A Cut Above

The latest edition of LexJet BrandUP features a Florida business owner, looking to “steak” his claim with his own butcher shop. Prime Butcher Shoppe just outside of Tampa features some of the best cuts of meat in the state.

Pepe Manzanares has a family history in the industry; his brother and father both own their own shops. But he wanted to carve out his own niche with Prime Butcher Shoppe so he came to LexJet for help. Just like you trust your butcher to find that perfect cut of filet mignon, Manzanares and all of our customers trust LexJet to provide solutions to turn his dream into a reality. Here’s a list of the solutions we used in his project:

– General Formulations 232 WindowmarkTM Perforated Vinyl – 50/50

– HP Optimal Gloss Air GRP

– HP Prime Gloss Air GR

LexJet 8 Mil Absolute Backlit 

HP Prime Gloss CP

– LexJet 2 Mil Dry Erasable Gloss Laminate

Watch the video to see what Prime Butcher Shoppe looks like now, and listen to how Pepe Manzanares is trying to making a positive impact on his neighborhood. Then click the link to see our other BrandUP projects and see how LexJet’s wide array of solutions have been put to use in other projects, transforming their communities.

Print & Win Judges Offer Tips for Capturing Competition-worthy Photos

With over 600 submissions for the Print & Win Competition, it was tough to narrow it down to the images that were selected to face the judges’ panel. In fact, there were several images that were on the cusp of making it to the panel.

Given that there was so much discussion about the images, several of the original judges – Pete Wright, Jeff Bowman, and Dennis and Cheri Hammon – returned to share a rare, public learning opportunity for up and coming photographers and photographers who have never entered their work in a formal competition.

The judges selected a few of the images and offered some great talking points not only to the photographer of the image but also to anyone looking to learn and hone their skills. Dennis Hammon is excited to share this sneak peek into a judge’s mind.

“We want you to learn from everybody’s image. We want to give everyone the experience to understand what judges are looking for,” he says. “We’re looking for sharpness, technique, and story-telling. The composition and subject are so important.”

The judges picked a wide variety of images ranging from a boudoir capture to a kaleidoscope creation and discussed what the photographers did right and how the image could be improved for another competition or what a photographer could do differently for future competitions. The suggestions were as simple as a closer crop and choosing a different time of day to as technical as changing settings and doing additional post-production work.

A consensus among the judges is the best way to improve skill and technique is to continue entering competitions. As many past Sunset Print Award winners have stated, anytime they put their work in front of judges, they learn something to help them improve.

Whether the Click & Win Image Awards was your first or fortieth competition, check out the video above to eavesdrop on the conversation. Feel free to leave us a comment and let us know what you learned from the discussions.

Now that you’ve learned more about how to capture the perfect image, contact a LexJet specialist at 800-453-9538 to find out how to take the next step – printing. Remember, it’s not a photograph until it’s printed.

The Click & Win Image Awards Closeout the Click & Print Event

On Monday, Mar. 29, the virtual doors opened to the LexJet Click & Print Event sponsored by Canon. All week, attendees heard from professional photographers like Joel Grimes, Bob Davis, Gary Hughes, and others, as they discussed their own experiences in the world of photography.

These current and former Explorers of Light discussed everything from setting up the perfect indoor lighting to capturing the perfect image using only natural light. Throughout the week, they answered your questions during live Q&A sessions.

The Event also offered software and finishing solutions, to help you capture, create, and print with Canon.

To close out the week, Canon’s Pete Wright, keynote speakers Gary Hughes and Jeff Bowman, and PPA judges Cheri and Dennis Hammon offered their critiques and insights into the Sunset’s Click & Win Awards. Over 50 images were chosen to go to the final judging, where each image was scored. When a judge felt it was necessary, he or she challenged the scores and they discussed, in detail, why they scored the way they did.

After the discussion, jury chairperson Dennis Hammon would ask all the judges to score again. If you’ve never entered a photo competition, this was a great opportunity to see and hear how the judging happens.

The response to the Click & Win Image Awards was incredible, with over 600 submissions for all categories. We’ve created a gallery of all the submissions, so you can check them out and find your favorite, and to see the top three for each category, click on the above video.

If you missed the judges’ decision, here’s a recap of the winners of each category and the overall “Best in Show”:

  • Fine Art/Composite: Kimberly Smith – “Well, Hello There”
  • Portrait: Kimberly Smith – “Cameo”
  • Wedding: Dwight Okumoto – “Elegance”
  • Wildlife/Landscape: Kenneth Martin – “Sacred Lands of the Navajo”
  • Best in Show – Kimberly Smith – “Well, Hello There”

If you’d like to watch a replay of your favorite session or catch any of the ones you missed, all are available on demand. Also, until April 16, unlock the special savings of up to $3,996 off MSRP on Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-Series printers when you visit the show. For more information or to contact a LexJet sales specialist, give us a call at 800-453-9538 or visit LexJet.com.

 

Click & Win Submissions

LexJet’s “The Click & Print Event” Sponsored by Canon is Now Open

“The Click & Print Event” starts today and runs through April 2. This is a virtual, interactive, and educational experience for photographers at every level and features eight of the world’s best Canon photographers together to focus on education on everything from capture, to edit, to print.

