Masterpiece Graphix

Would you like to be able to print 24, 30, and 36 mil cards on your HP Indigo roll press? Every Indigo professional knows that the press’s current capabilities limit printing to only 18 mil and thinner stocks.

MGX now offers a revolutionary digital product that allows you to produce double thick cardstock projects: Masterpiece Premium MAX Impact Stock. This innovative MAX Impact solution creates a finished piece that is twice the thickness of a typical “thick” postcard, and is compatible with HP Indigo and other digital press technology. This product is available in rolls or as sheets, and has recently been RIT-Certified for the HP Indigo 5500 & 7000 digital sheet presses. MGX now offers custom roll products in this innovative and versatile stock.

Imagine going to your best customer with hang tags, loyalty cards, postcards, retail tags, greeting cards, gift cards, business cards, and other commercial press projects that are more impactful and higher quality due to the thickness of the stock.

You’re probably wondering how you can produce all of these thicknesses on a digital press, when the maximum thickness you can run may be only 18 mil or less…read on to find out how we can do it.

MGX’s MAX Impact Stock is actually 12, 15, or 18 mils thick, with a specialized no tack adhesive on the back of the sheet and a score down the center. Both sides of your design are printed on the front of the sheet. When the printed piece is folded at the score with a typical bindery folder, the front and back lock together when cut on a guillotine cutter to create an impressive 24, 30, or 36 mil card. After printing, the sheets can be UV coated to add gloss and protection, or add a thin protective lamination layer to make the card thicker and more durable. MGX MAX Impact stocks are available as a custom roll product, and is made to order per your company’s specifications.

Masterpiece Premium MAX Impact Stock is compatible with a wide variety of liquid toner, dry toner, and inkjet digital presses, such as the HP Indigo, Xerox iGen, and Kodak Nexpress. Other digital press models may also be compatible, but we recommend testing the stock first to evaluate compatibility with your particular press model.

Masterpiece Graphix MAX Impact 24 mil Cardstock sheets are currently RIT-Certified for the HP Indigo 5500 and 7000 digital sheet presses, and MGX is working on certifying MAX Impact roll stocks as well.

For pricing and additional information on Masterpiece Premium Double Thick Card Stock options for your digital roll or sheet press, please contact your MGX sales rep or email the sales team.

Would you like to be able to print 24, 30, and 36 mil cards on your digital sheet press? Everyone knows your press capabilities limit you to only 18 mil and thinner stocks!

PROBLEM SOLVED: MGX is offering a revolutionary digital product that allows you to produce double thick cardstock projects: Masterpiece Premium MAX Impact Stock. This innovative MAX Impact solution creates a finished piece that is twice the thickness of a typical “thick” postcard, and is compatible with HP Indigo, Kodak Nexpress, OKI Data Engine, Memjet, and Xerox iGen digital press technology.

Imagine going to your best customer with hang tags, loyalty cards, postcards, retail tags, greeting cards, gift cards, business cards, and other commercial press projects that are more impactful and higher quality due to the thickness of the stock.

You’re probably wondering how you can produce all of these thicknesses on a digital press, when the maximum thickness you can run may be only 18 mil or less…read on to find out how.

Each sheet of MAX Impact Stock is actually 12, 15, or 18 mils thick, with a specialized no tack adhesive on the back of the sheet and a score down the center. Both sides of your design are printed on the front of the sheet. When folded at the score with a typical bindery folder, the front and back lock together when cut on a guillotine cutter to create an impressive 24, 30, or 36 mil card. After printing, the sheets can be UV coated to add gloss and protection, or add a thin protective lamination layer to make the card thicker and more durable.

Masterpiece Premium MAX Impact Stock is compatible with a wide variety of liquid toner, dry toner, and inkjet digital presses. Other digital press models may also be compatible, but we recommend testing the stock first to evaluate compatibility with your particular press. Now you can create impressive digital postcards on extra-thick stocks, for more impact and responses when combined with your digital press’s variable data options.

As an example, if you were making postcards with Masterpiece Premium MAX Impact Stock, the material could be trimmed into several postcard sizes: 4 cards at 4.125 x 5.5 inches, 2 cards at 5.75 x 8 inches or one very impressive card at 8.5 x 11 inches. With these options, your digital press can produce other impressive double thick cardstock projects. Max Impact face material is HP Indigo-certified, and is currently pending certification with its glue combination. Options are also available for your roll press as well.

For pricing and additional information on Masterpiece Premium Double Thick Card Stock options, please contact your MGX sales rep or email the sales team.

