Masterpiece Graphix

On September 14-16, the label industry will gather in Chicago for Label Expo 2010 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center to meet with their peers, promote their offerings and to learn the latest industry trends.  Digital technology is poised to have a huge presence. Masterpiece Graphix will be on hand to meet with digital printers and learn about the new press technologies and capabilities in the label marketplace.

Label Expo attendees have the opportunity to see MGX materials in action and on press on three different digital presses. Masterpiece Graphix will be supplying the HP Indigo WS6000, EFI Jetrion 4380 and the Xeikon 3500 demo machines with MGX digital material at Label Expo. MGX digital material experts will be available on all three days of the conference to personally meet with printers interested in digital substrate solutions and resources for their business.

If you would like to meet up with MGX at Label Expo, please contact us! We want to meet you! Email MGX, call 636.349.6401 x225, or directly contact your MGX sales rep. MGX is also on Twitter! If you are a Twitter user, follow MGX and direct message us to set up a meeting at the show. MGX digital material experts will be on hand to meet with you, and to help your company select the best MGX digital substrates for all of your innovative and demanding print applications.

With advances in digital printing, photography and scanning technologies, counterfeiters have more tools than ever to mimic a product.  These technologies make it easy to copy a brand and hard to discern a genuine product or document from a counterfeit. As new security printing and packaging technologies emerge, copycats quickly take note and scramble to produce reproductions of the new process. Therefore the brand protection and security market is constantly developing new technologies and processes to stay one step ahead of criminals.

Why do counterfeiters take such extreme measures to produce realistic copies of a product? It’s profitable to copy a successful product, piggybacking on the item’s sales and stealing potential revenue from the original manufacturer. According to the International Authentication Association (IAA), the illegal practice of counterfeiting costs industries anywhere between $200 billion and $600 billion dollars per year (see L&NW article). All industries are susceptible but some face more risks than others: Pharmaceuticals, software, music, automobile/machinery parts, and movies are all markets that currently combat fraudulent reproduction of their products. Even brand-name commodities and licensed products face the risk of counterfeit.

Essentially there are four categories of brand protection strategies that printers and manufacturers can choose to implement individually or as a combination for security printing:

• Overt: This category is obvious to both the customer and the manufacturer, and is classified by the unique packaging or look of the product or brand. One of the most common forms of overt security packaging is tamper-evident labeling. Other examples include complex label graphics that are difficult to replicate, or the use of hard-to-attain holographic or exotic material within the design. This strategy is coincidentally the most complex because in many cases the unique packaging is exactly what the counterfeiter is trying to copy.

• Covert/Forensic: These security features are hard to identify by the customer or even the naked eye. However, covert features are hard to mimic because they are hard to identify without specialized equipment. One application of covert packaging is to incorporate security ink into the printed product so the image fluoresces when placed under ultraviolet (UV) light Kodak Nexpress recently released red florescent ink that is invisible to the naked eye but can be used for security printing applications. A printer may also choose to utilize security paper into the product which when copied, displays a message that deters counterfeiters.

• Numbering/Coding: Digital printers are perfectly poised to utilize variable data as a security feature for their customers. Setting up a system that is unique to each item is a way to be certain that each product is unique and therefore hard to mimic. Utilizing algorithms, sequential numbering or custom barcodes to create a custom label for each product is a way to integrate security as well as information into the product. These forms of variable data can contain useful data such as print date or product origin.

• Information Linkage: Advances in digital technology has allowed manufacturers to use embed “smart” sensors within their products so they can track and identify their items easily. The most common form of information linkage security packaging is radio-frequency identification (RFID). These smart sensors can be embedded in the packaging upon manufacture, which allows for scanning of an item to determine authenticity. RFID tags can even track movement of items within a certain area with the right equipment. RFID technology is an emerging and developing tool which may come to replace conventional barcodes in the future.

Masterpiece Graphix has many substrate options available for security printing applications. Holographic materials, exotic substrates, security paper and tamper-evident polyester and self-destructive labeling materials are all available through MGX, ready to run on your digital press. MGX carries RIT-certified DeterX® Gray Void Security Paper (R1419 as rolls, MGX-1303 as sheets) for the HP Indigo. This unique paper is HP Indigo-certified for the WS6000, WS4050, 5000, 5500, and WS45000. This paper is stocked with a gray/blue pattern that reads “COPY” when duplicated. This digital substrate is perfect for printing checks, coupons, rebates, event tickets and other secure document applications. Custom colors and hidden messages are also available. For more information on DeterX® papers or custom security solutions for your application, please contact your MGX sales rep.

