Andrew Hand

Have you given any thought to the Christmas decorations and designs you want to use for your business this year? Before you know it, Christmas will be here, a significant sales period for many retailers. People are on a shopping spree, and of course, retailers like to exploit it. But how do you make sure that you stand out from your (online) competitors? Make sure that a physical visit to your shop in the Christmas spirit is an "experience" that is nothing compared to online shopping. In this blog, we explain how you can do this using print media and how you can stand out with a well-designed Christmas campaign.

Bring the Christmas spirit to shop windows

Online shopping may be practical, but the ambiance is also an essential factor in the shopping experience in December. With a festive décor and matching shop furnishings, you can attract potential visitors. But first, you have to get people passing by to come inside. How do you do that?

• Make your storefront the showpiece of your shop; raise the curiosity of people passing by and make it attractive for them to step inside. Tell your story or message conveniently with an easy-to-apply window film. Use window film as lettering or go for contour-cut decorations like Christmas balls, Christmas trees, and snowflakes to create a beautiful Christmas atmosphere.
• Use material suitable for temporary (Christmas) campaigns; an ideal material for window advertising is easy dot®, a cost and time-saving solution for the busy festive season. Air channels are created because the easy dot® adhesive is not uniform but consists of "dots". This makes it very easy to apply, reposition and remove the film without leaving any adhesive residue. Therefore, your designed, easy dot® stickers can be applied effortlessly by the end-user (e.g., your staff). Simply applying the sticker by hand is sufficient; any air bubbles are easily removed through the air channels in the adhesive. Did you apply something to the wrong place? No problem! easy dot® can be removed carefully and re-applied. Besides white or transparent, easy dot® is also available as a coloured film in the colours of gold, silver, red, blue, green, yellow and black. Perfect for the Christmas season! The colour films can be easily plotted or die-cut and are therefore ideal for window lettering and decorations.

Tip: For shop window advertising, the sticker is best applied to the inside of the window. This way the sticker is not only protected against vandalism, but it is also not exposed to weather conditions. In addition, the sticker adheres much better, because the inside of a window does not (easily) reach a temperature below zero. The sticker can be applied to the inside of the window by mirror-inverted printing on transparent material, making the advertising message optimally visible from the outside.

Transform your walls with print media for wall decoration

Naturally, wall coverings cannot be left out of an attractive Christmas decoration. You can think of several options for the decoration of walls. With contour-cut stickers made of easy dot® material, you can give your walls, doors, and displays a quick and easy makeover. Do you really want to go all the way? Then opt for a wall-to-wall design so that you stand out even more. Do you prefer materials with a more natural look? Then a PVC-free self-adhesive non-woven wallpaper for temporary applications is a good option. Neschen event fleece L-UV adh is an inexpensive self-adhesive non-woven material wallpaper, with a removable adhesive, for almost all smooth surfaces and therefore ideal for short-term promotions such as your Christmas campaign. Want a more luxurious look at Christmas? Then take a look at PVC-free self-adhesive banner material such as FILMOeco Kavalan Gecko FR-AD. This is a polyester textile banner especially for wallcoverings with a water-based PVC-free resin coating and equipped with a removable adhesive. Last but not least, FILMOeco Kavalan Gecko FR-AD, just like the easy dot® range and also the event fleece, is flame-retardant and certified according to EN 13501 (European test standard for reaction to fire).

Involve the floor in your festive decor as well

Shop windows, windows, and walls may be more obvious, but you can also use the floor for advertising and decoration. Floor graphics are ideal for advertising, decoration, or signage because they have high attention value. So use the floor for your Christmas campaign too, because your visitors literally cannot miss it when they walk on it. A good anti-slip certified material is absolutely essential here. Would you like more tips on using floor stickers? Then also read the associated blogs below with the most frequently asked questions about these materials.

Keencut is proud to announce that its Evolution3 SmartFold benchtop manual cutter has received a coveted PRINTING United Alliance 2021 Pinnacle Product Award. The Evolution3 won in the category for Lasers/Routers/Cutters (4’x8’ or larger).

