Introducing Masterpiece REVOLUTION Digital Sheets: a new line of top quality, universal materials that are compatible with both your liquid toner and dry toner machines. REV up your digital print operations with high performance synthetics capable of running on your HP, Xerox, Kodak, Canon, Konica Minolta…interchangeably.  No more searching for products specific to your machine.  No more increased inventory from multiple products for each press.  No more limitations from the lack of availability of a material on all of your press equipment.  By combining our diverse knowledge and expertise of digital printing into one sheet, Masterpiece Graphix has created a truly Revolutionary product that brings universal printability to all of your synthetics.  One SKU. One inventory. All of your machines. Our newest coating technology adapts to your machine, responds to your ink system, and produces bright, vibrant colors with optimal adhesion and no shrinkage.  Freely move static cling vinyl, wall graphic vinyl, PVC, styrene, synthetic papers, polyethylene, and more from one machine to the next, and maintain the confidence that every project will be a Masterpiece, no matter which digital press you choose to print it on.

Masterpiece Graphix now stocks ten Masterpiece REVOLUTION Digital Sheet substrates with same-day shipping:

• MGX-1360 7 mil REVOLUTION Clear Polyester w/ Tipped Sheet
• MGX-1319 Masterpiece REVOLUTION Static Cling – White
• MGX-1320 Masterpiece REVOLUTION Static Cling – Clear
• MGX-1141 6 mil Masterpiece Premium REVOLUTION White Wall Graphix
• MGX-1153 2 mil REVOLUTION White Polyester/Perm/90#
• MGX-1284 Masterpiece REVOLUTION 10 mil PVC – White
• MGX-1304 Masterpiece REVOLUTION 15 mil PVC – White
• MGX-1306 Masterpiece REVOLUTION 10 mil Styrene – White
• MGX-1009 Masterpiece REVOLUTION 3.25 mil PSA Vinyl/Perm/90# – White
• MGX-1003 Masterpiece REVOLUTION 3.25 mil PSA Vinyl/Rem/90# – White

Masterpiece Graphix also supplies custom runs of Masterpiece REVOLUTION Synthetic Paper stocks that run interchangeably on the HP Indigo and dry toner presses like the iGen, Nexpress, and other similar press technology. MGX offers several grades of Masterpiece REVOLUTION Digital Synthetic Paper sheets in thicknesses ranging from 8 to 15 mil, with rapid processing and order delivery. Masterpiece REVOLUTION Synthetic Papers are bright white and are a perfect choice for tear, chemical, and moisture-resistant applications. Converting MGX Masterpiece REVOLUTION Digital Sheets synthetic paper stocks is easy; the material can be cut, perforated, laser die-cut, folded, and punched. Its properties make it a superb choice for menus, children’s books; hang tags, safety tags, and horticultural tags. The Masterpiece REVOLUTION Digital Sheets synthetic paper lineup is available as unsupported stocks, or as a pressure sensitive product with various adhesive options.

If you are in the market for a specific material that will run flawlessly on your entire digital press arsenal, MGX can help you create the digital-ready materials you require. For more information on in-stock or custom Masterpiece REVOLUTION Digital Sheet options, please contact your MGX sales rep or email the sales team.

REV up your printing.  Join the REVOLUTION.  Make it a Masterpiece!

The MGX/3M Commercial Graphics partnership will give digital press users access to many sheet and roll materials that were previously unavailable to the industry. Here are just a few of the 3M Commercial Graphics product options that are now made digital-ready by MGX:

Specialized Adhesives for Every Application: 3M is most well known for their tapes and other adhesive technologies.  3M Commercial Graphics is able to leverage these technologies into adhesives that work in a multitude of different graphic applications.  3M Commercial Graphics specializes in vehicle wraps, fleet graphics, and a variety of unique applications like floors, sidewalks, countertops, and textured surfaced walls.  These different applications require an adhesive to be strong enough to adhere to each substrate, and also in many cases remove easily so that the substrate can be used again.  3M Commercial Graphics has extended these changeable and removable adhesive technologies to the MGX partnership, now allowing for narrow web customers to offer digitally-printed graphics in locations they could not previously service.

