Crafted as an uncoated, bright white sheet featuring a super smooth finish, Go-to Digital is available in a range of 5 basis weights from 80T to 120C. It is stocked in two sizes—13  x 19 in. and 20.75 x 29.5 in.

“The introduction of Neenah’s Go-to Digital marks an exciting addition to our collection of fine papers. As the digital print sector continues its rapid growth, providing cost-effective uncoated solutions becomes paramount for the success of print service providers,” explains Jason Leonard, product manager, digital print at Neenah.

The two new grades of paper in this product line are made to be used as adhesive facestock for food and industrial label applications in which there may be adverse conditions such as moisture, grease or solvents.

The entire Termax range is manufactured in accordance with the ISO 14001 and EMAS environmental standards, the ISO 50001 energy management standard, the ISO 9001 quality standard, and the ISO 45001 occupational health and safety standard. It can also be ordered with PEFC Chain of Custody and FSC C011032 forest certifications.

PaperTyger is tear-resistant, like synthetic paper, but feels and prints like actual paper. It has two sheets of FSC-certified paper with a layer of biodegradable, durable film in between that makes each sheet tear-proof.

PaperTyger is suitable for maps, menus, manuals, scorecards, race bibs, wristbands, etc. It is also foldable. In terms of finishing, PaperTyger is foldable and perforated, die-punchable, and suitable for embossing, foil stamping, gluing and bonding, and sewing and grommeting.

“The durability of Paper Tyger results from a patented paper/film/paper solvent-less laminating process that delivers the toughness of a synthetic sheet with the benefits of an uncoated paper printing surface,” said Jeff Tapping, president of Huge Paper. “The technology places a polymeric film in the laminate, naturally water, weather, and grease resistant. One of its significant advantages is the ease of printing and converting. This high-white product’s smooth, consistent surface yields vivid graphic images and sharp definition of small text and barcodes, making it more versatile for a diverse range of applications. Printers will also appreciate that no special inks, setups, or prolonged drying times are required, further reducing production costs. If your substrate’s price, printability, and integrity are paramount, then PaperTyger is a wise choice.”

Huge Paper stocks the full range of PaperTyger products in digital and litho sizes, including coated and uncoated options – lower basis weights of 27#, 54#, and 74# for uncoated sheets and a heavier 108# cover stock that is coated on both sides.

The Metalvac Seal is a functional metallized paper with heat-sealing properties on the back. It is suitable for graphic and flexible packaging applications (flowpacks, sachets, envelopes, or wrappers) for non-food products (collectible cards, stickers, toys, hotel amenities, etc.) and food products that do not require a specific barrier. The shiny metallized side is suitable for offset printing (conventional and UV), flexography (UV, solvent, and water-based), and gravure.

The Metalvac Barrier WV is a functional metallized paper with heat-sealing and barrier properties against water vapour, light, and a certain level of grease. It is suitable for flexible packaging applications for both non-food and food products (confectionery, coffee, tea, powdered products, etc.). It is heat-sealable on the metallized interior side and printable on the exterior side through gravure, flexography, and offset printing.

Joining the Drytac Zero range of products, Polar Blockout UV is a 2.0 mil (50μ) highly opaque layered white PET film with a matte finish. It is coated with a white pressure-sensitive, permanent aqueous acrylic adhesive which is protected by a 50# siliconized PE coated release paper. It is a suitable solution for two-sided window graphics and other block out layer requirements.

The film is compatible with UV printers, offers seven years durability across interior and exterior applications and can be supplied in widths of up to 54 inches/1370mm.

“Polar Blockout UV offers another effective solution for customers seeking to produce colourful and impactful window graphics,” Dennis Leblanc, senior business development manager for North America at Drytac said.

“Our team has worked diligently to develop a high-performing sheet, in a wide range of colours with maximum versatility on press,” says Ellen Bliske, director of product management.

Neenah Pearl Papers are suitable for invitations, greeting cards and envelopes, luxury packaging, and impactful marketing materials. The collection includes 12 colours in three weights.

“For brands and retailers that are looking to fulfil their sustainability commitments without compromising durability, printability, and, of course, great style, the search ends here with Monadnock and our two newest product lines,” said Lisa Taylor, vice-president, sales and marketing. “We invested in developing Boulevard and Pavilion PC 100 without compromise, without plastic, and without a doubt that these times demand new signs.”

Boulevard is a moisture-resistant durable poster paper that is suitable for both indoor and short-term outdoor applications. The base paper and scratch-resistant print-receptive coating are engineered for durability.

Pavilion PC 100 is made with 100 per cent post-consumer recycled waste fibre, and suitable for indoor posters. It is bright white and has a matte coated surface. Pavilion is recyclable in the curbside mix paper waste bin.

Boulevard and Pavilion PC 100, like all Monadnock printing, packaging, and display and wall graphics, are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified (FSC C018866).

The papers are scuff-free, waterproof and recyclable in addition to being alcohol, stain, tear, static, and heat resistant. Common applications include POP displays, menus, indoor and outdoor signage, manuals, and floor decals. Available sizes are 12 x 18 in. and 13 x 19 in. Weights vary from 5, 8,10,12 and 14 mil for 100 per cent polyester to 8, 10 and 12 mil for blended polyester, and 4 and 8 mil for paper polyester.

