Masterpiece Graphix

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!

Fenton, MO January 17, 2012 –

HEADLINE:

Masterpiece Graphix (MGX) has released a new lineup of innovative synthetic stocks for the HP Indigo, Kodak Nexpress, Xerox iGen, and other digital presses. Masterpiece REVOLUTION Digital Sheets are a new line of top-quality, universal materials that are compatible with both liquid toner and dry toner digital press technology.

FULL STORY:                         

MGX has introduced a revolutionary new product for digital press users–Masterpiece REVOLUTION Digital Sheets, a new lineup of top quality, universal materials that are compatible with liquid toner and dry toner digital machines. Digital printers can rev up their capabilities with high performance synthetics that run flawlessly on the HP Indigo, Xerox iGen, Kodak Nexpress, Canon ImagePRESS, Konica Minolta Bizhub and other similar technology.  With this new product lineup, MGX takes the headache out of securing digital products for specific to a machine, eliminating the need to increase inventory for multiple presses.

“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 our digital synthetic stocks,” said Dan Lawellin, national sales manager for Masterpiece Graphix.  “Our newest treatment technology adapts to your machine, responds to your ink system, and produces bright, vibrant colors with optimal adhesion and no shrinkage.  Now digital printers can 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 they choose to print it on.”

Masterpiece Graphix stocks ten Masterpiece REVOLUTION Digital Synthetic substrates in 12″x18″ sheets with same-day release:

• 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 to digital printers to use interchangeably on the HP Indigo and dry toner presses like the iGen and Nexpress. 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. MGX Masterpiece REVOLUTION Synthetic Paper stocks can easily be converted via cut, perforation, laser die-cut, folding, and/or punching. Its versatile properties make it a superb choice for menus, children’s books; hang tags, safety tags, and horticultural tags. Masterpiece REVOLUTION Digital Synthetic Papers are available as unsupported stocks, or as a pressure sensitive product with various adhesive options.

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. MGX is a Dscoop Gold Partner, and will be exhibiting at Dscoop7 in booth #229.

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Fenton, MO January 9, 2012 –

HEADLINE:

Masterpiece Graphix 24 mil MAX Impact Card Stock has been certified by RIT for printing on the HP Indigo 5500 and 7000 digital sheet presses. MGX MAX Impact products are innovative premium card stocks available in 24, 30 and 36 mil thicknesses that are compatible with the HP Indigo, Kodak Nexpress, Xerox iGen, and other digital presses.

FULL STORY:                         

The Printing Applications Laboratory at the Rochester Institute of Technology has certified Masterpiece Graphix 24 mil MAX Impact Stocks for printing on the HP Indigo 5500 and 7000 digital sheet presses. The new revolutionary stock, which enables the production of 24 point postcards on a standard digital press, was given RIT’s highest rating of three stars in every category tested including runnability, fixing and blanket compatibility.

Masterpiece Graphix MAX Impact stocks are actually 12 mils thick, with a specialized no tack adhesive on the back of the sheet and a score down the center. Both sides of the design are printed on the front of the sheet. When folded at the score with a typical bindery folder and cut on a guillotine cutter, the front and back lock together to create an impressive 24 mil card. After printing, the sheets can be UV coated to add gloss and protection, or a thin protective lamination layer can be added to make the card thicker and more durable. Using this technology, digital printers are able to create new applications outside of the typical thickness range for their digital machines, and expand their product offerings to their customers.

Masterpiece Graphix MAX Impact Stocks, a lineup of innovative pre-converted digital-ready specialty substrates, can be utilized to produce high-quality 24, 30, or 36 mil cardstock projects on the HP Indigo, Kodak Nexpress, Xerox iGen, as well as other digital press models. Digital printers can now create thick, impactful commercial print products like postcards, hang tags, business cards, and other digital press projects. Masterpiece MAX Impact Stocks are available in a variety of pre-converted layouts, for easy production of folding cards, postcards, membership cards, various envelope configurations, sweepstakes packets, and other digital press projects. Templates are available for each layout, and custom options are also available.

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.

Fenton, MO October 12, 2011 –

HEADLINE:

Masterpiece Graphix has partnered with Convertible Solutions to create a new solution for super thick digital printing applications: MAX Impact Stocks, from Masterpiece Graphix, allow 24, 30 and 36 mils thick products to be made on the HP Indigo, Kodak Nexpress, Xerox iGen, as well as other digital press models. Using a clever adhesive system, this new lineup of innovative digital-ready materials allow digital printers to create high-quality MAX Impact products not previously available.