The 2021 Pinnacle Product Award winners are a “who’s who” of the industry, and the competition was fierce – tenths of a point separated some entries. The competition is open to all new products of PRINTING United Alliance supplier members. A highly qualified panel of judges from across the printing industry evaluated the annual contest’s 160+ entries in more than 58 categories. “The Pinnacle Product Award competition represents the best of the best among commercial hardware, software, consumables, and industrial and screen equipment,” said Ray Weiss, Director of Digital Print Programs, PRINTING United Alliance.

Everyone at Keencut is absolutely delighted with the award and the recognition it gives to the design innovation and manufacturing quality of the Evolution3 SmartFold.

The Evolution3™ SmartFold is the most advanced horizontal manual cutter for high volume wide format print shops. With faster production, less wastage and improved finish quality, it increases the performance and profitability of the user. The Evolution3 cuts everything from 13mm ( ½”) foamboard to tissue paper and features Keencut’s unique Lift-and-Hover technology for accurate, fast single-handed material alignment. Accuracy is guaranteed within 0.2mm (0.008″) of straight line for the full length of cut.

Paul Moxon, chairman of Keencut, said, “This is an outstanding achievement. The Evolution3 revolutionises manual cutting offering technical developments not found on any other range of benchtop cutters. The award is a fitting accolade for all those who have worked on the development, manufacturing, and sales of this product”

About Keencut

Keencut designs and manufactures manual cutters for the print finishing and picture framing markets, with world-leading accuracy and reliability. Products are sold around the globe to most countries in Europe, the USA, and as far afield as Russia and Australia.  

We design and manufacture our entire product range at the Keencut factory in Corby, UK. We use the finest materials and state of the art manufacturing techniques to ensure the highest quality and reliability, and our products come with a minimum five-year comprehensive guarantee plus a minimum 20-year guarantee on all rotating and sliding bearings.

With a broad range of manual cutters, Keencut meets the ever-increasing requirements of customers in the sign-making, large & small format printing, and picture framing industries. Our dedication to finding the ultimate precision engineering solution to each application means that our products have a worldwide reputation as the most accurate, reliable and easy to use.

If you are looking for precision and durability in your cutter, choose Keencut.

HP Inc. has introduced a range of DesignJet and PageWide XL Pro devices to equip large format print users with the technology to navigate and thrive in the new normal. The portfolios also deliver advanced photo and colour quality, enhanced precision, and new graphics application potential - all while driving improvements in sustainability.

With the two new HP DesignJet Z Pro devices, HP is offering print service providers (PSPs) and Geographic Information System (GIS) analysts the latest solutions to produce professional photo-quality prints and high precision colourful GIS-generated maps. Meanwhile, the three new HP PageWide XL Pro printers equip PSPs and reprohouses with the ability to respond faster to customer demands and diversify their existing capabilities.

“As our customers continue to grapple with uncertain business conditions following a uniquely challenging past couple of years, we know that expanding their print application reach, an ability to move fast, and outstanding colour and graphics performance define their large format printing needs”, said Daniel Martinez, General Manager, Large Format Business, HP. “This is why we’re introducing the new HP DesignJet Z Pro and HP PageWide XL Pro series. Both portfolios are designed to help users navigate uncertain demand, respond to tighter deadlines and unlock untapped potential in their own offerings.”

Highest colour quality with HP DesignJet Z Pro Series

Marking the 30-year anniversary of the very first DesignJet product, the new HP DesignJet Z6 Pro and Z9+ Pro offer PSPs and GIS analysts respectively the highest professional photo quality and precision, along with leading security features.

Thanks to the chromatic RGB HP Vivid Photo Inks, HP DesignJet Z Pro users can now achieve 95% Pantone coverage – 26% more gamut compared to the previous generation – and produce prints with the image quality of a 12-ink printer with just nine inks. Additional features such as the High-Definition Nozzle Architecture (HDNA) printheads and dual drop technology, which reduces visible grain and eliminates the need for light coloured inks, promise prints with clear details and dazzling-contrasts.

The HP DesignJet Z9+ Pro, which offers the widest colour gamut in its category, is the perfect choice for PSPs looking for a professional photo quality printer. Users can customise ICC profiles for their print jobs and achieve desired colour accuracy and consistency.  PSPs also have the option to include the HP Gloss Enhancer Upgrade Kit to produce superior gloss uniformity.

