A Round of Applause

Congratulations are in order, as we use this edition of Digital Output to visually applaud the first, second, third, and honorable mention winners of our annual Application of the Year awards. Thanks to all of our readers for participating in the nomination and voting process—it was a banner year, with the most votes ever recorded.

VOLUME XXIX, NO.8 DIGITALOUTPUT.NET ISSN: 1083-5121

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Thomas Tetreault ttetreault@rockportpubs.com

EDITOR

Melissa Donovan mdonovan@rockportpubs.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Cassandra Balentine cbalentine@rockportpubs.com

WEB EDITOR

Melissa Mueller

ART DIRECTOR

Sarah M. White swhite@rockportpubs.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Marco Boer, Olivia Cahoon, Tim Greene, Mark Hanley, Melinda Tetreault, Amber Watson

ADVERTISING SALES

PUBLISHER

Thomas Tetreault

NATIONAL ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Nicole Pizzi-Cerundolo npcerundolo@rockportpubs.com

Read more about the 2023 first place winner in this month’s Application Spotlight. Art City Wraps based in Oshkosh, WI designed, printed, and wrapped a semi-trailer for JJ Trucking of Sheboygan, WI.

View all of the winning applications in our state of the industry feature. The piece focuses on 2023, in addition to what we can expect going into 2024. Marketshare leaders from all industry segments took part to provide an extensive look at the market.

Thanks to analyst firm IT Strategies, we also have our 2023 wide format graphics forecast. Graphic Arts Roadmap breaks down the market based on ink technology—aqueous, eco-solvent/latex, UV-curable, and soft signage dye-sublimation. Challenges for growth are identified, as well as which ink technology is poised to become the fastest growing segment through 2028.

The August edition wraps up with First Point of Contact, which considers the overlaminate portion of a two-step floor graphic system. It is held accountable for a number of things involving safety, visibility, and durability.

Best

978-921-7850, Ext. 160

Amanda Doyon adoyon@rockportpubs.com

978-921-7850, Ext. 170

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Thomas Tetreault

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Epson Introduces Versatile DTG and DTFilm Hybrid Garment Print Solution

Epson announces the hybrid SureColor F2270 for both direct to garment (DTG) and direct to film (DTFilm) printing. The hybrid SureColor F2270 DTG printer incorporates DTFilm printing capabilities and goes beyond traditional garment printing and transfer to a wider variety of materials, including uniquely shaped items.

Purpose-built for both DTG and DTFilm printing, the SureColor F2270 hybrid printer features a new PrecisionCore MicroTFP printhead with Nozzle Verification Technology, and next-generation UltraChrome DG2 ink to deliver vibrant colors and detail. The printer’s cartridge-free bulk ink pack system helps reduce ink replacement frequency. Featuring automatic garment thickness adjustment, it measures thickness using multiple sensors during the loading process to create a garment height profile and will automatically adjust the printhead and optimize print quality without user intervention to help increase productivity and ensure high-quality output. #225

Global Availability of ONYX 22.5

Onyx Graphics, Inc. announces the global availability of ONYX 22.5, the company’s newest version release of wide format RIP and print workflow software.

ONYX 22.5 introduces ONYX Archive for effortless backup, search, restoration, and management of print jobs, and is connected directly to the main ONYX user interface as a standard feature for the entire portfolio of ONYX RIP and print workflow software solutions.

This latest release builds on ONYX 22 software that introduced new tools for easy, everyday automation and color output accuracy for any printer/media combination. In addition to ONYX Archive, ONYX 22.5 introduces a new user experience for faster setup and configuration of XY trimmers, Adobe PDF Print Engine (APPE 6.1), and new color updates for predictable output. #226

Unveiling ARMORLam 15

ARMORLam 15 is a crystal clear overlaminate designed to offer unmatched protection for prints and graphics. Created with outdoor applications in mind, this highquality solution provides up to 12 months of UV protection, ensuring images remain vibrant and clear, even in the most challenging weather conditions. By preserving the integrity of prints, ARMORLam 15 extends the lifespan of graphics, reducing the need for frequent replacements and saving both time and money. Visit jessupmfg.com for more information on ARMORLam 15. INFO# 229

ISA Launches New Member Community

The International Sign Association (ISA) launches a new online community and company directory to give its members the opportunity to tap into powerful tools such as sparking new ideas, solving problems, and building networks.

In its initial phase, all members can access three main discussion boards—All Things Signs & Graphics, Sign Codes, and Women Leading the Industry. Discussion boards allow participants a place to connect, to solve pressing challenges, and discuss hot topics and industry trends.

In addition to discussion forums, the ISA Community gives members access to a directory to search for suppliers, distributors, and sign companies by products and services as well as location. #227

Finishing Simplified

Engineered and manufactured in Europe, the KalaXY Cutter/Trimmer reduces labor and increases profits by eliminating the time consuming task of manually cutting printed digital images. The line of automatic XY cutters are the ideal solution for processing a wide range of media including wallpaper, paper, direct to film, canvas, laminated/encapsulated films, banner material, polycarbonate, and other non-woven roll goods. Increase your output while reducing operation costs with KalaXY Cutters. For more information visit supply55.com, call 734-668-0755, or email sales@supply55.com. INFO# 230

New Feature for Xanté iQueue

Xanté introduces Paneling, a new feature to iQueue. Customers can now transform any image into panel art with a few simple clicks.

With Paneling, divide chosen images into panels of various sizes. You’re the artist, the director, and the curator, as you arrange these panels in a symphony of your imagination. The result? An awe-inspiring creation that not only captivates your own senses but leaves friends, family, and colleagues speechless.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional seeking new avenues for artistic expression or an adventurous soul eager to discover the artist within, Paneling is your gateway to creative nirvana. Simply load your image into iQueue and choose one of the many preset templates or easily add panels. #228