3M Commercial Graphics knows that brand owners want their graphics and images to look flawless after installation.  Whether that means the graphics perfectly align when overlapped or that there are no bubbles in the finished graphic, 3M has a technology to help the installer accomplish these criteria.  Controltac™ is a 3M brand name for films with pressure-activated adhesive. Controltac™ adhesive is slideable and repositionable until firm pressure bonds it to the substrate.  3M Comply™ permit air bubbles to escape through channels in the adhesive as a film is being applied.  This feature allows a novice installer to apply graphics virtually bubble-free.

Overlaminate Options: As a distributor of 3M Commercial Graphics products, MGX is pleased to offer a multitude of overlaminates to provide graphic protection options for digitally-printed substrates. Through this partnership, MGX will be offering several textured overlaminates specifically for floor and sidewalk graphics. These non-slip overlaminates offer protection and traction to digitally-printed graphics, and comply with many workplace safety standards. For more information on the multitude of overlaminate options from the MGX/3M Commercial Graphics partnership, please contact your MGX sales rep directly to find an option that best fits your project.

A Diverse Mix of Application Possibilities: In our recent Dscoop webinar on space branding, MGX and 3M Commercial Graphics showcased specialty products from 3M that were specifically designed for space branding applications. 3M™ Scotchcal™ Graphic Film with Comply™ Adhesive IJ40C is the perfect 3M Transit Ad Graphic film IJ36, another intermediate film, is an ideal choice for short-term space branding graphics, as the material removes cleanly without adhesive residue. In addition, many specialty products like premium films 3M™ Controltac™ Graphic Film with Comply™ adhesive IJ180C or IJ180Cv3 are available for outdoor commercial fleet vehicles, watercraft, and transit graphics, as well as many other applications. Each 3M Commercial Graphics product is specially formulated to perform well under its recommended usage. For more information on some of the readily available space branding products from 3M Commercial Graphics and MGX, check out this 3M spec sheet on available materials.

Is there a 3M Commercial Graphics product you would like to see digital-ready for your press? Let Masterpiece Graphix know! Email our sales team to get more information on any 3M Commercial Graphics product, made digital-ready by MGX.

Fenton, MO September 19,

Announcing the partnership, Color-Logic director of sales and marketing Mark Geeves commented: “Masterpiece Graphix and Color-Logic have worked together to ensure that Masterpiece Graphix Brilliant Metalized Paper/Perm/40# (R1361) provides the best possible image quality results on the Xeikon 30000 Series of digital label presses.  As a result, Masterpiece Graphix becomes the first Color-Logic technology partner to qualify substrate for use on Xeikon equipment.  Our collaboration ensures that Masterpiece Graphix is familiar with the Color-Logic Process Metallic Color System™, and stands ready to assist Xeikon users who wish to print on metalized paper to achieve the dramatic Color-Logic effects.”

MGX also offers Xeikon-authorized enhanced metalized material solutions for BOPP and polyester synthetic substrates. In addition, Masterpiece Graphix manufactures a multitude of metalized roll and sheet substrates that are compatible with other digital label presses.

For additional information, please contact:

About Masterpiece Graphix:

Masterpiece Graphix (MGX) is the premier digital substrate manufacturer, providing solutions for liquid toner, dry toner, and inkjet digital press technologies. As the first and only HP-Certified Indigo Treatment Center established in North America, Masterpiece Graphix has successfully treated hundreds of digital sheet and roll materials for the HP Indigo press. Masterpiece Graphix offers turnkey, ready-to-run digital material solutions for HP Indigo, Xeikon, EFI Jetrion, Kodak Nexpress, Memjet RapidX, and Xerox iGen digital presses, as well as solutions for other digital press technologies. As a digital material manufacturer and treatment center, MGX is a one-stop-shop for all traditional commodity stocks and exotic materials, opening up new revenue opportunities for digital press users.

About Color-Logic:

Color-Logic^™ develops color communication systems and software tool sets for a variety of special effect printing applications.  Color-Logic provides brand owners, product managers, corporations, and their advertising agencies the ability to differentiate themselves and their clients with a simple print production process that yields dramatic results.  Color-Logic special effects utilize the existing workflows of printers and designers, yielding dynamic results without the use of special equipment.  Color-Logic supports the value of print and works with designers and printers to enhance their printed media.  For more information, visit www.color-logic.com or call 513-258-0047.