Additionally, the HP PrintOS mobile app lets PSPs take more control of their print operations – from monitoring performance and reacting to issues, to sharing media pre-sets remotely. For the first time, the new HP DesignJet Z Pro printer series also incorporates the HP PrintOS Service Center application. This smart cloud-based solution enables users to gain a single, real-time view of all ongoing service cases, with updates that are accessible anytime, anywhere.

For GIS analysts looking to produce very precise maps, print sharp contour lines and text with close attention to keeping data secure, the new HP DesignJet Z6 Pro is the ideal printer. The Adobe PDF Print Engine enables excellent transparencies and layer reproductions - while HP’s HDNA printheads and HP Pixel Control deliver the highest precision, as well as smooth gradients and distinct shades of colour that are particularly needed for printing complex maps.

HP DesignJet Z6 Pro is the world's most secure large-format printer, promising the best data protection through encrypted communications and Access Control List. Features such as HP Connection Inspector, HP Secure Boot, and Whitelisting ensure the best network protection, putting all worries about data security to rest.

Both the HP DesignJet Z6 Pro and Z9+ Pro also enhance efficiency with the fastest media handling, spindle-less and automatic roll feed. The HP DesignJet Z6 Pro prints twice as fast on plain paper at the same quality while the HP DesignJet Z9+ Pro allows users to print up to 18% faster, with better quality, on satin photo media - and 46% faster on canvas.

Maximise productivity with HP PageWide XL Pro

HP has also announced three new HP PageWide XL Pro printers that enable retail PSPs and reprohouses to respond faster to customer demands, meeting tighter deadlines. Additionally, users will also be able to leverage new short-term applications including the potential to print on boards, cardstock, and paper from A2 to B1, and thickness up to 10mm.

The new HP PageWide XL Pro 5200 and HP PageWide XL Pro 8200 offer print speeds up to 20 D/A1 pages/min, and 4300 ft2/hr (400 m2/hr) and 30 D/A1 pages/min, and 5300 ft2/hr (500 m2/hr) respectively, enabling users to meet short turnaround time. With the PageWide XL Pro 8200 able to print mixed outputs of both CAD drawings and presentation boards, both printers are also capable of delivering full projects two to three times faster than before. With the new HP PageWide XL Pro 5200 and HP PageWide XL Pro 8200, users can also expand their print applications into two-sided, short-term retail posters, which can be easily managed with HP SmartStream.

Designed to help boost profits and cut costs, both the HP PageWide XL Pro 5200 and the HP PageWide XL Pro 8200 enable users to save up to 50% preparation and finishing costs. Using up to three-litre Original HP Eco-Carton ink cartridges, both printers ensure low running costs for CAD drawings and posters. Features such as the versatile stacker, inline folders and auto switch free up operation time, giving reprohouses the power to say yes to more print jobs.

The compact HP PageWide XL Pro 10000 boosts productivity with fast printing speeds of up to 700 m2 (7500 ft2) or 1,000 B1 posters per hour, and can print on different sizes materials, including paper and boards to cardstock and cutsheets. It also provides PSPs with the capability to deliver quick results with instant-dry prints on compatible substrates. With HP PrintOS, PSPs can easily control the operations of their fleet anywhere, anytime – while also enjoying simplified maintenance and fast start-up. The HP PageWide XL Pro 10000 also features the first HP large-format auto sheet feeder and versatile stacker, providing seamless end-to-end cut-sheet workflow.

HP – a partner in sustainability  

• The new HP DesignJet portfolio and HP PageWide XL Pro 10000 printer are all rated as ENERGY STAR 3.0 compliant and EPEAT registered, meaning they use less energy and are certified as environmentally preferred products.
• The new HP DesignJet Z Pro printers are made of 30% recycled plastic, using over eight 16.9-oz (0.5-L) bottles worth of ocean-bound plastic, and are fully compatible with large format FSC®-certified papers, a range of recyclable HP media and free, convenient take-back program for certain HP media.
• Both new portfolios are fully compatible with HP Eco Carton Cartridges, achieving up to 80% reduction in plastic. The outer carton of Eco-Carton cartridges can be disposed of through local cardboard recycling.
• Inks for the HP PageWide XL Pro 10000 printer are UL ECOLOGO® Certified and verified for Nordic Swan Ecolabel printing companies.
• HP PageWide XL and DesignJet prints are recyclable, returnable, or non-hazardous and safe for disposal.