Digital printing on the HP Indigo has proven time and time again to be the most diverse digital production press on the market. The HP Indigo roll press can be used to produce labels, shrink sleeves, flexible packaging, folding cartons, and other paper products. But did you know you can produce temporary tattoo products on your HP Indigo too?

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.

Digital printers often come to Masterpiece Graphix for the highest-quality digital products, and to help secure additional revenue streams for their business. Last month Masterpiece Graphix debuted new HP Indigo-compatible thermal transfer materials for HP Indigo sheet presses. These thermal transfer materials are pending HP Indigo certification for HP Indigo commercial presses. Due to high customer demand, MGX is now offering the same material in roll format for beta testing on HP Indigo roll presses.

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.

With its ability to produce colorful eye-popping graphics that grab attention on retail shelves, shrink sleeves are one of the fastest-growing segments in the digital labels market.  A recent L&NW shrink film article cited a TLMI projection, predicting the shrink sleeve industry to grow by at least 7 percent each year. The ability of the HP Indigo press WS4050, WS4500 and WS6000 to be able to print shrink sleeves as well as conventional labels, flexible packaging and folding cartons, shows that the HP Indigo industrial series press truly represents the best in digital package printing and converting in the industry. Masterpiece Graphix supplies many digital shrink film options for HP Indigo digital presses, and is proud to offer a new digital-ready material: 50 micron PETG shrink film to HP Indigo users.

The use of digital shrink sleeves is expected to increase as it eliminates the problems of printing on irregularly shaped containers and widely diverse substrates. The unique technology also allows packaging designers to create attention-grabbing graphics on their products that couldn’t be achieved with another production method. The finished piece exhibits the sought-after ‘no label’ look trending in modern package design. Shrink sleeves can increasingly be found on food containers, household chemicals, pharmaceuticals, health/beauty products, or even as a tamper-evident security feature.

One major consumer of shrink sleeve labels is the beverage industry, and this ultra-competitive business segment is possibly the most demanding of print quality and technology.  With fierce competition between brands, strict adherence to corporate identity, trademark brand colors and the highest possible print quality are all important factors to stand out from rivals. The HP Indigo is perfect for producing the highest-quality graphics digital shrink sleeves to garter the most impact on store shelves. The power of digital print’s variable data technology is also desirable for regional branding and sweepstakes promotions, tools that many beverage companies currently utilize to market their brands.

Masterpiece Graphix supplies several types of shrink film for the HP Indigo, including high/low shrink PVC & PETG, roll-on, shrink-on, and other variations. Masterpiece Premium 50 micron PETG shrink film (R1397) is the newest MGX spec added to our HP Indigo shrink film options. The digital-ready film allows you to seam without a pattern coating on the primer. The material is scuff-resistant and primed for digital printing on the outside of the film surface. Masterpiece Premium 50 micron PETG Shrink Film is currently pending HP Indigo certification, and several Masterpiece Graphix customers are already achieving exceptional print results when utilizing this material on their Indigo.

If you are interested in getting in on this hot new market for HP Indigo label & packaging converters, MGX can provide substrate guidance for your unique application and business model. For shrink film seaming and finishing equipment, be sure to review Karlville and ABG’s lines for digital shrink sleeve production. For more information on Masterpiece Premium 50 micron PETG Shrink Film, as well as other shrink sleeve substrate options, please check out the shrink film specs listed on our website. We also offer other options including custom constructions for your project. For more information and substrate guidance for your unique shrink sleeve application, please directly contact your MGX sales rep or email our sales team.

Nevada-based DynaGraphic Printing (DGP) has been pushing the boundaries of digital print for more than seven years. Sales manager Marjie Swiatek said that last year’s Dscoop5 conference gave her the opportunity to speak directly with peers, sharing concerns, ideas, opportunities and more. This experience directly impacted sales at DGP.

“Our clientele developed a taste for variable data and images, with color that rivaled offset, and our sales team was eager to use variable data options for numbering, addressing and other functions that had previously been post-press,” Swiatek said. “The Dscoop conference education sessions were jam-packed with creative ideas that we were able to express and present to our customers with ease and interaction. For that reason, our entire sales team will be attending Dscoop6 this year.”

Dscoop is an open and informed network of graphic arts professionals who use HP Indigo and Scitex. Dscoop members discuss solutions and business strategies to help improve efficiency and profitability in their companies. Do you take advantage of all that Dscoop offers?