One market that is especially suited for synthetic materials is plant and horticultural tags. Plant tags need to be tear and weather-resistant with a bright white print surface. One MGX client produced a series of unique plant tags, complete with tear-off outdoor planting calendars for a large national green house. A synthetic paper was the right choice for this project for its durability, bright white finish, and its ability to be micro-perforated for easy tear-off.

Masterpiece Graphix has supplied hundreds of synthetic substrates to digital press customers, and offers not only BOPP, but other specialty solutions to suit specific needs. Here are just a few of the flagship digital-ready specialized synthetic products that Masterpiece Graphix offers:

• Masterpiece Premium Synthetic Paper: MGX offers several grades of synthetic paper in thicknesses ranging from 8 mil to 15 mil. Masterpiece Premium Synthetic is a bright white synthetic paper, and is available in sheets or as rolls. It’s a perfect product for tear, chemical, and moisture-resistant applications. Converting MGX synthetic paper stock is easy; the material can be cut, perforated, laser die-cut, folded, and punched. Its properties make it a superb choice for menus, children’s books; hang tags, safety tags, and horticultural tags. This material is available as unsupported stock or in conjunction with various specialty adhesives and liners.

• Masterpiece Premium Clear Polyester (PET): This material offers the same performance of our white synthetic paper in a crystal clear construction. An optional white tipped-on sheet allows the material to feed trouble-free through the HP Indigo sheet press engine, and removes cleanly for the final application. HP Indigo users can combine the clarity of the substrate with the white ink system to create a wide range of opaque and transparent effects. Masterpiece Premium Clear Polyester is available in sheet or roll form through the MGX/Transilwrap partnership. MGX can offer HP Indigo-compatible polyester roll and sheet stocks, as well as options for the Kodak Nexpress and Xerox iGen.

• Masterpiece Premium 6 mil Wall Graphix: While not traditionally considered a “synthetic paper”, Masterpiece Premium Wall Graphix is an extremely popular product for HP Indigo digital press users. The product features an ultra-removable adhesive that removes cleanly without residue. The material is repositionable, allowing the graphic to be reused or adjusted. This product is RIT-Certified for use on the HP Indigo 5000/5500, and is available in sheets or as HP Indigo-compatible rolls. This material is also available as a Kodak Nexpress or Xerox iGen-compatible product; please specify your press model when ordering.

If you are in the market for a specific synthetic material, or if you need a specialty material that will resist chemicals, moisture, and damage, MGX can help you get the digital-ready synthetic material you need. MGX has compiled a database of hundreds of synthetic substrate constructions, so we can help you find the best possible choice for your digital print project. For more information on synthetic options, please contact your MGX sales rep or email the sales team.

Masterpiece Graphix will be able to offer stocked solutions as well as proprietary custom constructions to HP Indigo, Xerox iGen, Kodak Nexpress, and other digital press users. Masterpiece Graphix will also toll-coat products for 3M Commercial Graphics under this agreement.

“MGX is extremely excited to partner with 3M Commercial Graphics,” said Dan Lawellin, national sales manager of Masterpiece Graphix. “Through this relationship, our companies can now jointly offer sheet and roll substrates that weren’t previously available to the digital press industry.”

“3M Commercial Graphics is an innovator in technologies that make graphic material installations easier.  We are excited to bring these technologies to the narrow web market for the emerging trend of space branding and other applications where a novice installer may have to lay down graphics,” said Adam Larson, marketing supervisor at 3M.  “We feel that MGX’s insight and experience into coating a wide variety of materials will only increase the speed at which 3M Commercial Graphics enters the narrow format market.”

More information about the Masterpiece Graphix & 3M Commercial Graphics distributorship agreement is available by contacting Masterpiece Graphix at (636) 349-6401 x225, or sales@mgxdigital.com.

For additional information, please contact:

 About Masterpiece Graphix:

Masterpiece Graphix (MGX) is the premier digital substrate manufacturer, providing solutions for liquid toner, dry toner, and inkjet digital press technologies. As the first and only HP-Certified Indigo Treatment Center established in North America, Masterpiece Graphix has successfully treated hundreds of digital sheet and roll materials for the HP Indigo press. Masterpiece Graphix offers turnkey, ready-to-run digital material solutions for HP Indigo, Xeikon, EFI Jetrion, Kodak Nexpress, RapidX, and Xerox iGen digital presses, as well as solutions for other digital press technologies. As a digital material manufacturer and treatment center, MGX is a one-stop-shop for all traditional commodity stocks and exotic materials, opening up new revenue opportunities for digital press users.

