Consumables

To compliment its existing range of canvas products, Fujifilm is marketing PremierArt Eco Print Shield, a revolutionary new water based protective coating designed specifically for water resistant inkjet media.

As Eco Print Shield is water based there are no toxic or hazardous solvents to worry about and it is environmentally friendly. The coating utilizes a unique combination of acrylic resins with a new cross-linking technology.

Easily applied by brush, roller or spray gun, Eco Print Shield protects canvas prints from moisture, light, abrasions and even fingerprints. It is quick-drying and its advanced polymer technology will not yellow, crack or go brittle under stretching so canvases will remain protected.

Print Shield and Eco Print Shield are the only coatings to be awarded a Wilhelm Certified Seal by the world famous Wilhelm Institute.

Eco Print Shield is available in Gloss, Satin or Matt and comes in either quart or gallon containers. A sampler kit is also available that includes everything you need to get started.

Peter Hayward, commercial manager from Fujifilm made this comment: "We are delighted to be able to offer an environmentally friendly coating solution to our customers. Eco Print Shield will enable photographers and framers from the hobbyist right up to the production canvas framer to produce long-lasting, high quality canvas wraps time after time."

Combined with Fujifilm's selection of canvas media, the Wunderbars framing system and the wide range Epson printers, the addition of Eco Print Shield means Fujifilm now provides the complete canvas stretching solution - from printing, to coating, to stretching.

For further details on Eco Print Shield contact greenbox@fuji.co.uk

 

 

In response to demand for plug-and-play compatibility in a high quality independent ink with more eco-friendly properties, Colorific’s latest Bio-U formula has been formulated as an exact colour match to the original Uniform ActivaSol / Colorific Elite formula , allowing existing colour profiles to be used, for a true plug and play solution.

Bio-U is now available for both the Uniform Cadet and the Uniform Grenadier. Able to be swapped on the fly, these non-hazardous cost-effective inks can be implemented quickly and easily as an alternative solution by users of Uniform ActivaSol and Colorific Elite products.

Colorific’s Bio-U inks are formulated from more than 90 percent biodegradable ingredients which contain only food and cosmetic grade solvents. This means that they can be used safely in environments where there is no external ducting or extraction, yet still meet health and safety requirements. Depending on materials being used, these products are also compliant with many recycling schemes.

By combining a chemically balanced blend of biodegradable solvents with the highest quality pigments, exacting performance and reliability are both guaranteed. Extended field testing has proven greater adhesion complemented by improved chemical, scratch and scuff resistance. The formulation used in Colorific Bio-U is non-flammable and non-toxic, enabling the inks to be classified as non-hazardous.

Uniform Grenadier and Cadet users changing from their existing products to Colorific Bio-U are guaranteed accurate colour matching without the need for reprofiling. Previous inks do not need to be flushed from the machine, and tests have shown that print-heads and nozzles are subjected to reduced blockages.

Colorific Bio-U inks, which are fully ISO9001 compliant, are available in CMYK plus LcLm. There are also Orange andf Green alternatives for users looking to achieve Hexachromatic colour gamut.

Despite their biodegradable chemistry, they offer excellent adhesion and photo-realistic results across a broad range of materials, plus excellent durability.

As well as benefiting from more environmentally friendly properties, Colorific Bio-U inks are also cost-saving alternatives to Uniform Grenadier and Cadet users as they carry the additional advantage of being fully covered by Tech8’s warranty programme.

Further information and full reseller details are available from www.colorificink.com

 

 

In the eight weeks following its release in September of last year, Wunderbars - the revolutionary framing system for canvas prints – out sold all expectations. After proving such a success, Fujifilm has announced a new range of these exclusive stretcher bars.

The new Wunderbars 'Red' package is now available. The stretcher bars in these packages are constructed of high quality pine rather than the usual tulip hard wood. They still feature the same unique self tensioning corner blocks that ensure there's no more sagging canvas, it always stays taught and will contract and expand to the room's temperature and humidity.

The Wunderbars Red range is available in packs of 12 and comes in the following sizes - 12", 16", 18", 20", 24" and 30" and will list with a saving of 20% compared with the original Tulip wood bars.

Visitors to Springfair and Focus will be able to see stretching demonstrations using Wunderbars system that will show the full process of easily producing a canvas wrap, including printing, coating and stretching.

In addition to the Red range, a new sample pack of the original Wunderbars, including two of each 12", 16", 20" and 24" stretcher bars, is also now available.

Wunderbars' constant tension stretcher bars are even easier than standard stretchers to construct and stretch canvas prints. Wunderbars are precision machined so there is no need to measure the frame to get it square or constantly hit the frame with a mallet to keep it square during stretching, it will always remain square. There is no requirement for complicated or overpriced stretching systems, machinery or devices, the only tool necessary is a staple gun.