• Dscoop6, Feb. 17-19, 2011, in Orlando, Florida, is the annual conference where the community comes together to share ideas and experiences that propel their businesses forward

• More than 40 Webinars per year addressing business, technical, label and packaging, and grand format topics that discuss best practices and analyze industry trends

• 4 issues per year of Dscoop Quarterly, a printed newsletter highlighting the latest information and new ideas for your business

• 24/7 online discussion forums for members to help and learn from other members, with 55,000 hits per year

• Peer groups for business owners, technical operators, and sales executives to exchange ideas with like-minded industry professionals

• HP Capture Program tools, case studies and customizable Web-to-print tools on dscoop.org

• Special discounts and deals from more than 90 Partners, including Dscoop Gold Partner Masterpiece Graphix

To learn more about Dscoop, visit www.dscoop.org. Call 312.527.6707 or e-mail info@dscoop.org for membership information.

St. Louis, MO January 27, 2011 – Masterpiece Graphix is proud to announce new sales and distribution partnerships with Leed Consultancy and Lowry Sales B.C. Ltd., making MGX’s vast selection of digital sheet and roll materials available in Canada and throughout Europe. Now HP Indigo, Xerox iGen, Kodak Nexpress, EFI Jetrion, Xeikon, and other digital press users in Europe and Canada will have access to MGX’s expansive catalog of digital-ready products. Digital press users throughout Europe and Canada will also be able to utilize custom stocking options not previously available in their region.

“Masterpiece Graphix is tremendously excited to offer high-performance digital materials throughout Canada and Europe,” said MGX President/CEO Doug Watson. “We’ve received many requests for our digital materials to be readily available in international markets. European and Canadian digital press users will now enjoy shorter lead times, reduced shipment rates and access to more materials as a result of our new relationships with Lowry Sales and Leed Consultancy.”

Alan Steenson of Leed Consultancy is MGX’s European Ouside Sales Agent based in the United Kingdom. Leed Consultancy is in the process of finalizing European warehousing options, and is currently taking orders for MGX digital materials in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe.

Masterpiece Graphix’s Canadian distributor Lowry Labels & Tape currently offers warehousing options in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montréal. MGX Customers can opt to store their desired digital materials in these locations, keeping their digital stocks ready to ship quickly as needed. Canadian and European customers can expect shorter lead times for commonly ordered materials when they utilize MGX’s new warehousing and distributorship options.

MGX is scheduling regular monthly shipments of digital material from their St. Louis, Missouri facility to warehouse space in Europe and Canada to save customers from the additional expense and hassle indicative of international freight. Interested parties can get in on the savings by contacting MGX to schedule regular orders of their desired material, or to package a small order for testing along with other orders for reduced shipping rates.

Digital press users in Europe and Canada can contact MGX’s regional distributor to request pricing and lead time on desired digital roll and sheet stocks.

Contact information for Masterpiece Graphix digital material sales and distribution in Europe:

Contact information for Masterpiece Graphix and Lowry Labels & Tape Canadian distribution options:

For additional information, material samples or images please contact:

Click Here to Download a PDF of this News Release

Masterpiece Graphix is proud to announce a distribution partnership with Lowry Labels & Tape, making MGX’s vast selection of digital sheet and roll materials available in Canada! MGX’s entire product catalog is now available on a custom stock basis for the first time in Canada, thanks to Lowry’s distribution channels. Now HP Indigo, Xerox iGen, Kodak Nexpress, EFI Jetrion, Xeikon, and other Canadian digital press users will have access to more MGX products, as well as regional custom stocking options not previously available.

Lowry offers stocking locations in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montréal, giving Canadian MGX/Lowry customers a range of warehouse locations that best fit their digital business. Existing MGX customers in Canada now have access to Lowry’s warehouse network. MGX customers can opt to store their desired materials offsite, ready to ship to their pressroom quickly as needed. Canadian customers can expect shorter lead times for commonly ordered materials when they utilize this option.

MGX is in the process of scheduling regular monthly shipments of material from our St. Louis, Missouri facility to Lowry’s warehouse space in Canada to save our customers money and hassles on international shipments. Get in on the savings by scheduling regular orders of your desired material, or package a small order for testing on your press along with other orders for reduced freight charges.

Is there a digital sheet or roll material you are interested in, listed on our website or otherwise? Contact Zoran Culin at Lowry to request pricing and lead time on your requested stock, and set up regular orders to ensure that your desired digital materials are always ready to ship quickly to your facility, when you need them.

Here is the contact information for more information on these new Canadian distribution options from Masterpiece Graphix and Lowry Labels & Tape:

For more information, please contact Zoran directly or email our sales team.