Availability

The new HP PageWide XL Pro series is expected to be available in all major markets starting September 15th, and the new HP DesignJet Z6 Pro and Z9+ Pro on October 1st, 2021.

About HP

HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) creates technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere. Through our product and service portfolio of personal systems, printers and 3D printing solutions, we engineer experiences that amaze.

Sustainability. Many businesses are embracing it because it is becoming an increasingly important issue in modern society. Therefore, libraries are also searching for opportunities to become more sustainable. Currently, a lot of plastic is still used to protect books. Nevertheless, book covers with book protection film are necessary to protect them against damage, moisture, and dirt. An additional advantage is that the books with protection film are easy to clean and disinfect, which is of great importance in times of a pandemic. Covering books with bio-based film made from sugar cane instead of 'regular plastic' is a big step in sustainability. Read more about the advantages of the bio-based film Filmolux® soft organic in this blog.

Sugar cane as a sustainable solution: Filmolux® Soft Organic

In addition to Filmolux Libre Organic, there is now also Filmolux® Soft Organic. An environment-friendly and antibacterial book protection film that is very easy to apply. The film is made from a bio-based polyethylene derived from the renewable raw material sugar cane. Sugar cane is a versatile and rapidly renewable crop that can be used as a clean source of energy and as a raw material for the manufacture of many products. Unlike conventional polyethylene that is produced from fossil materials, the green polyethylene from sugar cane contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. And there is an excellent sustainable process behind it.

The six advantages of Filmolux® Soft Organic

Filmolux® Soft Organic is ideal for application to smooth surfaces such as covers of smooth paperbacks, comics, paper covers, brochures, and folders. There are also other advantages to using Filmolux® Soft Organic:

1. Environmentally friendly - Made from bio-based polyethylene derived from sugar cane.
2. Simple bubble-free application - Small mistakes made during the covering process on smooth surfaces can be easily corrected. 
3. It can be cut to size - The silicone paper cover with grid simplifies cutting. 
4. APEO and BPA free - Produced according to REACH.
5. Easy to clean - The material itself is easy to clean or disinfect. This is especially important in times of pandemics. The antibacterial effect is tested according to ISO 22196. 
6. Optimal protection - Book covers with book protection film protect books from damage, moisture, dirt, and wear. As library books pass through many hands every week, book protection films are necessary to keep the book nice and clean, especially in times of a pandemic. 

Cleaning and in times of a pandemic

Easy-to-clean covers are a great advantage for libraries and any other places where many people use books. An essential part of a safe hygiene concept for book rental is the nature of the film itself. Many of the Neschen book protection films have an anti-bacterial effect. We have had this tested and proven by an independent institute according to ISO 22196. After 24 hours, 99.9% of all bacteria on the protective film were eliminated. We recommend a strict hygiene approach because of the Covid 19 pandemic. After cleaning and an additional 1-day quarantine, a book with Neschen antibacterial film can be lent out again without risk. A safe concept for the reader and the library.

Book protection films have many advantages: In addition to protecting against damage, the books‘ covers are easy to clean and resistant to a wide range of cleaning agents and solvents. The easy-to-clean covers are a big advantage for libraries and any other location where books are handled by many people. Nevertheless, there are a few points you should consider when cleaning your wrapped books, a well-considered hygiene concept can help.

Books that are handled by many different people should be cleaned regularly.

The Neschen hygiene concept

An essential component of a safe hygiene concept for book rental or loan is the nature of the film itself. Many of the Neschen book protection films have an anti-bacterial effect. We had this tested and proofed by an independent testing institute according to ISO 22196. After 24 hours, 99.9% of all bacteria on the protection film have been eliminated. We recommend a strict hygiene approach due to the Covid 19 pandemic. After cleaning, and an additional 1-day quarantine, a book with Neschen antibacterial film can be returned to the rental shop without any risk. A safe concept for the reader and the lender.

Cleaning book protection films

In order to prevent dust particles, small grains of sand or other particles from damaging the surface, damp cleaning is recommended for book protection films. A special cleaner for films is not necessary and conventional cleaning agents can be used. A mixture of warm water and detergent is very effective. However, very aggressive or abrasive cleaning agents are not suitable.