High-quality, customizable photo books is one of the fastest growing segment of commercial printing on the HP Indigo press. The HP Indigo is an excellent choice for photo book applications. Digital book printing is also a lucrative market utilizing dry toner presses technologies like the Xerox iGen and the Kodak Nexpress, due to short run and personalization options.

The applications for on-demand photo books are endless; books can be customized to record important milestones like a wedding, high school graduation, or a new baby. Photo books can also be utilized to create school yearbooks, company reports, church registers, universities publications, family reunion albums, sports team books, artist portfolios, or even a small publishing run. With innovations in design technology and digital photography, many diverse business segments are requesting customized books. Professional photographers, businesses, and schools are all buyers in this growing market. Photo book order quantities can be very diverse, ranging from one printed copy to several thousand. Digital printing and variable data technology make small run prints profitable while still offering many options to the consumer.

The most profitable and prolific digital book printers utilize online software as a front engine so customers can order their custom photo books quickly and easily without professional design programs. One of the most popular software packages is SoftWorks Systems Inc.’s Remote Order Entry System (ROES), which is primarily used by digital photography labs and professional photographers. There are many business models out there: visit sites like Shutterfly, Snapfish, Zookbinders, and Couture Book for inspiration.

High-quality substrates from Masterpiece Graphix are perfect for photo book applications. MGX substrates are specially formulated for heavy ink coverage, with no picking or pinholes. This allows printers to print the richest, most vibrant colors for beautiful image quality. MGX substrates consistently perform better than our competitors’ in tape tests, with zero ink lift-off.

MGX’s new line of superior digital gloss and cover stocks offer superior ink adhesion and excellent color reproduction for beautiful image quality. MGX digital gloss stocks are printable on both sides and are available in 80# and 100# weights, in text or cover stocks.

MGX digital gloss paper and cover stocks are very competitively priced for all digital book applications and are certified for use on the HP Indigo 5000 and 5500 as well as the Kodak Nexpress. These stocks are compatible with many other dry toner digital presses like the Xerox iGen, Xerox Docucolor, Canon ImagePRESS and the Konica Minolta Bizhub.

No matter the type of cover requested, be it hardcover, soft cover or paperback, MGX has material options and recommendations for your specific photo book application. For more information, please check out our stocked sheet substrates or call your MGX sales rep for custom substrate options for your specific photo book application.

Fenton, MO June 7, 2010 – Masterpiece Graphix has released a new line of value-priced, RIT-Certified digital gloss papers for the HP Indigo and Kodak Nexpress: MGX Digital 80# Text, MGX Digital 100# Text, MGX Digital 80# Cover, and MGX Digital 100# Cover. All stocks are glossy-coated on both sides and digitally optimized for two-sided printing. These paper stocks are available in sheets or as rolls, at competitive prices.

These acid-free, blue-white digital stocks feature high brightness (91% GE), superior gloss, good color reproduction, and excellent ink adhesion. All stocks are RIT-certified for use on many current HP Indigo press models & the Kodak NexPress. Papers are also compatible with dry toner digital presses such as the Xerox iGen. The new MGX Digital C2S gloss paper line was developed as an economical solution for everyday digital printing applications, including brochures, booklets, reports, catalogs, magazines, direct mail and books.

Material samples are available by contacting Masterpiece Graphix at (636) 349-6401 x225, or sales@mgxdigital.com.

Have you recently installed a new HP Indigo sheet press, or are you considering the purchase? MGX wants to provide you with FREE HP Indigo-compatible sheets to trial on your new machine! All you have to do is contact MGX and request our HP Indigo Sheet Press Welcome Kit. We will send you a whopping 2000 sheets of HP Indigo-compatible sheets, including:

• 500 sheets of 100# Gloss Text (MGX-1325)
• 500 sheets of 100# Gloss Cover (MGX-1327)
• 500 sheets of 80# Gloss Text (MGX-1324)
• 500 sheets of 100# Uncoated Text
• And more sample packs of sheet substrates, by request.

