Inkjet & Digital Printing
KODAK NEXPRESS Dimensional Printing System Enhances Graphic Arts Monthly Special March Cover
Friday 20. March 2009 - Raised printing effect gives cover a distinctive look, helps marketers "feel" the difference
To highlight the innovative capabilities and expanded revenue generating opportunities of its KODAK NEXPRESS Dimensional Printing System, the covers for the March 2009 issue of Graphic Arts Monthly magazine were printed digitally and feature Dimensional Printing. The 75,000 covers were printed on a KODAK NEXPRESS Digital Production Color Press using KODAK NEXPRESS Intelligent Dimensional Coating Solution and KODAK NEXPRESS Dimensional Clear Dry Ink, which combine to create 3D raised printing that enables tactile effects.
In addition to the special cover, the March issue features an in-depth article by Technology Watch editor Henry Freedman on the benefits of Dimensional Printing. “Kodaks NEXPRESS continues to amaze us with what can be imaged to paper,” noted Freedman in the article. “The real value added here is Kodaks ability to now increase the electronically printed page to communicate a tactile response. No matter how you look at it, you should be in close touch with Dimensional Printing on the NEXPRESS, it is a way to keep in touch with the future.”
Available as part of the KODAK NEXPRESS Fifth Imaging Unit Solutions, Dimensional Printing gives specified text and images a raised or 3D effect that can help communications stand out in a crowded marketplace. The result is a printed piece where images can have a dimensional feel that mimics the surface of the items in the image.
“The digital printing marketplace is very competitive. Our Dimensional Printing helps printers expand revenue generating opportunities by differentiating the creative piece and capturing the senses and attention of viewers in a unique and interesting way,” noted Kevin Joyce, Worldwide Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Digital Printing Solutions, Kodak. “Its an exciting effect and you can literally feel the difference. The printing of this cover for Graphic Arts Monthly gives us an excellent opportunity to showcase the capability of this Kodak technology with a very large and targeted audience.”
Graphic Arts Monthly Senior Art Director Anne LoCascio is not new to the benefits of Dimensional Printing: “Im delighted with the results I get from Dimensional Printing. It gives the work immediate visual and tactile impact by enhancing forms and textures. When I show a piece to someone for the first time, they immediately ask to touch it, then they turn it to appreciate the play of light and the sculpted quality of the imagery.”
NEXPRESS Dimensional Clear Dry Ink creates a clear “raised” layer on top of a page element and can be used to enhance graphics, text, or a full color image in materials such as photobooks, calendars, greeting cards, invitations, collateral, business cards, certificates or direct mail. Dimensional Printing takes place inline, maintaining press productivity while creating high-impact results. The overall tactile effect is similar to relief printing, but with a greater degree of controlDimensional Printing can be set to produce variable heights, so a user can more closely mimic the texture of a specific image. In contrast to thermography, which can only be applied to ink, NEXPRESS Dimensional Clear Dry Ink does not require ink or an image to adhere to the substrate.
In addition to Dimensional Printing, KODAK NEXPRESS Fifth Imaging Unit Solutions deliver spot color, watermarking, MICR secure printing, and protective coating, and rely on press profiling and standard inks to match up to 82 percent of the PANTONE spot color gamut with no custom mixing required.