This range is suitable for finishing processes such as screen printing, stamping, flocking and dry embossing. 

Diva Art and Diva Art Duo have been developed for offset, flexo and digital printing. They are ideal for creative graphics, communications and packaging projects, including book covers, folders, labels, postcards and greeting cards, or packaging for cosmetics, perfumes, premium beverages or chocolates and sweets. 

Diva Art is available in six substances ranging from 220 to 350 g/m², and Diva Art Duo from 250 to 380 g/m², both with PEFC or FSC chain of custody forest certification C011032.

Julie Cross, technical director for Domino’s Digital Printing Solutions division said, “After listening to the challenges faced by some of our customers, we wanted to help them by providing a varnish optimized for overprinting UV95 printed output. We therefore set about finding a solution, ultimately deciding to work in partnership with Paragon Inks. After 18 months of great collaboration between the two teams, we have developed a range of varnishes fully validated for compliance, and suitable for global use.”

The first set of varnishes (matt and gloss including TTO over-printable) for use with Domino’s UV95 food packaging-compliant UV digital ink set, are optimized such that the output does not need to be corona treated before the varnish is applied. Not only does this reduce the complexity of the hybrid printing line, but it also provides a solution for medias that are unable to be corona treated, such as some metallic foils. During testing, it was also identified that the gloss varnish can be used as a lamination adhesive, enabling further simplification, as one varnish can be used for two applications.

These varnishes have been formulated for many non-direct food packaging applications and, under the right conditions, are migration compliant. They are suitable for global use, being fully compliant with Nestle, EuPIA, Swiss Ordinance Annex 10 and the North American Toxic Substances Control Act.

To compliment these, there is a second suite of varnishes suitable for use with Domino’s general purpose UV90 ink set.

Amanda Jones, business development and marketing director at Paragon Inks, said, “At Paragon Inks, we are committed to continuous improvement and customer service. We recognized that label converters were experiencing challenges applying varnishes to digitally printed labels. This partnership with Domino highlights how we have worked together as a team to develop a mutually beneficial solution for both organization’s customers. We look forward to continuing to work with Domino in the future.”

We talked with Thiessen about why he decided to bet big and start his own business, how he’s built a strong client base in powersports graphics and rentals, and what’s next for his shop.

How did you decide to go out on your own?
Thiessen: After learning to do wraps on sleds and bikes, I went back to the oilfield briefly and ended up getting laid off again. I looked for a job for a few months, but no one was calling, so I asked myself, “How can I make a living with sledding?”

I started Wide Open Throttle Graphics in early 2019, working out of my basement and an enclosed trailer. I set up deals with other wrap companies to sell and install their wraps for snowmobiles and motocross (MX) bikes.

I recently moved to a new location with office space, which also helps my clients find me more easily. The new shop is approximately 720 square feet and is literally five steps from my back door.
Today I have three sleds that I rent out with my own wraps on them. Those are my showpieces.

Business exploded when Chris bought the Roland DG TrueVIS VG2-540 printer/cutter, as it allowed him to expand his product line.

Why did you decide to purchase a wide-format printer?
Thiessen: After four months in business, I realized I needed to stop outsourcing and purchase my own wide-format printer. I bought a Roland VersaCAMM VS-540 printer/cutter, and taught myself to use it. Having that machine helped me offer my own designs and prints without having to third-party anything out.

A few months later, I traded in my VersaCAMM for a new Roland DG TrueVIS VG2-540 printer/cutter. My business exploded when I got the VG2, and it’s getting even busier now that I’ve been able to expand my product line to offer wraps and graphics kits for motocross bikes, personal cars and trucks and fleet vehicles.

What is your product range?
Thiessen: The top two products that come out of my shop are sled wraps and MX wraps. Both of these products are seasonal, but together, they keep me pretty busy. I also print decals, banners, posters, canvas, T-shirts and small signage projects. However, I mostly stick to anything with a motor. I also do some fleet graphics, and I see a lot of potential for that area to expand.

Who are your clients these days? How do they find you?
Thiessen: My clients love “life behind bars” – handlebars, that is. They’re the kind of people that can’t get enough adrenaline and excitement. I have customers from Texas to Nunavit, and everywhere in between. Most of my customers are from my home province of Alberta, but I ship to about 20 per cent of my clients.
Customers find me by word of mouth and through social media. People drop my name in Facebook, and then someone ends up messaging me saying, “I hear you’re really good.”

I also supply most of the powersports dealerships in central Alberta. Dealerships and groups I have worked with include Turple Brothers, both the Honda and KTM race teams, Parkland Sled and ATV, Altitude Powersports, Dirty Miner Clothing Co. NASTE (North American Single-Track Enthusiasts), and Redline Performance, just to name a few.

I sponsor a team of riders as well. My riders all show the same passion and dedication, whether it be on a bike, sled, or any other toy.

Tell us about the Snoriders West 2020 Best Sled Wrap Contest – is this the first year you’ve entered?
Thiessen: This is something I am extremely proud of: two of my sleds were nominated for 2020 Wrap of the Year. That really came out of nowhere. I entered the crown jewel of my rental fleet, the new 2020 Ski Doo Turbo, and the 2019 Ski Doo Summit 850, named Alpyne. This is the first year I have participated in this competition, and I look forward to entering again next year.