About 3M Commercial Graphics:

3M Commercial Graphics supports your desire to deliver your customer the very best from high-performance vehicle wrap films to competitively-priced intermediate products.  Leverage the power of the 3M brand, and the broadest portfolio of solutions, to help grow your business.

Masterpiece Graphix now offers a premium temporary tattoo option: a FDA-grade film with a medical adhesive. Masterpiece Premium Medical Tape/Rem/60# (R1570) is designed to be comfortable, breathable, and transparent, and was originally developed for the surgical market. These aren’t atypical low quality apply-with-water kid’s temporary tattoos; this product can be applied right out of the package with no water, and offers a durable vibrant surface for your digital graphics. Plus they stick to skin until removed with no flaking or rub-off. Users can even shower and sweat without damaging the graphic. The temporary tattoo peels off easily when it is time for removal. R1570 is specially formulated to be compatible with the HP Indigo roll press series.

You may think that the temporary tattoo market would have a narrow focus. That’s not so! There are many diverse uses and applications that can easily create new revenue streams for your HP Indigo roll press. Here are some creative applications that are already utilizing medical tape:

• Show Your Team Spirit With Fan Tattoos: There are already a few digital printers that utilize this material for college and professional sports-themed temporary tattoos for fans. Athletes can even get in on the action by proudly displaying their team spirit on their skin. Temporary tattoos are perfect for any level of sports participation, and can be “applied” for just about any individual or team sporting event.

• Athlete Identification: One digital printer came to MGX for a very interesting (and creative) way to utilize our medical tape. This digital printer wanted to produce leg and arm numbers for triathlon participants. These ID numbers would be applied to the athlete’s arm and side of the calf, adding a whole new level of visibility for each participant. Masterpiece Graphix medical tape is breathable, lightweight and very comfortable, making it an innovative choice for participant identification. The triathlon organizers even added the event colors and logo to the graphic, creating another level of branding for the organization.

• Other Creative “Applications” for Temporary Tattoos: The possibilities for temporary tattoo sales are endless! Some creative applications include holiday promotions (including Halloween costume production), movie-themed items, holidays and special events. These are just a few of our ideas for using temporary tattoo production on a digital press; can you come up with other applications.

For more information about Masterpiece Graphix’s temporary tattoo products, please contact your MGX sales rep directly or email our sales team.

In this new economic climate, consumers are carefully planning purchases and are less likely to make an impulse buy. 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.

Because of these emerging trends in buying behaviors, 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”. 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 and immersed shopping experience.

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. 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 onsite message-centric experience.

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. Wall graphics, floor graphics, glass applications and pressure-sensitive vinyl are just a few of the available digital materials from MGX that can be used to produce elements of a space-branded location.

Want to learn more about space branding technology? Register for our webinar and tune in next Wednesday, July 27 to learn all about this innovative revenue stream for your HP Indigo.

Masterpiece Premium Green sheets are manufactured with up to 50% post-consumer plastic content predominately sourced from plastic water bottles. The material is 100% recyclable so the environmental benefits can extend beyond your printing application. The material is low weight, with 80% less density than a typical plastic sheet. The material is even weatherproof, with excellent UV performance against wicking, plastering, and swelling.

The characteristics of Masterpiece Premium Green Sheets make it an eco-friendly choice for signage applications. Billions of square feet of retail signage are installed and subsequently thrown away each year. Masterpiece Premium Green Sheets not only make use of post-consumer recycled content, the material closes the sustainability loop by being 100% recyclable. Other diverse applications include outdoor signage, backlit light boxes, retail packaging, trade booths, loyalty cards, and high impact mailers.

Masterpiece Premium Green Sheets can be quickly sourced and treated to run flawlessly on your HP Indigo sheet or roll press. Beta testing options are also available for dry toner presses like the Xerox iGen and Kodak Nexpress. For information on all of our Masterpiece Premium Green Sheet options, please contact your MGX sales rep, or get in touch with the sales team at 636.349.6401 x225, or at sales@mgxdigital.com.

