Masterpiece Graphix

In this new economic climate, consumers are carefully planning purchases and are less likely to make an impulse purchase. Retailers are looking away from traditional advertising means and considering new avenues to engage the customer. In 2009, there was an 11% drop in traditional advertising spending in the typical television, print and billboard ad categories. This shows that brands and retailers are seeking out new and unique ways to draw attention to their products by utilizing in-store promotions, commonly referred to as “space branding”. According to the In-Store Marketing Institute’s (ISMI) Shopper Marketing Trends, in-store branding has a formidable impact on consumers, with 70% attracted to aisle displays, 63% to merchandising displays, and 52% to shelf talkers.

The goal of space branding is to engage the consumer, creating a shopping experience and a personal connection to the brand. Retailers can apply space branding concepts to canvas an entire area of a store by using the aisles, walls, floors, shelves, windows, signage, and even its product packaging to create a uniform appearance. Space branding can create “a store within a store” environment, to engage consumers, guide them to your products within the store and create a dynamic shopping experience. Retailers are already utilizing in-store tactics to promote their brand; a recent Retail Systems Research report indicated that 70% of retailers use in-store technologies to improve the customer experience. Other businesses like event marketing, restaurants, and corporate offices can also utilize space branding to create a compelling message-centric experience on location.

Masterpiece Graphix’s digital lineup of materials allows printers to create custom colorful graphics for any locale: be it a retail store, an event, or an office.  Now your clients can effectively brand their entire location with floor graphics, wall graphics, counter talkers, shelf signage, POP displays, window decals, and even protective skins for electronics. Here are just a few of the available digital materials from MGX that can be used to produce elements of a space-branded locale:

Masterpiece Premium Wall Graphix: This unique substrate is useful for removable graphics on walls as well as shelf strips and counter talkers. This material is available as RIT-certified sheets for the HP Indigo 5000/5500 (MGX-1141) or as HP Indigo-compatible rolls (R1413). Dry toner-compatible sheets for presses like the Xerox iGen & Kodak Nexpress are also offered. Use in conjunction with our digital overlaminate materials to create durable or UV-resistant graphics. MGX uses Premium Wall Graphix and textured overlaminate to create branded, ultra-thin mousepads. Premium Wall Graphix can even be used in conjunction with specialized overlaminate for floor applications to create durable floor graphics; use alone or in a tiled pattern to make the most of prime branding space for your message. MGX offers specialized floor overlaminate with textured, non-slip, and gloss configurations; contact us to inquire which option would be best for your application conditions.

Masterpiece Premium GlassMate®: Window graphics are an excellent way to take advantage of prime unused advertising space both indoors and outdoors. Other overlooked benefits are the potential energy savings by blocking sunlight and the added security feature of blocking out windows. Masterpiece Premium GlassMate® is the ideal substrate for indoor and outdoor window applications. The material is available as white or clear sheets or rolls and is treated for use on HP Indigo, Xerox iGen or Kodak Nexpress. Please specify your press model when inquiring about available materials to ensure you get the right material for your machine. The material features a solid non-gummy adhesion system that works only on glass surfaces. If the material is applied properly to a clean glass window, the printed piece will remain indefinitely until removal. The specialized adhesive system allows the piece to be removed cleanly and easily without leaving residue behind. What also makes this specialized substrate unique is that the material and adhesion system is completely washable, so the printed piece can be cleaned and reused again and again. Premium GlassMate® is also weather-resistant and does not yellow or become brittle from UV exposure.

Static Cling: An economical window application standby, static cling is useful for indoor graphics that are viewable indoors or out. Static cling options include white or clear sheets or rolls, and the material is available as a compatible product for HP Indigo, Xerox iGen, and Kodak Nexpress. As with any digital material, please specify the press model you are using so that we can provide the right product for your machine.

Pressure-Sensitive Vinyls for iPad, smartphone, or other electronic covers: MGX offers several variations of pressure-sensitive 3.25 white vinyl for “skinning” personal electronics such as smartphones, iPads, and even computers. Electronics are important elements in any business location. Retail locations utilize cashier stations, self-checkout lanes, and computer kiosks. Even event marketing requires the use of smartphones, tablets, netbooks, and lead retrieval systems by staff. Branding these high-traffic, high-visibility components with colorful custom graphics is a new way to garner attention to your message and to complete the branded environment. There are many low-tack adhesive options available in sheets or as rolls for many electronic and appliance “skinning” applications. Please contact your MGX sales rep for substrate consulting for your specific application.

PVC, Styrene, Transilwrap 3D, and more POP signage options from MGX: Any traditional in-store branding includes the use of point-of-purchase (POP) signage. Conventional options include PVC vinyl for indoor use and styrene for outdoor use. Another interesting possibility to consider is Transilwrap 3D bubble sheets for indoor POP signage. The material creates a three-dimensional look like lenticular without the expensive software or setup costs. Besides PVC, styrene and Transilwrap 3D, MGX offers many other sheet and roll options for indoor and outdoor signage. With any unsupported sign material, a frame or stand will be needed to finish the sign. You may consider utilizing a clear substrate in conjunction with a backlit sign holder to make your message glow! For more information on the multitude of signage options from Masterpiece Graphix, please contact your MGX sales rep directly or email our sales team.

Recently Masterpiece Graphix partnered with Transilwrap, a manufacturer of high-performance printable plastics and synthetics, to manufacture and distribute co-branded products to the digital printing market. This new relationship grants MGX customers access to new high-quality digital-ready materials from the Transilwrap catalog.  These co-branded sheet and roll products will be available for HP Indigo, as well as other digital press technologies like the Kodak Nexpress and Xerox iGen. Masterpiece Graphix is in the process of receiving HP Indigo certification for many of these new substrates.