How have you been coping during the pandemic?
Thiessen: When the pandemic arrived back in March 2020, it pretty much shut me down completely. My sled rentals were considered a non-essential service causing interprovincial travel, which meant I risked a minimum of $100,000 to $500,000 fine per machine that left the building, so I closed. Later, we were able to open for graphics work, with curbside pickup only. Now, thankfully, we’re wide open.

Coping with no work for two and a half months was hard. Every graphics kit I had on the go was cancelled and the deposits were forfeited. There were times I didn’t think Wide Open was coming out of the pandemic. I was wrong. When Alberta opened again in June 2020, the phone started going crazy with people calling for kits and new projects.

What do you see for the future of your business?
Thiessen: I am going Wide Open Throttle into the future, with my main focus on powersports wraps. I am also interested in expanding the number of fleet and commercial graphics I produce. I’ve wrapped fleets for a few local service companies, but I’d like to do more.

To date, it has been a one-man show, however I think I may need to hire someone soon! My business continues to improve and grow.

This article originally appeared in the May 2021 issue of PrintAction.

The SureColor R5070 and SureColor R5070L leverage six-colour UltraChrome RS Resin ink to produce professional-quality prints and colour consistency for repeat jobs, brand colours, wall tiling applications, and more. Both printers include the new Epson Edge Print enterprise workflow software for tracking jobs, managing variable data and streamlining workflow integration. Access to the Epson Edge Dashboard provides users with remote oversite and control of their Epson printer fleet.

“Whether printing adhesive vinyl, banners, wall coverings, or on uncoated papers, high-volume print shops need powerful, versatile printing solutions that can tackle jobs with unparalleled speed and efficiency,” said Matt McCausland, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America Inc. “The new SureColor R5070 and SureColor R5070L offer breakthrough resin ink technology and immediate lamination to deliver astounding quality prints at true production speeds.”

The paper can be printed on all common dry toner printers and multi-functional office printers with standard print settings, such as those used for standard office paper. With its antistatic treatment to prevent paper jams, the XM110 allows for the quick creation of signage without the need for lamination.

Complementing our existing portfolio, SYNAPS XM110 offers opportunities for expansion into new areas of use,” said Jeroen Brijs, business development & product manager for Synaps. “We are happy to also help the environment by offering thinner materials for applications that don’t need a higher thickness and avoid material overkill.”

Synaps XM110 has the same core and toner acceptance layer as current XM products, and is now available for sale in standard sheet formats, while sheet and roll formats to customer specification can be ordered upon request.

The client required Warwick Printing to design, print and install 48 individual wall panels to create a mural spanning the store, but Warwick had to work around shelves of fragile stock while doing so.

The mural was designed to promote the spirits, beer and wine on sale, but also included a ‘Cheers Redcliff’ message. The installation took approximately 11 hours, including the set-up and tear-down of scaffolding, due to the team having to work around the bottles on display.

“The main challenge was figuring out how to reach the 17′ (5.2m) install height with racks up against every wall without having to empty the whole store out,” said Lee Weighill, owner of Warwick Printing. “There was not enough space for even the smallest scissor lift or boom lift and regular A-frame ladders would not get us close enough to the walls in the right position. We ended up using painters’ scaffolding and had to stack two units to get high enough, but it was still a 26″ (66cm) reach to the wall which made it a little more difficult.”

However, the project was ultimately successful. “It was a good day’s work and not one bottle was knocked to the floor!” Weighill added.

The team ran over 260 feet of Drytac ReTac Smooth 150 through its HP Latex 360 printer in order to create the mural panels. The 150μ (6 mil) white polymeric printable PVC film is coated with ReTac ultra-removable adhesive technology on one side, allowing easy installation, repositioning and removal of printed graphics from surfaces.

Over the last two years, Warwick Printing has evolved from mainly offset press commercial printing to more digital wide format work, which has helped the company reach new customers and stay successful amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The shop has pivoted to using Drytac FloorTac in its HP Latex printer to create COVID-related floor graphics, to provide marketing materials for re-opening businesses.

“We have fared pretty well so far during COVID-19,” said Weighill. “Overall business was down significantly, as much as 65 per cent in the beginning, but we have seen some major gains in our wide format and signage division during the same period. I estimate we have done more volume during the pandemic than we did in the previous year and a half.”

“Scodix enhancements create great visual impact for the brands who use them, and food packaging is no exception,” said Guy Alon, VP of R&D at Scodix. “The value of adding digital enhancements to food packaging with the assurance that the printing procedure is safe for consumers according to food packaging standards is a big step forward for Scodix Ultra users.”

Scodix PolySense 550 food packaging compliance refers to indirect contact for low migration. Scodix applications that can use Scodix PolySense 550 include Scodix Sense, Scodix Foil, Scodix VDE, Scodix Cast&Cure and Scodix Glitter. It can be used in conjunction with substrates such as offset, HP Indigo ElectroInk and Lamination.

The DigiLite line, which is now available in both Black and White, offer an economical option that is approximately 15 per cent lighter than Celtec premium signboard sheets. The sheets offer superior ink adhesion for digital and screen-printing processes. They can be stained, varnished, laminated and cut.

The DigiLite line offer UV performance and a satin finish that can be used for light-duty applications such as exhibit signage, point-of-purchase displays, indoor and outdoor signage, decorated store fixtures, and more.