Disinfecting book protection films

How the book protection film can also be disinfected and not just cleaned, depends on the film.

To select the right kind of disinfectant, take into consideration which types of micro organisms are to be killed. Additionally, it is important to keep the agent’s effect on the material in mind. Not every surface is compatible with all types of disinfectants. Under certain circumstances, some book protection films can be damaged by the use of certain chemical compositions.

To clean book protection films thoroughly, it is wise to disinfect them with a liquid agent. Disinfection with gases (such as ethylene oxide) and radiation (beta or gamma rays) is not possible with book protection films.

Liquid disinfectants are based on a mixture of

• Ethanol
• Isopropanol
• Glycerine
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Distilled Water

However, these components can have a negative effect on plastic, depending on their concentration, exposure time and temperature. Additonally, the reaction depends on the plastic material itself because every type of surfaces reacts differently to these chemicals.

Disinfecting PVC-based book protection films

Book protection films made of PVC are sensitive to ethanol and isopropanol. The result: The film becomes brittle if it repeatedly comes into contact with these substances. The two named chemicals dissolve the plasticisers and the alcohol penetrates the film, causing it to swell up. Afterwards, the film will feel sticky.

Disinfecting PP-based book protection films

When it comes to disinfecting PP-based films, it is important to know that hydrogen peroxide can damage the surface more easily due to its oxidation effect. The other components (ethanol, isopropanol, glycerine and distilled water) do not harm the material and are a good choice.

Disinfecting PE-based book protection films

In regards to disinfection, PE-based films are very similar to PP-based films. You are on the safe side, when simply following the same guidelines as for the PP-based variety.

Note: All book protection films should be cleaned or disinfected carefully, otherwise the surface will get scratches from the cleaning motion, resulting in the film’s transparency to be lost.

Avoid direct contact with liquid disinfectants, but use one-way tissues soaked with the desinfectants and wipe off the book covering films. Let the books dry completely before further use or storage.

Onyx Graphics, Inc., today announced the global availability of ONYX 21.1, the company’s newest software version release of industry leading wide-format RIP and print workflow software. ONYX 21.1 launches on the heels of ONYX Go, the company’s new subscription RIP software and builds upon industry leading ONYX 21 with an all new PDF Soft Proof workflow and Print Label Cut Path functionality. RGB soft proofs can be easily generated on the fly or automated using ONYX Quick Sets for a quick visual reference of final output before printing. Print Label Cut Paths automatically adds a cut path around print labels to provide print buyers with important job information for future prints.

“ONYX 21.1 continues the vision of ONYX 21 to provide easy-to-use tools that give Print Service Providers a competitive edge in today’s environment,” said Matt Crawford, Director of Product Marketing at Onyx Graphics. “ONYX users can expect to see more frequent product releases like ONYX 21.1 to ensure they meet the evolving needs of their customers.”

ONYX 21.1 also introduces new options for ambient light measurement using ONYX Media Manager, Custom ICC build options for light source measurement, and a series of new device support options including transmissive profiling using the X-Rite i1 Pro-3, full support for the Fotoba XLA cutter and on-demand colour device installation.

Highlights of ONYX 21.1 include:

• PDF Soft Proofs to reduce customer artwork approval timelines
• Show finishing marks, grommets, sewing marks, cut paths and label data before printing
• Print Label Cut Path functionality help PSPs:
• Include shop logos on print-and-cut jobs
• Provide important job information to print buyers for print-and-cut jobs
• Media Manager ambient light spot measurement
• Custom ICC build options for light source measurement
• Centralised proxy configuration
• On-demand colour device installation
• Transmissive profiling for X-Rite i1 Pro3
• Fotoba XLA device support

Availability

ONYX 21.1, covering the entire product portfolio of ONYX solutions including ONYX Thrive print workflow software; all ONYX RIP products; and ONYX Go subscription RIP products, is globally available. It is automatically provided to ONYX Go subscribers through a soft download product update; available to all ONYX Advantage customers by requesting a key update; and to all other customers through a license purchase. Onyx Graphics is providing a special promotion to upgrade. Customers are encouraged to visit www.onyxgfx.com for more information.