Metalized substrates add pizzazz to your digital press offering with sparkle and interest. However it can be tricky to for a graphic designer to create a file that will achieve the desired metalized colors and effect when it goes to press. Color-Logic, a developer of color communication and software tools for special effect printing, The Process Metallic Color System™ by Color-Logic provides a communication system linking graphic designers with printers and converters. Previously only available for offset lithography applications, the Color-Logic Process Metallic Color System Version 2™ now supports digital press, inkjet and flexo printing processes. The Process Metallic Color System Version 2 ™ enables licensed printers to produce remarkable metallic effects on HP Indigo and Xeikon digital presses. The system is designed so that nearly any digital press that can print opaque white ink on a metallic substrate can produce striking images, hundreds of metallic colors and dazzling special effects.

Now industrial HP Indigo and Xeikon users with five-color printing capabilities (white plus CMYK) can utilize the Color-Logic process to produce as many as 250 different metallic hues on metalized substrates. The Color-Logic software works by incorporating the metallic substrate into the design, creating an effect equivalent to that achieved when running offset lithographic images with metallic ink. The Process Metallic Color System™ standardizes the process to benefit both printers and designers, to ensure files are correctly printed without the trial and error that can hinder metallic printing projects. The software system produces beautiful special effects for labels, folding cartons, signage, literature, point-of-purchase, and other specialty applications.

The Process Metallic Color System™ by Color-Logic has gained popularity initially for its ability to produce striking metallic images and special effects using offset lithography and flexography. In addition to Xeikon and HP Indigo technology, Color-Logic has recently released the new version of their metallic printing system to be compatible with wide-format inkjet.

The Process Metallic Color System™ software works by providing graphic designers with the ability to add a fifth silver separation to their usual CMYK images, creating designs that were previously impossible to achieve. Many Color-Logic special effects are simple and easy to create, and the system does not require you to purchase additional hardware or software to implement the technology. Files are generated by the same design software press users currently use, so Color Logic’s Process Metallic Color System™ platform is already compatible with your existing workflow. Printers that want to utilize the system are licensed and authorized by Color-Logic after demonstrating their metalized printing capabilities with the Process Metallic Color System™. This certification is a strong selling point when bidding on metallic printing jobs.

Color-Logic sells directly to printing companies who can then license the process from Color-Logic on a one-time basis, for perpetual use. Color-Logic partners with major press and output device suppliers, including manufacturers providing coating and proofing equipment, as well as ink and substrate suppliers, to ensure compatibility with existing printer workflows and practices. Products are thoroughly tested before release to ensure that the metallic printing system produces exceptional results on different digital press models.

Color-Logic, in conjunction with Xeikon, showcased their Process Metallic Color System™ at Graph Expo in October 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. Color Logic’s booth distributed printed samples of MGX’s Xeikon-Authorized Brilliant Metalized Paper/Perm/40# (R1361), which were printed using Color Logic’s metalized printing software on a Xeikon digital press.  Color-Logic’s Process Metallic Color System™ received a coveted MustSee’em Award in the Software category at Graph Expo.

Take a few minutes to see how the Color-Logic Design Suite produces dynamic  effects with the most common design programs available in the marketplace today by following this link.

Masterpiece Graphix can provide digital metalized substrates for HP Indigo and Xeikon that work well with Color-Logic’s Process Metallic Color System™. For more information on our metalized substrates, please contact your MGX sales rep directly or email our sales team.

Masterpiece Graphix is proud to offer its vast selection of digital sheet and roll materials in Europe! MGX’s entire product catalog is now available on a custom stock basis for the first time in the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe. Now HP Indigo, Xerox iGen, Kodak Nexpress, EFI Jetrion, Xeikon, and other digital press users have access to MGX products not previously available in the European marketplace.

MGX has a dedicated sales rep who is handling all material orders in Europe. Alan Steenson of Leed Consultancy is our MGX sales rep based in the United Kingdom and will have European warehousing space available soon to MGX customers. Alan can help your business with pricing and material selection for your specific application. Alan Steenson can also help your company determine the best supply chain solution for your digital business.

MGX is in the process of scheduling regular monthly shipments of material from our St. Louis, Missouri facility to warehouse space in Europe to save our customers on international freight charges. Get in on the savings by scheduling regular orders of your desired material, or package a small order for testing along with other orders for reduced freight charges.
Is there a digital sheet or roll material you are interested in, listed on our website or otherwise? Contact Alan to request pricing and lead time on your requested stock, and set up regular orders to ensure that your desired digital material is always ready to ship quickly to your facility, when you need it.

Here is the contact information for MGX digital material sales in UK and Europe:

For more information, please contact Alan directly or email our sales team.