The sheets can also be reclaimed through Vycom’s Recycling Take-Back Program that recycles printed and unprinted PVC sheets, as well as scraps and drops from finishing and fabricating. The collected material, which can be PVC, acrylic, PE and PP, is returned to Vycom facilities and recycled into the company’s various products.

Celtec DigiLite Black sheets are available in 3 mm and 6 mm thicknesses in standard sizes.

“The InterioJet 3300 will accelerate the transformation from analog (gravure) to digital printing in the laminated surface market,” said Tom Cloots, director, Industrial Inkjet at Agfa. “It is the ideal cost-efficient solution for medium and short production runs. “Its limited start-up time and high flexibility will enable suppliers of laminated surfaces to gain new business by responding to evolving market demands, including printing on demand and just-in-time delivery. The system allows interior decoration designers to let their creativity run free and create customized designs for every order.”

The system can print on two rolls at a time, each with a width of up to 155 cm and a weight of up to 600 kg, at speeds of up to 340 square metres per hour. The printer provides superior contrast, sharpness and colour saturation, matching typical decorative industry colour profiles. The printer features Agfa’s signature ‘Thin Ink Layer’ technology to provide low ink consumption, reducing production costs and footprint.

The InterioJet features Agfa’s Asanti workflow software, which allows for the controlling, simplifying and automating of the entire printing process, from prepress to finishing. It is also fully compatible with the latest AVA CAD CAM products.

Agfa developed dedicated water-based pigment inks for the InterioJet. These eco-friendly inks are light and waterfast, and use specific pigments to deliver a high colour coverage. They can be used for standard lamination production processes. They can be used to print wood and natural stone designs, such as marble, without surface relief, due to how thin they are once dried.

The products were developed to be recyclable following years of research and development. Because the Recyclable EnviroLiner is made from 100 per cent recycled paper, it also “reduces the environmental impact on forestry, water consumption, electrical usage, landfill waste and, ultimately, our carbon footprint,” said the company in a statement.

The Recyclable EnviroLiner can be used in a variety of label formats, including laser sheets, direct thermal and thermal transfer printer labels, as well as custom roll labels printed on gloss and film.

The new printers deliver output ready for immediate lamination at true production speeds up to 290 square feet per hour. Both printers feature 1.5L ink packs, and the SureColor R5070L includes 3L per colour with hot swap technology for uninterrupted printing.

“The new SureColor R-Series printers further expand Epson’s presence in the roll-to-roll wide-format signage market by offering customers industry-leading Epson print head technology coupled with the benefits of resin ink,” said Matt McCausland, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America Inc.

The printers are the first of their kind to feature multi-purpose resin ink technology to be used on wallpapers, fabrics, uncoated papers and traditional signage.

UltraChrome RS Resin ink delivers instant-dry scratch-resistant output, ready for immediate lamination, at a lower cost per mL. Featuring a new 2.6-inch user-replaceable PrecisionCore Micro TFP print head, the new printers are able to ensure projects with multiple panels have consistent, repeatable color. A new Quality Print Mode separates delivery of optimizer and colour ink to create a stable base layer for output. The SureColor R5070L also includes a hot-swappable ink system that automatically switches from an empty ink pack to a new ink pack mid-print for uninterrupted printing.

The SureColor R5070 and SureColor R5070L incorporate a three-heater system to promote even drying with pre, platen and post heating. A 4.3-inch touchscreen control panel provides easy access to print functions including quick start heaters, media selection, colour mode, and estimated print completion time. The replaceable fabric wiper system cleans the printhead and removes dust prior to printing, resulting in manual maintenance only being needed monthly.

The SureColor R5070 and SureColor R5070L include the new Epson Edge Print workflow software featuring an Adobe PostScript 3 engine for layout and print management, colour management and seamless workflow integration. Access to the Epson Edge Dashboard provides users with remote oversite and control of their Epson printer fleet.

The signage printers also include features such as reliable colour consistency, immediate lamination, low ink costs, user-replaceable printheads, a range of supported applications, high print speeds and an enterprise software suite.

The SureColor R5070 and R5070L (US$23,995 and US$26,995 MSRP, respectively) will be available in January 2021 through authorized Epson Professional Imaging resellers.

Over the last two years, Hemlock’s ZERO program has expanded its availability of carbon neutral papers and products. Now, the program is expanding with the addition of Rolland Enviro 100% PC, an FSC and Ancient Forest Friendly certified 100 per cent post-consumer waste paper, which is now automatically carbon neutral when specified by the customer.

“Collaborating with Rolland was a natural fit for us, as they continue to show exemplary leadership in driving our industry towards the use of recycled, environmentally progressive papers,” said Hemlock’s president, Richard Kouwenhoven. “We share the aligned goals of reducing carbon emissions across our operations and throughout our supply chain while working towards the protection of critical forest landscapes through the use of high-post consumer content paper products. We look forward to working with Rolland on this important initiative in the months and years ahead.”

Rolland says its manufacturing processes demonstrate the company’s commitment to the circular economy and reducing emissions. “From recycled fiber sourcing to biogas energy supply to closed-loop water systems and hydrogen peroxide bleaching processes, their recycled paper is one of the most environmentally sustainable in North America.”