FULL STORY:

Masterpiece Graphix (MGX), a digital material manufacturer and treatment center, has partnered with Convertible Solutions to introduce a lineup of innovative preconverted digital-ready specialty substrates. This new line of materials includes Masterpiece Graphix MAX Impact Stocks, which allow digital printers to create high-quality double-thick cardstock products up to 36 mils thick on the HP Indigo, Kodak Nexpress, Xerox iGen, as well as other digital press models. This technology can be utilized to create other double-thick commercial print products like hang tags, business cards, and other digital press projects. This relationship also broadens access to other digital preconverted options for postcards/mailers, membership cards, various envelope configurations, sweepstakes packets, and other digital press projects.

Each sheet of MGX 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 Graphix MAX Impact Stock face material is HP Indigo-certified, and is currently pending certification with its glue combination. Options are also available for digital roll-fed presses.

Masterpiece Graphix MAX Impact Stocks are designed for printers and direct marketing companies that want to combine variable data or short run printing with the tactile impact of an extremely thick, and therefore more impactful, postcard. The same technology can be utilized to create other double-thick commercial print products like hang tags, business cards, and other commercial press projects.

“Direct mail is an essential part of any effective multichannel marketing campaign,” explains David Williams, Director of Business Development at Convertible Solutions. “A well designed mail campaign can work on its own or in conjunction with email marketing, personalized URLs, mobile marketing and QR codes to dramatically increase response rates.”

“Postcards are one of the simplest and most effective forms of direct mail,” according to Convertible’s Director, George Fry. “Thicker postcards stand out and have higher response rates than thinner cards, but producing a personalized postcard on a thick stock has been difficult. The digital presses required for short run or variable data printing did not work well with such heavy stock.”

“This is a perfect marriage of technologies,” explains Doug Watson, CEO of Masterpiece Graphix. “ Combining the visual impact and durability of our specialty substrates with Convertible’s unique design and converting capability will give printers and direct marketers new ways to make projects stand out.”

This agreement also gives MGX customers access to other digital paper-based products powered by Convertible Solutions preconverting technology. This includes double thick cardstock options, as well as product options for membership cards, various envelope configurations, sweepstakes packets, and other commercial press projects.

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 Convertible Solutions:

Convertible Solutions is a subsidiary of Inter-State Studio and Publishing Company. In addition to the Double Thick Impact Cards, the company makes a full line of pre-converted stocks for envelopes, mailers and presentation folders. More information is available at www.ConvertibleSolutions.com.

Some of the most challenging printing projects require substrate attributes that seem to contradict one another. For instance, a customer may require a material that has the look and feel of paper, but is also tear and water-resistant. Synthetic substrates are a good go-to choice for many digital press projects like prime labels, commercial print projects, photos, gift cards, tagging, and in-mold labeling. Synthetic materials are an ideal choice for applications in which durability and resistance to water and chemicals are important. Label printers and commercial printers are also looking to synthetic substrates to improve brand image, and to increase margin on their highest-quality jobs.

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.

HP Indigo digital printing technology is well-suited to digital photo production, and is gaining popularity in the digital photofinishing industry. Photo-specialty printing is one of HP Indigo’s fastest growing markets, with a 30% year-over-year increase for new HP Indigo press placements in photo specialty applications in 2009. In addition, HP Indio saw a 40% year-over-year increase in photo specialty page output during the photo industry’s peak-production season, October 1 to December 31.  Applications for photo specialty products are endless, and more products are hitting the marketplace all the time. Some possibilities include photo books, accordion folders, high-end cards, photo prints, and wall graphics.

Digital technology has “caught up” with traditional silver halide photo production: the HP Indigo can now offer archival-quality printing options, small runs, and inline finishing options. A print permanence study by Wilhelm Imaging Research (WIR), the respected industry authority on digital print longevity, gave HP Indigo pages printed on a gloss stock a WIR Permanence Rating of approximately 45 years, which outperforms the best silver halide paper on the market. The study also shows that HP Indigo photo book prints received a WIR Album/Dark storage rating of greater than 100 years.