Hear from current and former Explorers of Light, including:

  • Clay Blackmore – Get Moving! How Video Can Grow Your Photography Business
  • Gary Hughes – Model Behavior: The Best Ways to Photograph People
  • Bob Davis – Great Images in a Flash: Techniques to Master Off-Camera Flash
  • Jeff Bowman – It’s More Than Just Funny Videos: How Social Media Can Grow Your Photography Business
  • Eddie Tapp – Finding Light in the Darkness
  • Joel Grimes – The Best of Both Worlds: Combining Digital Technology with Classic Photography Techniques

All this week, there will be live Q&A sessions with each of the keynote speakers, bonus content, and if you’ve never been a part of a photo competition, you can watch the judges as they discuss submissions for the Sunset Image Awards to gain insight into the judging process.

If you can’t make it to one of the sessions, don’t worry, all of the keynote discussions, the printer and software demonstrations, and other video content will be available on-demand through April 16.

You won’t want to miss the chance to save over $3,900 off MSRP with special event pricing on the purchase of a Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-Series printer available through now through April 16.

Click HERE to see the full schedule of events and sign up now!

The New EPSON SureColor® R5070: Radiant. Reliable. Resin.

The new SureColor R5070 and R5070L are designed to keep up with fast-paced print shops. They offer immediate lamination, user-replaceable PrecisionCore® printheads, and ultra-low-cost inks. Now available for pre-order, expected shipping in the next few weeks:

High-volume print shops need powerful, versatile printing solutions that can tackle every job with unparalleled speed and efficiency. Now, with breakthrough resin ink, delivering astounding quality prints at true production speeds has never been more convenient.

The first of its kind to feature multi-purpose resin ink, this 64″ signage printer consistently provides professional-quality wallpapers, fabrics, uncoated papers, and traditional signage at remarkable speeds. Designed to keep up with fast-paced print shops, the R5070 offers immediate lamination, user-replaceable PrecisionCore® printheads, and ultra-low-cost inks for ease and savings unlike ever before.

The Epson Ultrachrome RS resin ink and optimizer paired with the PrecisionCore printhead produce brilliantly detailed graphics with accurate print length, panel-to-panel, or job-to-job. It’s also ideal for repeat jobs, reprints, and replicating brand colors.

Why Resin?

  • Save Time: The new R5070 series deliver scratch-resistant prints that are ready to laminate off the printer.
  • Save Money: On the SureColor R5070L, the 3-liter bulk inks offer more efficiency and cost about $0.12 per milliliter.
  • Versatile Applications: These printers were designed for anything from signage to floor graphics to interior décor, and they can handle 17-in x 22-in cut-sheets up to 64-in rolls.

The addition of the SureColor R-series printer to LexJet’s Epson portfolio allows us to continue to provide the tools necessary for you to get the job done, and to take your business to the next level. Along with providing knowledgeable support and great customer service, we are continuing to supply you with proven and cutting-edge products and technology to help you succeed.

For more details on the new EPSON SureColor R-Series printers, watch the video above, visit our EPSON SureColor R5070 Resource Page, or contact a LexJet printer specialist at 800-453-9538.

Equipped to Win Big: HP Announces Next Generation of Latex Printers

HP recently announced its new 64-in latex printers: Latex 700, Latex 700 W, Latex 800, and Latex 800 W. The new “W” series printers offer white ink, giving print service providers an increased range of applications by printing on clear vinyl or you can add a background layer to CYMK images, for instance, backlit signage, to make them more vivid. White ink also increases contrast improving visibility.

With the availability of white ink, you can extend your portfolio into the highest value applications with the whitest white* and beat your deadlines with smart, efficient printing.

Looking to improve its sustainability, HP has included recycled material in the printer and has transitioned to recyclable cardboard ink cartridges rather than standard plastic. These new printers also increase productivity over the previous Latex models and offer excellent 4 pt. text resolution for printing barcodes, stickers, and other small graphics produced at high volume.

HP Latex 700 and 700 W Highlights:

  • Increased ink capacity over Latex 560 – 1 liter vs. 775 mL
  • White ink available on W model
  • CMYK, LC, LM, Optimizer, and Overcoat
  • RIP included – One year of Onyx GO+ Included ($1,200 value)

HP Latex 800 and 800 W Highlights:

  • Higher ink capacity for longer uninterrupted runs – 3 liters
  • White ink available on W model
  • CMYK, LC, LM, Optimizer, and Overcoat
  • 15% faster than 700 series
  • RIP included – One year of Onyx GO+ Included ($1,200 value)

New Latex 700 and 800

Sharpen your sustainability edge — and differentiate your business — with HP Latex Technology.

For more information on these exciting new printers, visit our HP Latex 700/800 resource page or contact a LexJet printer specialist today at 800- 453-9538.

 

*Whitest white based on ISO/DIS 23498 compared to competitive alternatives using solvent and UV technologies under $50,000 USD as of May 2020. Test performed on black opaque self-adhesive vinyl (L*:4.16 – a:0,48-b:2,34) with 160% UF print mode using HP 832 1-liter White Latex Ink Cartridge. Visual opacity = 91%