“At Rolland, sustainability is simply ingrained in everything we do, and transparency and credible, science-based information have been key in getting us here,” added Renée Yardley, senior VP sales & marketing. “With our Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) report and Sustainability Plan, we’re leading the charge in sustainable innovation and environmental stewardship. We believe this strategy will take us and our partners to the next level. As such, we are proud to be a partner with Hemlock to expand the ZERO Carbon Neutral Printing Program.”

The now-100-per-cent carbon neutral sheet also provides Hemlock’s customers with high quality and cost-effective options with Enviro Satin and Enviro Cover sheets that can be used for both offset and digital print projects. Swatch books, samples and more information is available from Hemlock and its representatives.

The paper’s face material features a unique grain, colour and it even smells like grass. The paper also ensures the lowest possible environmental impact. Because of its natural composition, the paper’s appearance may vary depending on the specific batch of grass used in production, making each label unique.

The labels incorporate the AP1300 adhesive that features excellent clarity and water whitening resistance, and are “guaranteed to perform to a high level even when immersed in wet and cold conditions,” says the company.

The tree-free bright white premium board was developed with a continued focus on both performance and sustainability. The recyclable board is crafted in the United States, is FSC-certified and composed of 30 per cent hemp fiber and 70 per cent post-consumer waste recycled fiber.

“Hemp is an exceptionally strong agricultural fiber that has been used in papermaking for centuries, so who better than our 200-year old company to reimagine its use for the needs of 21st-century brands,” said Julie Brannen, director, Sustainability Solutions, Monadnock.

Hemp Envi is the latest addition to Monadnock’s Envi Performance Board collection, which offers premium alternatives to commodity board. This type of material is growing in popularity with the world’s leading brands as they look to meet the challenges of more sustainable packaging offerings.

Available uncoated, single (C1S) or two-side (C2S) coated, Hemp Envi can be used for a wide range of lifestyle and luxury packaging applications, including cosmetics, fragrances, wine and spirits, fashion accessories, health and wellness, jewelry and watches, tech and entertainment, nutraceuticals, CBD and cannabis.

Hemp Envi is engineered to deliver high print fidelity, exceptional folding characteristics with full ink coverage, and was designed to provide an excellent base for embossing and foil-stamping. The 18-pt. board is available in 28X40 sheets for immediate delivery. Custom calipers and weights are available by request.

The ink is the newest addition to Inkcups’ S1 UV Ink Series. Following thorough testing, Inkcups created a formula that can print a vivid white on a variety of dark substrates. Vivid White can also act as an opaque white background for multi-coloured graphics to enhance the colours of artwork and make them more vibrant, which helps ensure colour-matching is consistent across all of a brand’s products.

Vivid White boasts the same capabilities and adhesion and compliance standards as the other inks in the S1 UV Ink series. Vivid White is a pour-over for printers using the company’s S1 ink, which eliminates the need to flush a machine when switching to Vivid White. It can also be used in other printers where improved white opacity is needed.

The ink can be used on a variety of substrates including stainless steel, coated metals, plastic and more. It can also print on a variety of flat and cylindrical objects. Applications include drinkware, injection molded housings, promotional items, electronics and more.

“For high-quality graphics, a bright white makes all the difference. We have been working for a few years to find the ideal pigment combination to provide the brilliant white opacity in combination with easy jettability. Our new Vivid White really makes a visible difference and after extensive testing we believe it is the brightest white in the market,” said Ben Adner, CEO of Inkcups.

Vivid White is fully compatible with the range of Inkcups digital printers.

To be named a winner, projects must have used Avery Dennison vehicle wrap products, such as Supreme Wrapping Film or MPI 1105, to wrap a four-wheel passenger vehicle.

Spiderghini took the team one week to design, and one week to install. The intent of the project, according to the company’s entry form, was to emulate Spider-Man’s Iron Spider suit design from the movie Avengers: Endgame, because the team describes itself as “huge Spider-Man fans”.

The base colour of the car was white at the start of the project. The hood and roof were embossed in order to register the webbing and logos with the printer layer. The classic Spider-Man logo was also embossed on the back of the car. Sapphire Creative used Avery Dennison Supreme Wrapping Film in Gloss White to emboss, and Supreme Wrapping Film in Diamond White for the digital print layout, along with DOL1360Z clear, high gloss laminate.

“We wanted to build a design that was both relevant for today as well as easily recognizable,” explains Jeremie Webber, president of Sapphire Creative and member of the project team. “Having the design stand out by standing close to the car as well as having it stand out from a distance was one of our main goals. To do this, we had to make sure our general layout design was simple enough with a strong contrast of colours so that visually you could see and understand the artwork from 10 to 20 feet away from the car but also have some serious wow factor when you got up close and personal.”

Photo: Sapphire Creative.

In order to achieve this, the team printed the graphics on the Avery Diamond SW900 series so the prints would have a heavy metallic finish. In order to give the wrap some depth, the team laid down a cut vinyl layer of the webbing on the car prior to placing the wrap, so when the car was wrapped, the webbing would have an embossed look and feel.

According to Webber, the major difficulty in the design of the project (in addition to actually building it) was taking a design concept that had been custom designed for the human body, and redesigning it to fit a Lamborghini.