About Onyx Graphics, Inc.

Leading the market since 1989, Onyx Graphics is dedicated to helping customers increase productivity, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge with superior print and colour quality. Its passion for delivering superb colour led to the development of ONYX Color, Onyx Graphics’ own colour engine optimized specifically for large format inkjet printing. Innovative, productive, and satisfied customers around the globe help motivate the company to continually develop and enhance its leading-edge technologies. Global channel partnerships and longstanding relationships with printer manufacturers position Onyx Graphics as a market leader in powerful, reliable, large format printing workflow software. For more information, visit www.onyxgfx.com.

Onyx Graphics, inc., a leading software solutions provider for the digital inkjet wide format print industry, announced today that ONYX software is certified for the new HP Latex 700 and 800 printer series. This certification applies to all ONYX RIP and Print Workflow Solutions, including ONYX Thrive, ONYX PosterShop, and the newly released ONYX GO subscription, all on the company's latest version release, ONYX 21.

The HP certification program differentiates software vendors through a comprehensive set of integration, compatibility, and performance standards testing against HP printing technologies. For this latest certification, Onyx Graphics designed the driver to support the vivid colour and newly added white-ink capabilities of the HP Latex Printer Series, including sandwich mode printing for under-flood, over-flood, and spot. In addition, the ONYX driver allows for ONYX Quick Set options to automate print production, taking advantage of the speed and agility offered in this new printer series. Combined with ONYX Color and iccMAX v5. profiling, users of the HP Latex 700 and 800 Printer Series can expect superior and consistent colour across their entire print production environment.

"This latest certification achieved by Onyx Graphics showcases their commitment to providing outstanding support for HP printing technologies." Said Guayente Sanmartin, General Manager, Large Format Business, HP. "HP Latex 700 and 800 Printer Series users who choose ONYX software can feel confident in delivering outstanding quality prints to their customers."

About the HP Latex 700 and 800 Printer Series

According to HP, the HP Latex Series introduces a range of Latex Large Format print solutions to help Print Service Providers diversity their offerings. The HP Latex 700 and 800 series brings a suite of features that enable PSPs to be more agile, tackle ambitious projects, and take on the highest value work. The new portfolio also delivers fast workflows that help businesses hit deadlines while sharpening their sustainability edge.

About Onyx Graphics, Inc.

Leading the market since 1989, Onyx Graphics is dedicated to helping customers increase productivity, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge with superior print and color quality. Their passion for delivering superb color led to the development of ONYX Color, Onyx Graphics’ color engine optimized specifically for large format inkjet printing. Innovative, productive, and satisfied customers worldwide help motivate the company to develop and enhance its leading-edge technologies. Global channel partnerships and longstanding relationships with printer manufacturers position Onyx Graphics as a market leader in powerful, reliable, large format printing workflow software. For more information, visit www.onyxgfx.com.

SAi today released Flexi 21, the most feature-rich version of its flagship signmaking software. The 64-bit RIP system is engineered to meet the demanding design to production challenges of sign & display and large format print providers for both novice and more advanced users, while continuing to be highly productive with fast processing speeds.

SAi’s Flexi 21 design and RIP print software now supports multi-layer/white and varnish ink layered printing. With this versatile and powerful tool, Flexi can generate white or varnish ink on the fly or from the white layer in the predefined design. Users can control how the ink is printed in both the Flexi Design and Flexi RIP Production Manager functions. This “sandwich” mode printing supports printing multiple layers, for example, a bottom layer of white, colour in the middle, and varnish on top. With the ability to preview the white channel beforehand, users save RIP and print time and avoid wasted materials.

Flexi 21 also includes variable data printing. Users printing a set of documents with mostly shared elements can change certain text or images from document to document. The Flexi 21 variable data printing tool will let you design the print template with a sample file, select the element that will change per document, and then specify the data to be used. This feature supports variable data images (including raster files, transparent pngs, and most eps and PDFs), text, QR codes, data matrix, barcodes, and braille.