In addition, we will include literature on MGX and a material swatchbook. MGX also has other materials we can include to build you a custom welcome kit, tailored to your business needs. Please visit our website to view the other stocked sheet materials we can include in your kit.

To request your free HP Indigo Sheet Press Welcome Kit, please call 636-349-6401 x225 or email sales@mgxdigital.com.

Have you recently installed a new HP Indigo WS6000, or are you considering the purchase? MGX wants to provide you with FREE certified material to run on your new machine! All you have to do is contact MGX and request our WS6000 Welcome Kit. We will send you a whopping 10,000 feet of FREE HP Indigo-Certified material for use on your new 6000, including:

• 2500’ Masterpiece Premium 100# Gloss Calibration Paper (R1341)
• 2500’ 60# Unsupported Setup Paper (R1267)
• 2500’ 2.6 mil White BOPP/Perm/40# (R0440)
• 2500’ 60# Semigloss/Perm/40# (R1332)
• 500’ Acpo Polypropylene Digital Overlaminate (410DIG)
• 2500’ 2 mil Clear BOPP/Perm/40# (if available) (R1126)

All the substrates in our welcome kit have been certified by HP to run on the WS6000. To request your free HP Indigo WS6000 Welcome Kit, please call 636-349-6401 x225 or email sales@mgxdigital.com.

Recently it has come to our attention that there are a few rumors making the rounds about Masterpiece Graphix. As a digital treatment center, we take great pride in our reputation and want to dispel any misconceptions about our business. Below are the actual facts about Masterpiece Graphix, so don’t believe any misinformation to the contrary!

MGX Offers More Than Just HP Indigo Roll Materials: Masterpiece Graphix has been coating HP Indigo roll materials for over a decade. However, MGX is also now offering sheet materials for HP Indigo presses. We keep many stocked sheet material solutions in-house, ready to order and run on your HP Indigo sheet press. In addition, MGX also offers material solutions for the EFI Jetrion industrial label roll press, as well as compatible substrates for dry toner sheet presses like the Xerox iGen and Kodak NexPress. We are continuously adding new digital press technologies to our list of coating capabilities, so if a customer brings a desired material/digital press combination to us, we can help formulate a coating solution.

MGX is More Than Just a “Custom House”: Masterpiece offers turnkey, ready-to-run material solutions for all available HP Indigo press models. Since we’ve successfully coated over 800 different facestock/adhesive combinations for the HP Indigo, we are confident that we can offer HP Indigo-compatible substrates that will run flawlessly the first time. In addition, MGX offers RIT-certified material solutions for many press models like the WS6000. Certification means that the material has been thoroughly tested by the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Printing Applications Laboratory to run trouble-free on a particular HP Indigo model.

MGX Offers Toll Coating, And More: Masterpiece Graphix can ship you digitally-coated, ready-to-print stock from nearly every industry supplier. Of course, you can always ship your desired material to us for coating, but it’s not necessary. Substrates can be ordered directly from us and quickly shipped to you once the material has been coated. Many materials arrive at your location six business days after your order.

MGX Carries Material Mainstays As Well As Exotic Substrates: In fact, MGX carries ALL the industry mainstays like semigloss and BOPP, as well as the tricky, hard to coat substrates. Masterpiece Graphix is essentially a one-stop-shop for Indigo-compatible materials, offering everything from papers to plastics, pressure-sensitives to polycarbonate. No matter the material you desire, MGX has the material you need, at competitive prices. More on this below…

MGX Offers Competitive Pricing on Industry Mainstays: MGX can offer excellent pricing on all the digital material you need, including industry staples like papers and films. You can rely on MGX to provide competitive pricing on all of your needed materials, not just the exotic, hard-to-find stocks. Please don’t hesitate to contact MGX for pricing on any material; we will get it to you quickly, and can answer any questions you have on a particular material. Ordering materials from MGX cuts your bottom line in other ways: running MGX substrates provide increased pip and blanket life on your machine, which in turn lowers your downtime and maintenance costs. Our materials also offer the longest shelf life in the industry.