“[We had] questions like ‘how do we made a design like this compliment the body shape of the car itself? How thick should the webbing be? How should the webbing curve around the body of the car? Where to place the iconic logos?’ This process took our designers multiple revisions and edits to get the layout exactly how we wanted it before print production was started,” notes Webber. “[We had] multiple revisions to make sure the webbing curved around the body lines of the car just the way we wanted, and making sure the Spider-Man symbols worked with the body of the car.”

Despite any challenges involved in the design, Sapphire Creative is grateful for both the experience and the exposure of the contest.

“Winning the Wrap Like a King contest for Canada helps set us apart as a company. It is not an award that is easy to win and each year the entries are getting better and more creative from every company that enters,” says Webber. “It shows our potential clients that they can trust our work and that our staff is more than capable to handle any of their wrap needs.”

This article was originally published in the 2020 Wide Format Guide. Click here to check it out.

How do you demonstrate colour-accurate proofs on unusual substrates like films, foils and adhesives? It is difficult enough to control your own in-house processes and the wide variety of print production variables; never mind proving to customers that you can do it.

Previous solutions could create prototypes that only resembled the final product. Now it is possible to create prototypes that look and feel exactly like the final product. By connecting superior colour management software to extended gamut digital printers, anyone can produce exceptional, colour-accurate prototypes on a wide variety of substrates. It closes the gap between traditional prototyping and contract quality proofing.

Knowing what it will look like first

With the increased use of multi-colour printing and different combinations of inks types, substrates, screening, and finishes, package and label printing involve a lot of press fingerprinting, ink drawdowns and file manipulation.

Fingerprinting, or press/printer profiling, is difficult to do and, conducted by experts, can cost many thousands a day. All processes, whether conventional or digital, are affected by dynamic changes in environment and printing conditions. The goal is to create a repeatable “golden state” that can be maintained. This is all possible. Using the latest profiling technology, a print provider can easily predict press performance and determine quality characteristics. From past live jobs, with minimal input like a colour bar, or a few measurements from known referenced live areas, a knowledgeable service provider can create an exceptionally accurate brand colour or target press reference.

Different printing technologies, and the variety of service providers and end output printing conditions lead to deviations. ‘Please match to previous’ is now more common regardless of your printing process. By leveraging spectral data profiling and conversion technology—which precisely predicts the overprinting of process and spot or gamut expanding colours— users can avoid lengthy correction loops on press before running a job. Printing process, substrates, and finishing enhancements are taken into consideration. If parameters are similar enough, an accurate prediction proof, separation strategy or direct-to-production material prototype can be quickly calculated without the need to reprofile your end output device— whether conventional flexo, offset, or the wide variety of digital reproduction technologies available.

With the right combination of process controls, profiling software and procedures, it is possible to precisely and repeatedly predict the colour appearance of any combination of inks, substrate, and finishes of the final desired product. Combinations of spot colours or gamut expanding inks with conventional CMYK can be accurately reproduced before the job gets to press. Once a press fingerprint or printer profile is finalized, the prediction of output device behaviour can be accurately predicted to ensure that customer expectations are met. All involved in the project can be satisfied that brand colours are attained, and we all are able to profitably meet our objectives.

Printing wide gamut on a wide variety of substrates

Rachel Desjardins performs quality control duties. Photo: Autumn
Graphics.

In choosing a device that can reproduce a job without going to production equipment, the Epson SureColor S80600 solvent printer is an interesting option. While satisfying the need to reproduce vivid colour, it is equally nimble in its ability to cover the wide gamut of colour to demonstrate accurate proofs, from paper to finished product prototypes. Many different materials are available, including sealable pouch films, shrink wrap films, metallized foils, folding carton boards, and laminate heat transfers to actual printing material.

The printer can be calibrated within tight tolerances to ensure consistent performance and colour reproduction stability. It bridges the gap between a contract colour proof on inkjet paper and direct-to-substrate laminated simulations from the past, with faster print speeds. All of this can be done with simple integration into a supported colour proofing system.

Because of the printer’s small droplet size, even halftone dots can be replicated. This is not a simulation, but the exact dots from the same final files that existing workflows ultimately image to plate. Potential problems such as moirés and incorrect trapping settings are visible in advance, via the proof.

Leaving creation of colour accurate prototypes to itself

Based in London, Ontario with a production facility in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Autumn Graphics Ltd. is a privately-owned company providing pre-media production, plate production, brand management, 3D packaging development, print production technical services, and packaging lifecycle workflow tools. It has served consumer product companies, converters, printers, and advertising agencies since 1982. By continuing to invest in technology, people, processes, and research and development, Autumn Graphics secures the ongoing success of both itself and its customers.

Prior to inkjet prototypes, Autumn Graphics used transfer systems to provide proofs on a substrate. They were looking for a solution that would enable them to increase prototype quality for complex packaging designs and achieve a better colour match for the final print result.

“By transitioning to 100-per-cent inkjet proofing rather than lamination systems, we determined we could produce more efficient, cost effective, and accurate prototypes,” says Ben Abray, president of Autumn Graphics.

“We wanted to grow our inkjet proofing options rather than other systems, and determine what tools could simulate as many types of printed results as possible,” adds Hugh Wilson, Autumn Graphics technical services manager. “The ability to more accurately simulate print conditions without requiring press trials would be really helpful. A graphic trial on press, of course, is the best way to prevent surprises—dealing with issues from ink, anilox, etc. However, if we could use a good predictive model to represent what may happen down the road, that would be very useful.”