Interested HP Indigo roll press owners can contact Masterpiece to trial this innovative new material. The digital press owner will be provided a loaner heat press and a roll of sample transfer material so they can experiment with a complete end-to-end garment production solution in their facility. Press owners will need to furnish their own t-shirts or other items for production trials.

Digitally-printed garments are gaining momentum in the marketplace, and the revenue potential continues to grow. Combined with the ability to produce short runs and custom items, digital technology is a win-win for garment production. Start-up costs are relatively low for HP Indigo press owners to diversify their existing business model with digital garment offerings. Digital heat transfer applications can range from the atypical tee to specialty items like totes, accessories, pillowcases, ribbon, and other various promotional items.

These newly offered heat transfer materials work best on light colored cotton or cotton/polyester blend fabrics with a tight weave. The transfer is very durable, with excellent color density lasting at least 15-20 wash cycles.

The transfer image is produced by digitally printing the file as a mirror image on the non-glossy, unlined side of the material. Any unprinted paper is trimmed off of the printed graphic before application, so that only the graphic is transferred to the garment. The heat press should be set at 375°F with a high pressure setting (60 psi) for the best transfer results.

Before pressing the graphic into the garment, first press the garment individually for 3-5 seconds to release any moisture and remove wrinkles. When you are ready to adhere the transfer to the garment, place the printed and trimmed graphic face down on the garment with the lined side facing up. Press the garment for 20-25 seconds. When pressing is completed, wait three seconds then remove the backing paper while the graphic is still hot in a smooth and even motion. Let the garment cool, and it’s ready to wear!

Other digital heat transfer options for HP Indigo roll presses are in the works. For more information on MGX’s heat transfer trial program or our HP Indigo-compatible sheet or roll heat transfer products, please contact your MGX sales rep or email the sales team.

In today’s growing marketplace, many digital press users demand a unique, custom security option tailored to their application. Thanks to Masterpiece Graphix’s partnership with Document Security Systems (DSS), MGX can offer a multitude of digital security paper options. With all of the available constructions, you are surely able to find a security paper solution that best fits with your product.

While MGX stocks our 60# Gray “Void” DeterX paper, many other custom constructions are available to fit your needs.  The DeterX technology (a hidden message revealed when the printed piece is scanned or copied) can be applied to a variety of substrates, including papers, board stocks, and plastics.  These hidden message pantographs can come in an assortment of colors, such as blue, red, yellow, and green, and the wording on the pantograph can be designed with a variety of standard messages, such as “void” or  “copy”.  We can even work with you to create a custom message or embed an end user’s logo!

Besides MGX’s stocked gray “copy” DeterX®, MGX in conjunction with DSS offers several other options for the DeterX® stock. DeterX® is a warning paper that contains hidden messages that are revealed once copied or scanned, making the difference between the original image and its copy unmistakable. MGX stocks the paper in a gray “copy: pattern, but the same stock is also available as a custom product in blue, red, yellow, and green. In addition, other messages can be embedded into the copy such as “void” or “unauthorized copy”.

Digital press users who desire a more covert security paper may prefer the DeterX® basket weave option. This paper disguises the hidden message with a complex basketweave pattern that is also pleasing to the eye. The basketweave pattern is available in gray, blue, green, red, and yellow. In addition, this paper stock has the option of adding a custom message to your stock, creating a proprietary digital security stock tailored to your specific application.

Blackout technology can give your secure document an extra layer of protection from unauthorized use. ObsureX is another MGX digital-ready stock available from DSS as a custom product. This gray stock is available with your choice of three hidden messages. What makes this digital security stock unique is its block-out pattern: copies on many high-end color copiers will show up severely distorted or even blacked out and unreadable. This function is very useful for obscuring highly sensitive information in addition to preventing unauthorized reproduction.

All of the MGX/DSS security products listed above can be formulated as sheets or rolls for the HP Indigo. Sheet products can also be made compatible with dry toner technology like the Kodak Nexpress or the Xerox iGen. Other constructions  can be engineered to your specific press technology.

Besides security paper, Masterpiece Graphix has many other substrate options available for security printing applications. Holographic materials, exotic substrates, tamper-evident polyester and self-destructive labeling materials are all available through MGX, ready to run on your digital press. For more information and substrate consultation for all of our security options, please call your MGX sales rep or email the sales team.