MGX Provides Customized Stocking Solutions For Your Company: MGX can create a custom stocking option to fit your business model. Substrates can be ordered from us directly, or materials can be drop-shipped to us for coating. If you plan to regularly order the same material, MGX can help you develop a custom stocking solution, ensuring that you always have digital-ready material in-house, the way you want them.

MGX has partnered with EFI Jetrion to coat materials for use on the Jetrion 4000 and 4830 industrial inkjet roll presses as an EFI-certified Jetrion treatment center. Masterpiece Graphix currently offers an EFI-certified material for the Jetrion: 54# Semigloss/Perm/40# (R1338). As part of the EFI and MGX partnership, every new Jetrion press purchase now ships with a free roll of this material.

In addition to the EFI-certified material, MGX has also formulated two Jetrion-compatible substrates: 2.3 mil white BOPP and 57# Semigloss/Perm/40#. Many white BOPP materials that MGX typically coats for the HP Indigo can also be formulated to be compatible with the EFI Jetrion.

The 4380 is the latest edition to the EFI Jetrion UV inkjet series of presses, designed to produce high-quality, narrow-web digital labels. The 4380 touts a wider web width and faster linear speeds and over twice the throughput than its predecessor, the Jetrion 4000. The 4830 can print up to 8.3 inches wide on a 9 inch roll, allowing 2-up 4-inch labels. The wider print zone enables label converters to efficiently take on more print jobs. The 4380 is unique in allowing press operators to profitably produce both long and short-run label jobs. The press also features white ink capability, and can print directly on pre-printed rolls or pre-diecut labels.

EFI launched its new Jetrion 4830 UV inkjet system during Labelexpo Europe 2009 and subsequently won the LabelExpo Europe Label Industry Award for New Innovation for the 4380. The 4380 recently won the 2010 European Digital Press (EDP) Association Award for the “Best Industrial (Specialty) Printing Solution” category.

As a digital material provider, Masterpiece Graphix can optimize materials for HP Indigo, EFI Jetrion or other digital press applications. MGX can help digital press users develop new substrates for use on their digital liquid toner, dry toner, and inkjet presses. If you would like to develop a new digital-ready material for your specific digital press application, please contact MGX for more information.

The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Printing Applications Laboratory has certified two Masterpiece Graphix materials for use on HP Indigo industrial roll presses: Masterpiece Premium Estate Label #9/Perm/44# PK (R1232) and Masterpiece Premium Estate Label #8/Perm/44# PK (R1233). Both materials are certified for use on the HP Indigo ws4050, ws4500 and the ws6000, and both passed the RIT HP Indigo certification test with high performance ratings.

Masterpiece Premium Estate Label #9/Perm/44# PK is a bright white, 60# wet strength vellum paper. Masterpiece Premium Estate Label #8/Perm/44# PK is a cream, 60# wet strength paper. Both materials share the same permanent emulsion acrylic adhesive, which removes from most substrates in 100° F water. The adhesive adheres well to glass, HDPE, PVC, PET, Lexan®, and stainless steel. The facestock texture and printed appearance of both substrates make them ideal for wine labeling, as well as premium beverage and high-end grocery applications.

Samples of both materials are available by contacting Masterpiece Graphix at (636) 349-6401 x225, or sales@mgxdigital.com.

RIT’s Printing Applications Laboratory Certifies Second DSS Security Paper Product for use on HP Indigo Digital Presses

ROCHESTER, N.Y. and FENTON, Miss., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Document Security Systems, Inc. (NYSE Amex: DMC; “DSS”), a world leader in the development and manufacturing of products and packaging containing optical deterrent and authentication technologies that help prevent counterfeiting and brand fraud from the use of desktop scanners and copiers, is pleased to announce today that it entered into a Distributor Agreement (“Agreement”), with Masterpiece Graphix, Inc. (“MGX”), the largest provider of customized pre-coated, print-enhanced substrates for digital printing, to distribute DSS’s new line of digital press-compatible AuthentiGuard Security Papers to HP Indigo users and other digital press operators.

DSS’s line of AuthentiGuard Security Papers features the most effective patented copy-warning technologies that prevent and deter counterfeiting via copiers and desktop scanners.  Attempted copies or scans of a document printed on this paper will reveal hidden warning words on the copy such as “VOID” or any other warning or graphics the users specify.