Autumn Graphics invested in GMG colour management technology about seven years ago. While they rely on its colour accuracy, another important piece was the remote proofing. They can send accurate colour files to remote calibrated devices anywhere in the world.

“GMG ColorProof was reasonably straightforward to implement,” recalls Wilson. “The GMG OpenColor learning curve took just a little longer because it is very different than typical colour tools. Its fingerprinting takes advantage of sophisticated, proprietary spectral prediction technologies.”

Autumn Graphics invested in its Epson SC-80600 a bit less than a year ago. Its colour gamut was large enough and output was reasonably fast enough, so they could create prototypes on a wider range of substrates. It allowed them to remove slower, non-inkjet proofing options and replace them with more efficient technology to create colour-accurate prototypes.

From left, Jay Oudekerk, colour correction operator and Corey Douglas, customer service representative. Photo: Autumn Graphics.

Autumn Graphics had worked with an outside service for prototypes, but it cost a significant amount of money.

“Prepress proofs have always been accurate. However, the accuracy of prototypes has taken a step forward,” Abray says. “It lets us produce more prototypes, more efficiently, on specialty substrates without the same subsequent increase in human resource and production costs.”

Creating customer expectations is something you don’t do in production. “With prototypes, one of the challenges is that we have to send, fairly quickly and inexpensively, a sample with reliable colour. We produce any proof or prototype with colour management based on the profile we created from the actual flexo or offset press that will run the job, accurately representing process and spot colours,” Wilson notes.

Using the new process not only has cut production costs, but has also reduced shipping costs and timelines.

“It has given us the ability to achieve compressed deadlines for proofs that require different substrates,” Abray says. “In the past, we would have planned for longer lead times to generate our prototypes. But now we expect shorter lead times, condensing time to market.”

While the cost of one prototype is not prohibitive, imagine if a brand owner wants to see a number of sample prototypes that, ultimately, do not go to market.

“Our system offers the brand considerable savings. And, the ability to produce accurate prototypes really helps take the surprise out of the process,” Wilson says.

“Our responsibility is to show samples that represent what can be produced on the press, so that the customer does not have unachievable expectations,” Arbay says. “Many brand owners still need to see what a physical prototype looks like. Now, they can see it in accurate colour.”

Erik Schmitt is GMG director of sales for Canada.

This article was originally published in the May 2020 issue of PrintAction. Click here to check it out.

“Spinnaker is thrilled to have partnered with Neenah to launch this new product,” said Joel Ulrich, roll product marketing manager at Spinnaker Coating. “The features and performance of the product make Endura a great addition to our expanding inkjet and durable portfolios.”

Endura is a saturated and coated paper facestock that provides the high durability and chemical resistance of a film material. The product is suitable for use with flexo and water-based inkjet platforms. When combined with Spinnaker’s C-122F drum label adhesive, the product has been approved for BS5609 Section 2 and 3.

Ariva’s copy paper and envelopes are FSC Chain-of-Custody certified and treated with Biomaster, an additive that is proven to eliminate and inhibit the growth of 99.9 per cent of bacteria on paper surfaces with a lifetime guarantee, without impacting print quality. Biomaster has been proven to be effective against Campylobacter, C. diff, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Legionella, Listeria, MRSA, Norovirus and Salmonella.

Biomaster is added during the manufacturing stage and is embedded within the material, not just on the surface, which allows it to bind to the cell walls of the bacteria. The silver ion technology permanently provides a controlled release of active ingredients to fight microbial growth and replication. It does this by interfering with the enzyme production of the bacteria, disrupting cellular energy production, which results in the halting of DNA replication. Biomaster also prevents the growth of unwanted microbes that can cause product degradation, discoloration, staining or odours.

In typical tests, papers treated with Biomaster reduced the levels of bacteria by over 99 per cent using ISO 22196:2011. The product has been tested to the latest ISO standards. Testing is completely independent and conducted only at leading microbiology laboratories. Additives are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for food contact uses.

Ariva says its Eagle Armour Copy Paper, Business #10 Envelopes and Business #10 Window Envelopes can be used in a number of applications, including at hospitals, clinics, medical and dental offices, long-term care, restaurants, schools and offices.

According to Appvion, independent lab tests have been conducted, demonstrating up to 99.99 per cent reduction in non-pathogenic bacteria on the paper’s surface, even after printing and post processing.

“Appvion has a strong focus on sustainable specialty coatings and new applications, which is why we are continuously bringing innovative products to the market, especially now with the introduction of SafeShield,” said Graeme Hodson, president of Appvion’s paper division. “With the introduction of this coating technology, we are able to provide our customers with solutions that solve a growing concern.”

Hodson added that the product can be used in healthcare, food service, education, entertainment, transportation, office settings and government sectors.

To ensure the efficacy of the product, the antimicrobial coating is formulated with components that have gone through the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s review and registration processes.

BSR-Bio is an advancement of the original BSR formulation that has been successfully used with Barberán Jetmaster digital printers in North America. The Jetmaster was developed to provide inkjet advantages for corrugated boxes and point-of-purchase displays. It is available with Sakata Inx BSR and BSR-Bio digital ink solutions globally.