To meet this exploding demand, HP has developed several flagship solutions specifically for the photo production industry. Many HP Indigo users are currently utilizing the HP Indigo WS6000, 5000, 5500, 7000 and 7500 to produce photo-specialty products. In addition, the HP Indigo 7200 offers improved color management and consistency specifically for high-volume printing of photo-specialty products like photo books. This digital sheet press offers blazing-fast production speeds of 240 four-color letter-size pages per minute, and volumes of up to 7.5 million pages per month. Other features include linked color management utilities and optional finishing systems for inline cutting; offset stacking of book blocks, and lamination.  Dry toner presses like the Xerox iGen and Kodak Nexpress also are capable of producing photo specialty products like books, prints, and cards.

If you are looking to integrate photographic products into your press offerings, Masterpiece Graphix can help with substrate selection, production consulting, and product development. Digital printers that desire a traditional high-gloss paper or cardstock product can achieve this by applying a UV or high-gloss laminate over the printed stock. These finishing options also add longevity to the print. If you are looking for a unique, luxurious look, MGX can also supply textured roll or sheet substrates that mimic the look of canvas, cloth, linen, metal, or vellum. Any substrate can be varnished or laminated to add durability and permanence to the printed product, or printed without a finishing solution to create more cost-effective option.

The possibilities for photo production are anything but limited to card and paper substrates. Emerging technologies include fabrics and pressure-sensitive stickers and wall graphics. Your Masterpiece Graphix sales rep can help you source and treat the digital materials you need for your specific photo application, whether it’s a traditional or off-the-wall product. For more information on all of our photo production substrate solution, please contact your MGX sales rep or email the sales team.

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.

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.

Digital printers can add value to their services by framing their organization as a marketing service provider, integrating custom marketing solutions into their clients’ print jobs. A complete and effective marketing campaign may only utilize print for a part of the entire customer experience, coupled with social media and online media channels.

With the emergence and popularity of laptops, smartphones and iPads, consumers have the resources to find information they need online, wherever they are. Web browsing on mobile devices is becoming more popular every day; recently Nielsen’s internet measurement service predicted that smartphones will be the dominant web-browsing device by the end of 2011. Why not take advantage of this tool that your customers already utilize every day, and integrate it into your print campaigns to guide customers to valuable product-related information? With the emergence of the QR code, printers can utilize this new technology to make their clients’ print projects interactive and to create a multimedia experience from something as simple as a label or brochure.

What is a QR code, you may ask?  A QR code is a high-density barcode that can be read with a computer webcam or smartphone camera combined with a specialized application to read it. When the QR code is read with the smartphone or tablet PC, the user can be instantly connected to the encoded web content that is associated with the QR code without typing in a URL or promotional code. As far as content goes, the possibilities are endless: the QR code could link with a sales video, a coupon, a social networking page or a personalized URL.

Utilizing QR codes into your existing print job connects your client’s customers to a wealth of information about their product. For example, Nike Belgium recently used a QR code campaign on storefront window signage to drive traffic to their Facebook page and to persuade people to “like” their new fall clothing line. Another creative use is to include QR codes on a food product label to take customers to information on related recipes and wine pairings. The German Yellow Pages are even utilizing QR codes to take people to their mobile website. Masterpiece Graphix recently utilized QR codes on promotional brochures at Label Expo so attendees could easily visit the company website to gain more information on MGX digital products.

What makes a good QR code marketing strategy? An effective cross-media marketing campaign requires a little brainstorming. Ask yourself: What is it that I am trying to get my customer to do, what is the “call to action”? What is an engaging, interesting way to persuade your customer to access your information online? What kind of web content will best communicate your message and convince customers to buy?

It is important to note that QR codes are merely a way to bridge print and web content. In order to generate interest in your product, one must utilize both engaging print and web content to draw the customer in and to persuade them to utilize the QR code. Web content should be dynamic and mobile-device friendly so users can access and navigate your page easily. The printed piece still needs to be eye-catching and informative so the customer will be influenced to scan the QR code to learn more.

It’s easy to get started with QR code marketing. There are many free QR code generators on the internet that will take your desired URL and create a custom QR code to take people to your site.  For more information on the history, application and use of QR codes, please visit the Mobile Barcodes website. You can generate your own free QR code and download QR code reading software from the site as well.