Created as an all-in-one solution for design, print, print-and-cut, and direct-to-vinyl production workflow, Flexi 21 also includes a host of advanced features including:

• Jig templates – Allows users to design and save jig templates that will precisely match the jig on the printer bed for printing on multiple parts, such as phone cases.
• Enhanced printing while RIPping – Users no longer have to wait for the print job to finishing ripping to start printing, this allows for faster processing time.
• Custom cut line names and colours – Users can now define their own, custom, cut line spot colours and give the custom names, simplifying the cutting process.
• Adobe Illustrator® layer support – Multi-layer Illustrator or PDF files can be split into multiple jobs which then can be processed as spot colors like white and varnish.
• Custom inkset – Inkset channels and profiles can be customized to different colour modes, if your printer supports custom ink.
• G7 Certification – Recognizes gray balance and generates linearization that is compliant with G7 colour standards.

About SAi

SAi Flexi is the industry leader for creating a variety of applications such as vehicle wraps, banners, signs, soft signage and much more. With a low monthly operating cost, a SAi Flexi subscription includes free software upgrades, e-mail, and phone support and all the design and production features SAi Flexi has always been known for. 

Do you want to remind customers or employees to keep a safe distance? Then decals are a perfect medium to communicate this message. They are ideal both for indoor and outdoor use, for short- and long-term applications. They are also suited for many other ways to inform about guidelines or to mark off zones: good examples are applying stickers on chairs in waiting rooms, shop windows and on mirrors. Are you not sure how to use stickers for social distancing? In this blog, we'll show you a few examples how you can use decals to inform your customers, employees or visitors to make them aware of a safe distance.

1. One-way systems with arrows

Many locations want to alert visitors that there is (temporarily) one-way traffic. Examples include the doctor's office, hospitals or vaccination sites. A logical spot to apply these arrows is on the floor, so people can easily see which way they need to go.

2. Advantages of round decals for public areas

Round decals have a great advantage: The edges are less likely to curl and get damaged than those of stickers with sharp corners. This makes them a great choice for high-traffic areas such as restrooms, hallways, entryways or cash registers. Since these are areas where many people walk, the floor stickers should also have an anti-slip surface – which is often mandatory.

Solvoprint dot print 'n' walk R10 is a suitable choice for these types of applications. Thanks to the special honeycomb structure, the film has an R10 anti-slip surface after printing with latex and (eco) solvent inks (and an R9 anti-slip surface when using UV inks). The great thing about this 2-in-1 floor graphics film is that it is immediately ready for indoor use after printing, which saves a lot of time and money if you need to apply many decals.

The decals are very easy to remove without leaving any adhesive residue (on most common smooth surfaces).

3. Marking off chairs with stickers in waiting rooms

Sitting next to each other in a public space - something that used to be the most normal thing in the world - is now unwise. That's why it makes sense to mark off chairs in public waiting rooms, so that people leave one chair empty. This is useful at the doctor's, in hospitals and anywhere where people are seated in waiting areas.

Our advice: for smooth surfaces, choose a sticker with a dot adhesive that is easy to apply without bubbles and also easier to remove. For fabric surfaces, decals with a strong adhesive are best. Keep in mind that chairs in waiting rooms can be made of different materials, and not every sticker material is suitable for every type of surface. Always seek the manufacturer's advice beforehand and test with a small sample.

4. Rectangles for guidelines in entrances

You can, of course, hang a sign at the entrance to a store or other public area to alert visitors to adhere to the rules, but there is a risk they will be overlooked. A more logical place to do this is on the ground, as people tend to look down while walking.

Chances are you are dealing with a "difficult surface" at an entrance, such as concrete or carpet.Fortunately, this makes no difference for UVprint 'n' walk power-tack because this textured PVC film has a high-tack adhesive. The high adhesive strength makes this 2-in-1 floor sticker suitable for applications on surfaces that are difficult to stick to, such as carpet, concrete or wood. This all-rounder for short-term use is suitable for use with latex and UV inks. When using UV inks, the floor sticker is R9-certified. When applied outdoors in dry conditions (e.g. under a roof) the decal will last for up to 3 months.

5. Communicate announcements & policies with window stickers

Store windows are a great place to communicate announcements and policies regarding social distancing guidelines. With window stickers, you can quickly inform customers of changed store hours and current policies. On or behind glass, these stickers easily stand out. Thanks to the dot adhesive, easy dot stickers can be easily and quickly applied and removed without bubbles, even by non-professionals. An ideal material for temporary applications.