On March 4th the Rochester Institute of Technology (“RIT”) Printing Applications Laboratory informed DSS that its new DeterX security paper roll fed stock passed several necessary tests and the paper is now considered an “HP Indigo Certified Substrate” which allows HP Indigo clients to utilize the paper on their HP Indigo ws4050 and ws4500 digital press models.

This is the second of two DSS secure technology papers in the last 6 months that have been certified by RIT for HP Indigo use.  In October 2009, DSS received certification for security sheet fed stock for use in the HP Indigo 5000 and 5500 models.

DSS and MGX plan to distribute the HP Indigo Certified Substrate and other forthcoming digital press compatible papers to world-wide HP Indigo users.

Patrick White, Chief Executive Officer and President of Document Security Systems, Inc., stated:   “With this paper, HP Indigo clients can now manufacture and sell security printing such as coupons, event tickets, personalized prescription forms, gift certificates, school transcripts, government permits, almost any document paper or plastic requiring counterfeit prevention security.  We look forward to working with Masterpiece Graphix and their large client base of HP Indigo owners.”

Doug Watson, CEO, President and Founder of Masterpiece Graphix stated: “We are always looking to enhance and expand our specialty substrate offerings to our clients.  The digital press compatible security papers from Document Security Systems offer new opportunities of growth and gained market share for MGX in the digital substrate supply industry.  Initial HP client demonstrations have been very well received.”

About Masterpiece Graphix

Founded in 1998 by Masterpiece Graphix CEO and President Doug Watson, Masterpiece Graphix (MGX) is a digital coating company, supplying digital-ready materials for liquid toner, dry toner and inkjet press applications. Masterpiece Graphix is the only HP Indigo Certified treatment center for HP Indigo optimized materials in North America. Serving customers with short lead times, certified as well as custom digital material solutions, competitive pricing, and substrate guidance, MGX’s team of coating experts has proven themselves to be the unrivaled competitor in quality and service within the digital materials industry.

With over 20 years of expertise in specialized functional coatings, Masterpiece Graphix excels at sheets and narrow web coating as well as coating plastics, security, hardcoat, pattern, chemical-resistant, static elimination, computer-printable and heat resistant materials.   Masterpiece Graphix is located in Fenton, Missouri which is near St. Louis, Missouri.  www.mgxdigital.com.

About Document Security Systems, Inc

Document Security Systems is a technology company in the security and protection services sector which develops and manufactures products and packaging containing patented and patent pending optical deterrent technologies that help prevent counterfeiting and brand fraud from the use of the most advanced scanners, copiers and imaging systems in the market. The company owns over 30 different patented and patent-pending technologies and products which protect valuable documents and printed products from counterfeiters and identity thieves. The company has 3 manufacturing facilities which produce secure printing, packaging and plastic ID cards.  Document Security Systems’ customers, which include international governments, major corporations and world financial institutions, use its covert and overt technologies to protect a number of applications including, but not limited to, currency, vital records, brand protection, ID Cards, Smart Cards internet commerce, passports, gift certificates and packaging.  Document Security Systems’ strategy is to become the world’s leading producer of cutting-edge security technologies for paper, plastic and electronically generated printed assets.

More information about Document Security Systems, Inc. and its products and services can be found at www.documentsecurity.com , www.plasticprintingprofessionals.com , www.protectedpaper.com , www.dpirochester.com and www.premiercustompkg.com .

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements regarding expectations for future financial performance, which involve uncertainty and risk. It is possible the Company’s future financial performance may differ from expectations due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to, changes in economic and business conditions in the world, increased competitive activity, achieving sales levels to fulfill revenue expectations, consolidation among its competitors and customers, technology advancements, unexpected costs and charges, adequate funding for plans, changes in interest and foreign exchange rates, regulatory and other approvals and failure to implement all plans, for whatever reason. It is not possible to foresee or identify all such factors. Any forward-looking statements in this report are based on current conditions; expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Prospective investors are cautioned that such statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. The Company makes no commitment to update any forward-looking statement included herein, or disclose any facts, events or circumstances that may affect the accuracy of any forward-looking statement.

View original news release at PRNewswire