Sakata’s technology for Nano-pigment dispersion enables their inkjet inks to have high performance jetting properties at very fast print speeds, with high reliability for inkjet print heads. BSR-Bio ink includes standard CMYK colours with orange and green or orange and violet as an option when wider colour gamut is required. The ink is extremely low-odour, and has high durability and good flexibility to reduce cracking issues.

Barberán S.A. has manufactured a number of inkjet printers for short-run, on-demand printing. Now they are expanding its digital printing possibility with BSR-Bio UV ink, intended for environmental sustainability.

“BSR-Bio is a marketable product formulated based on Sakata Inx’s core technologies and long-term experience with a wide variety of materials,” said Yoshiaki Ueno, director and CTO of Sakata Inx. “The market needs for sustainable product solutions will continue to grow based on societal needs to protect the planet and develop a circular economy. BSR-Bio is a strategic product for a circular economy as is part of our Botanical ink product line. It meets many environmental requirements including waste and greenhouse gas reductions.”

Sakata Inx has its own certification process called Botanical Ink in their gravure, offset and flexo ink product lines. BSR-Bio has passed Botanical Ink certification and will be added to Sakata Inx’s environmentally friendly product line.

“Flint Group is acutely aware of increasing societal focus toward sustainable packaging. Therefore, we are pleased to present a full range of bio-renewable inks and coatings, for use in paper and board printing, which are designed to address global environmental concerns,” said Kim Melander, VP and general manager of Flint Group Packaging Inks EMEA. “Our development teams have gone beyond a one-size-fits-all technology approach to design three product series that more effectively support printers’ and brand owners’ differing print and sustainability requirements. With TerraCode, we are delivering a solution, through ink and coating developments, to unlock certain sustainable package print challenges that paper and board converters and their customers are facing.”

According to Scott Mosley, VP of technology, paper and board North America, the TerraCode range was designed to support a number of applications, including corrugated post and pre-print, food wraps, folding carton, cups, paper bags and aseptic packaging.

“We have effectively developed a bio-renewable ink range suitable for all paper and board applications,” said Mosley.

In addition to the sustainability aspect of the range, Flint Group says it also delivers the necessary requirements for premium packaging results, such as high print quality, product consistency and ease of use. The inks and coatings are bio-renewable content (BRC) certified and sustainably sourced. The range is also available as print-ready or through a building block package.

The TerraCode range includes:

• TerraCode Bio – featuring the highest level of bio-renewable content where a typical formulation contains greater than 90 per cent of renewable resources
• TerraCode Hybrid – a combination of renewable and conventional raw materials where a typical formulation contains in excess of 50 per cent renewable resin content
• TerraCode Balance – based on biomass balance technology, a process that maintains the performance of existing synthetic solutions

“Our focus on the environment is not limited to materials alone. The TerraCode range has been developed using a combination of natural feed stock options – natural pigments, resins, additives and biomass balance materials – that do not compete with food or facilitate deforestation,” added Mosley. “For Flint Group, using a sustainable source for these materials is just as important as the renewable content itself. Furthermore, we have extended our strict raw material review policy to include renewable source information.”

Flint Group says its TerraCode products will result in reduced environmental impact, including a reduction in value-chain CO2 emissions.

“With the market launch of what is now the fourth heat-sealable film, we have responded to the great demand from our users. Lightweight sachets and stand-up pouches made of composite films are increasingly replacing the traditional types of packaging on the market,” said Heiner Müller, sales director, packaging at CGS Oris.

“This is obviously also reflected in the increased demand for respective mock-ups. These pouch films are currently very much in trend and are in great demand. The films can all be printed quickly and easily and then converted into a perfect prototype. They are suitable for a variety of different packaging prototypes without having to resort to the original substrate,” Müller added.

The white-laminated side of the substrate enables fewer passes through a printer and significantly reduced ink coverage, because it eliminates the need for a base white layer to be printed. This also shortens drying time and makes the production process faster and more efficient.

All pouch films feature a large colour space, heat sealability and direct printability. The entire media range for solvent prnters has been specially developed to meet the high requirements for the production of proofs and prototypes in the packaging sector.

“The need and use of face masks is universal and, in many cases mandatory, enabling screen printers to replace or exceed imprinted garment jobs lost due to lock-downs on concerts, sports, schools and other group events,” said Mark Vasilantone, Vastex president. “Since they are disposable and purchased daily in the millions, masks hold enormous volume potential for printers, not only as custom jobs but as highly creative stock designs that can be sold online for political, athletic, comical or other applications.”

Rubber strips of the quick-stretch frame stretch single- or multi-layer masks over the diamond-shaped rubber-covered pallets, which flattens pleats and contours in the imprint area with no shifting or need for pallet adhesive, according to the company.

The never-warp pallet is constructed of high-strength steel and includes a holder for the template frame during re-loading of masks. A list of sources for face mask blanks is included as standard.

The company also offers shirt pallets in numerous stock and custom sizes, and over 5o specialized pallets for screen printing on long sleeves, pockets, legs, zippered garments, umbrellas, hats, koozies and other textiles and hard goods. Square and trapezoidal pallets in a variety of sizes allows printing on sizes from infant to adult XXL, as well as all-over printing.