Window-grip is more suitable for long-term applications, where the sticker needs to be repositioned several times. This film is available in white and transparent and has reliable adhesion thanks to a unique coating.

6. Social distancing decals – leaving no area unused

With this selection of different films, there is always an option that will work for your specific purpose. Are you unsure which film to use for your application? Then it's a good idea to request samples so you can see them up close and try them out. Contact our sales department to request samples without any obligation!

Colortrac today have released a new range of high performance roll fed scanners improving on their already critically acclaimed scanner portfolio. The new Colortrac SmartLF SCi and SmartLF SGi Scanner portfolio along with a completely redesigned SmartWorks Imaging software will be available to purchase from March 2021.

The sleek new design of the SmartLF SGi and SmartLF SCi scanner series are ideal for capturing, enhancing, sharing, and copying information from large format documents of all types, such as hand-drawn originals, old plans, marked-up construction drawings, textured artwork, thick media, and more.

“Since 1989, Colortrac has delivered value that our customers count on, and we know they will be pleased with the new scanner series and software,” comments Jacob Bendix, chief commercial officer, Colortrac. “The new functionality, including the ability to drive the scanner from a tablet, brings the full power of large format scanning right into the hands of our customers.”

The Colortrac SmartLF SGi and SmartLF SCi large format scanners deliver fast performance, with optimized preset controls and an extended list of internal printer drivers to connect directly to large format printers. SmartWorks Imaging, the newest member of the SmartWorks software family, is a fresh implementation of the scan-once workflow that is easier to navigate than its predecessor, SmartWorks Pro.

Intuitive scanning software with remote scanning

Colortrac’s new SmartWorks Imaging scanning software offers a host of new features including a new multipage thumbnail pop-out view, extended PDF for longer and wider documents, and higher dpi. With a new interface, the scanning software also boasts a number of new capabilities such as closed-loop printer colour calibration, quick-fix image correction tools, and a full edit history for one-click easy undo. SmartWorks Imaging is also dongle-free and includes new drivers for HP and Epson printers.

SmartWorks Imaging users can download the free SmartWorks Imaging Link, an app that lets users operate the scanners by remote control from a tablet (tablet not included).  SmartWorks Imaging Link puts the full power of the PC-based SmartWorks into the hands of a tablet user.

Scanning value customers count on

The SmartLF SGi scanners are suitable for any type of document, including technical drawings, maps, artwork, and photographs. With the CCD technology and greater focal length, it can even handle originals with texture, and media up to 15 mm thick. The scanner series delivers realistic colour and superb accuracy (up to 1200 optical dpi). Available in 36 and 44 inch widths, the scanners are designed to work at high speed while requiring little maintenance.

The SmartLF SCi scanners are ideal for engineering drawings, construction plans, maps, and line drawings. The scanners feature Colortrac’s innovative ClearView technology, a line of up to 144 LEDs to guarantee maximum scanning accuracy. A SUREDRIVE powered soft roller provides even pressure across the original, while the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface ensures fast, efficient data transfer. The SmartLF SCi scanners are available in 25, 36 and 42 inch widths.

Both the SmartLF SGi and the SmartLF SCi come in a sleek black/dark gray colour, with matching optional floor stand, repro stand, and PC mounting kit.

SmartLF SGi and SmartLF SCi series replace the SmartLF SG and the SmartLF SC Xpress scanners, respectively.

Green counts

Colortrac strives to reduce its environmental footprint. To that end, the company uses recyclable plastic as a raw material wherever possible. Additionally, the company reorganized its factory production to save energy on lighting and air conditioning, and embraced a robust common parts, waste, and stock-reduction regime. Colortrac also improved its sea and rail shipping logistics to eliminate air freighting and consolidates its shipments to reduce wooden pallet use.

About Colortrac

Founded in 1989, Colortrac started by developing large format scanning solutions and quickly earned a reputation for value that led to the company winning the coveted Queen’s Awards for enterprise and export. Today, Colortrac serves the entire large format document scanning market with a portfolio of no-nonsense scanning solutions. Colortrac has more than 80 distributors in over 90 countries and is also an OEM supplier. The company is dedicated to making scanners that get the job done to high standards at a competitive price.