgrounds, spending an average of $195.

Whether requesting custom backdrops, installing wall graphics, or adding custom wall décor, consumers are looking for ways to create a professional workspace out of their homes.

Diversification

One of the most over-used words of 2020 was “pivot,” but it was over-used for a reason. Many companies and people had to pivot when businesses started shutting down, and in-person activities and going into the office turned into virtual trade shows and working from home.

PSPs that branch out into other print-related areas experience continued growth, success, and customer loyalty. Learning new skills and diversifying portfolios has never been more critical.

Investing in New Equipment

One of the most challenging decisions to make as a business owner is spending money on new equipment. However, with recent color trends, exploding sustainability interest, an increase in larger customized projects, and diversified portfolios on the horizon for 2022, investing in new equipment may not be such a hard decision after all.

These days, buying a new printer isn’t just about replacing an old one. It’s about improving efficiency and output, in other words, increasing speed and reducing turn times. Printer manufacturers quickly improve equipment to meet sustainability goals and help consumers save money.

“There have been significant upgrades and improvements in digital printers in the past few years, and not just minor modifications or painting new colors on the cowling,” says Timothy Mitchell, Senior Director of Print Technology. “Ink technology advances across all platforms is tangible, and the result is better color gamut, greater durability, and the addition of specialty colors like white inks and metallics.”

Mitchell stresses the importance of reliability and improvement in performance as additional reasons to consider investing in capital equipment. “There have also been meaningful advances in productivity, reliability, and cost and job tracking across all platforms—along with increased versatility of the many types of media the printers can print on,” he says. “A current printer prints faster, with higher quality, on more media types, more reliably than any printer of 5 years ago.”

Looking at repair costs and part availability is are other vital factors when considering an upgrade. “It is important to keep depreciation in mind; sometimes it makes more economic sense to trade up the old truck than it does to keep rebuilding the old one,” says Mitchell. “The cost of those parts adds up fast, and in the end, you are just restoring an outdated platform at a premium price.”

There will be some challenges ahead but exploring ways to keep costs under control is the mark of a successful business. For information on how we can help you delve into these trends, contact a LexJet sales specialist at 800-453-9538 or visit LexJet.com today. We look forward to working with you in the year ahead.

From all of us at LexJet, have a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2022!

Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in Promotions & Rebates
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Our Gift to You – Nine Days of Savings with LexJet

This Black Friday, turn the alarm off and sleep in; we’ve already got your gift wrapped and waiting on you!

From Thursday, Nov. 25 through Friday, Dec. 3, Shop with us online and instantly save up to 30% off MSRP on some of your favorite LexJet and Sunset branded media*.

Stock up on products like Sunset Etching Greeting Cards, Sunset Cold Press, Sunset Hot Press, the new Elements Collection, and more and get up to 5X Edge Rewards.

Looking for something else? Save up to 30% on some of our most popular media:

  • Sunset Photo Satin SUV
  • Sunset Photo Gloss SUV
  • Sunset Textured Fine Art SUV
  • And more
If you’re not yet an Edge member, sign up today to get your Black Friday purchase rewards.

This promotion is valid online only, while supplies last. Also, LexJet will be closed on Thursday and Friday; therefore, any orders placed during those days will ship on the next available business day.

Your qualified savings and Edge Rewards will be automatically applied. Visit our Black Friday and Cyber Week Resource page to see how you can save up to 30% or get up to 5X Edge Rewards.

Happy Holidays from our family to yours.

*On select items. Discount applied; no coupon code needed.

Posted on by Jennifer Corn Posted in News & Trends, Technology & Products
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‘Tis Better to Give than Receive, so Gift Memories This Holiday Season

Capturing memories is a year-round activity, but it’s turning those memories into gifts that make the holidays unique. From weddings to births to bringing home a new pet, remembering a special moment requires a special photo paper, and LexJet has several award-winning options.

Vacation Memories

Remind your loved ones of the beauty of an exotic trip or wild nights under the Vegas lights with Sunset Photo Metallic Paper. The metallic finish is perfect for oversized wall art of bright cityscapes or vast landscapes mounted. You can mount the prints to board and display them without a frame. Photo Metallic offers rich colors, shine, and glossiness with maximum detail and minimal glare.

Portraits and More

When it’s time to give the gift of school portraits, family photos, or wedding albums, award-winning Sunset Photo eSatin Paper is what the pros use. Heavyweight and reminiscent of darkroom photos, Photo eSatin has a slightly textured finish that resists fingerprints and smudges. Sunset Production eSatin Paper is another option. It’s not quite as heavy but is an excellent choice for high-volume printing.

Family Heirlooms

Today’s photo is tomorrow’s family heirloom. LexJet Premium Archival Matte is the perfect choice for long-term archivability because it is acid-free for a longer print life with pigment inks. The smooth matte finish is ideal for displaying photos in a brightly lit room without worrying about unwanted reflections.

No matter which option you choose to spread holiday cheer, you can’t go wrong with LexJet’s photo papers. They make everyone’s holiday merry and bright.

For more information on these photo papers and other gift ideas, visit us online at LexJet.com or contact your favorite LexJet Holiday Elf at 800-453-9538 (800-4LEXJET).