Here’s a partial list of some of the digital-ready products being offered through the MGX/Transilwrap partnership:

Clear Polyester

New to the MGX and Transilwrap digital catalog, clear polyester is a versatile plastic substrate that is ideal for graphics, packaging, electrical and industrial use. The substrate is durable, strong, and offers anti-curl characteristics. This material can be ordered as sheets or as rolls as a custom product.

Pro-Print®

A diverse synthetic paper, Pro-Print® is an environmentally-friendly white opaque sheet. The substrate is highly heat-resistant up to 350° F and is microwavable. A durable and versatile material, Pro-Print® can be folded, hot stamped, embossed, die cut, riveted, stapled, and sewn, lending itself to multiple end-use applications.

Styrene

Perfect for outdoor sign applications, styrene is a high-impact, economical substrate that is UV-resistant and durable. The material is completely recyclable and is suitable for displays, point-of-purchase, and other signage applications. Styrene sheets can be guillotine cut, die cut, or punched when finished. MGX stocks 15 mil and 24 mil white styrene in 12” x 18” sheets. Rolls up to 13” width are also available. Other colors, thicknesses and custom options are available by request.

PVC

A versatile, durable substrate, MGX PVC is optimized to print on both sides and is compatible with HP Indigo as well as the Xerox iGen and Kodak Nexpress. PVC is an ideal substrate for many applications, including retail signage and in-mold labeling. MGX PVC sheets are stocked as 10 mil, 15 mil, and 24 mil 12” x 18” sheets. Digital roll options, custom sizes and thicknesses are also available.

Other Options Coming Soon!

MGX is developing new technology for other exotic Transilwrap substrates. In the future, look for digital-ready holographic, eco-friendly and special-effect films as a result of MGX & Transilwrap’s new relationship.  Eventually many of these co-branded products will be offered as HP Indigo-certified substrates. Do you have a Transilwrap product in mind that you would like to purchase for your digital press? Ask MGX! We can help formulate a solution for you based on your desired substrate and application. Please email us or directly contact your MGX sales rep for more information.

In retail, direct mail, and manufacturing, companies are struggling to differentiate themselves from their rivals by utilizing eye-catching characteristics in their product offerings. As a digital printer, it is important to be able to offer clients materials and options that will help them stand out from their competitors. 3D substrates are an excellent way to help your customers literally “stand out” from the rest by displaying text and high-quality graphics that jump off the page or change images. Masterpiece Graphix currently stocks HP Indigo-compatible Lenticular and Azuna® 3D Bubble sheets. Both plastic substrates are durable and extremely diverse, and are both applicable to a multitude of similar end-uses. However, there are advantages as well as limitations to consider when utilizing either substrate.

Lenticular

With lenticular sheets, you can produce a 3D effect, do 3D imaging, demonstrate movement with multiple frame animation, “flip” from one image to another, or “morph” two dissimilar images together, or any mix of the aforementioned processes. MGX Lenticular allows an image to be reverse-printed on the smooth side of the plastic on an HP Indigo S2000 press. The ink can then be laminated for additional image protection.

Masterpiece Graphix offers two types of in-stock Lenticular material: 75 LPI and 100 LPI Lenticular as 12”x 18” sheets. LPI, or lenticule per inch, determines the resolution capacity of the substrate. A higher LPI equals a higher resolution image. MGX 100 LPI Lenticular is a higher-quality substrate that is unavailable through other suppliers.

For any MGX Lenticular image effect to work, multiple images must be properly aligned, or interlaced, and the material must have a square, even cut prior to printing. Interlacing is when the multiple images that create the desired effect are “cut up” and strategically reassembled via specialized software to complete the visual illusion of depth or movement. A misaligned cut can slice into part of the morphed image which can ruin the desired finished effect. A perfectly parallel straight cut is guaranteed on all MGX Lenticular sheet products to ensure the quality of the finished image.

There are a few limitations in utilizing Lenticular in an application. MGX Lenticular sheets are only recommended for use on the HP Indigo S2000. Furthermore, specialized software such as HumanEyes or PhotoIllusion, is required in order to morph the images together and to create the finished piece.

Azuna® 3D Bubble Sheets

Azuna® 3D bubble synthetic sheets is an innovative material that when printed creates a 3-D effect that is similar yet different to the 3D look of lenticular, which can be utilized without costly software or art setup charges. In addition, Azuna® 3D bubble sheets are compatible with any HP Indigo sheet press with a thick substrate upgrade.

Masterpiece Graphix currently stocks Azuna® 3D Large Bubble 12”x 18” HP Indigo-compatible sheets.  The substrate is also available as a small bubble pattern by request. The look of the substrate reminds one of raindrops on a windowpane; the final effect creates the illiusion of 1-2” of depth, with images appearing at the front or back plane of this depth.

With Azuna® 3D, text and images appear to float which creates a three-dimensional look similar to that of 3D lenticular. The substrate is optimized to be printable on either side, allowing printers to choose the desired finished look depending on which side of the material is printed on. If the Azuna® sheet is surface-printed, the floating text and image look is achieved with the printed image appearing to be in front of the bubbled material. If the image is reverse-printed, the “bubble” look of the material appears to be in front of the printed image.

Although images still “pop” off of the substrate with a 3D effect, Azuna® 3D bubble sheets don’t have quite the versatility of lenticular. The substrate cannot demonstrate movement or morph between two dissimilar images like lenticular can. However, any HP Indigo sheet press user can utilize Azuna® without specialized 3D software like HumanEyes. The substrate prints on any HP Indigo sheet press with a thick substrate upgrade, and is not limited for use only on the HP Indigo S2000 model.

Other custom 3D substrates are also available through Masterpiece Graphix. For substrate samples or more information on 3D substrates and how to apply them to a particular end-use, please contact your MGX sales rep.