Check out www.wunderbars.com for further details or email greenbox@fuji.co.uk

 

Epson's new paper set to raise European proofing standards

Epson has enhanced its range of FOGRA certified proofing paper with the introduction of Epson Standard Proofing Paper 240. Offering the look and feel of more traditional contract proofing media, it delivers a high-degree of colour precision, white point accuracy and stability to the inkjet proofing industry.

Martin Johns, Market Development Manager, Epson UK said: "This new paper is an important product for a niche market with a focus on the magazine proofing sector."

Epson Standard Proofing Paper 240 gives superb results for mission-critical print jobs such as contract printing, and is optimised for use with Epson's UltraChrome family of inks.

Part of the latest generation of inkjet proofing solutions, Standard Proofing Paper 240 completes the product offering from Epson in this range.  Providing superior print quality with instant drying, it is able to deliver Epson's widest colour gamut yet in a range of applications that require the highest proofing standards available today.

Standard Proofing Paper 240 is a heavier, opaque version of the previously available 205 proofing paper solution. It is sold in 30.5 metre rolls in widths of 17" - 44" and A3+ cut sheets are also available. A five-sheet sample pack will be included with each Epson Stylus Pro printer.

For more information visit: www.epson.co.uk

Pricing:

• Epson Standard Proofing Paper 240 for A3+ (10 Sheets) RRP: £11.11 (Exc. Vat)
• Epson Standard Proofing Paper 240 for A3+ (100 sheets) RRP: £97.70 (Exc. Vat)
• Epson Standard Proofing Paper 240 17"X 30.5m RRP: £80.82 (Exc. Vat)
• Epson Standard Proofing Paper 240 24" X 30.5m RRP: £114.39 (Exc.Vat)
• Epson Standard Proofing Paper 240 44" x 30.5m RRP: £209.64 (Exc.Vat)
  
  

 

Benefits of membership to be broadcast by BPIF

Two Sides, the UK initiative to promote the responsible production and use of print and paper, and encourage its use as an attractive, practical and sustainable communications medium, today launched an initiative to attract more printers to its campaign. Promoting awareness of the sustainability of print and paper as a 'Renewable, Recyclable and Powerful' medium, Two Sides is encouraging UK printers to recognise the benefits of membership and add their names to the campaign's growing numbers.

"It is important that more printers get on board and join the Two Sides campaign. Print and Paper is our livelihood and with 80% of media buyers admitting that environmental considerations affect the print buying decision, the industry needs to do all it can to promote the message that print is both a sustainable and effective medium," says Martyn Eustace, Two Sides Director.

The benefits of joining the Two Sides campaign are considerable. As a member of the UK arm of a Europe-wide campaign, printers are able to demonstrate their own focus on sustainability, reassuring existing and potential customers of their company's commitment to environmentally responsible print production. Membership provides access to important information on emerging sustainability issues and the challenges the industry is facing. Two Sides encourages members to use these facts in discussions with clients and prospects to demonstrate a responsible approach to print and paper production and leadership in the drive for sustainability. In addition, Two Sides provides sales collateral for printers to use including the logo which identifies their commitment and participation in the campaign. Two Sides also provides opportunities for printers to showcase themselves and their proactive approach to responsible business practices on the Two Sides website.

"With fees starting from £150 the price of membership isn't very high, especially when you consider the opportunities for the campaign to increase the demand for print media and equip individual printers to maximise sales opportunities," Martyn Eustace points out.

The BPIF is supporting the Two Sides' drive to boost printer membership with a number of initiatives to encourage participation throughout its own membership. Using its in-house magazine, Inprint, as well as personal letters to its members, the BPIF will promote the Two Sides message to 2,400 UK printing companies.

Andrew Brown, Corporate Affairs Director at the BPIF, comments: "The Two Sides campaign is too important to leave to the paper industry. Printers must stand up and be proud to be counted as part of an industry that uses a recyclable product and sustainable and renewable resources. They need their media buying customers to know, unequivocally, that using print is not damaging to the environment and so help to keep print and paper an essential part of marketeers' media buying."

Sawgrass Technologies Consumer Division has joined forces with Econscious to showcase a whole green-product solution at the ISS tradeshow in Long Beach, CA. Sawgrass’ SubliJet technology was used to decorate hundreds of Econscious reusable tote bags made from recycled polyester. The result is a beautiful and affordable tote, with vivid and durable images, with a very low environmental footprint.

"It is a win-win situation, both for our companies and the environment," said Mike McEvoy, vice president of marketing for Sawgrass Technologies. “Recycled polyester is far less energy-intensive than virgin polyester, and diverts waste from the landfill. In turn, the water-based SubliJet sublimation ink eliminates the use of screens and associate chemicals."