MYSTIC VISION BECOMES REALITY
A YEAR OF PROGRESS IN FULL COLOR
Welcome to our ninth issue of Color Perfection® Magazine. So far, 2024 has been a year of progress, especially for metal decorating.
Metal beverage package decoration continues to go above and beyond to entice consumers. Our cover story looks at one such example: the impressive winner of our fifth annual Colored by INX Can Design Contest. Congratulations to Jackie O’s Brewery’s Mystic Mama West Coast Style IPA, and to canmaker Ball Corp. for the ‘wow’ factors behind Mystic Mama’s statement-making graphic design in metal.
We delve into Jackie O’s design process, starting with the intricate woodcut carving that was custom designed by a distinguished West Virginia artist and digitally adapted
to the can. We also examine the selection of vivid INX ink choices from the Color Perfection Catalog, how our INX inplant services were involved, and the application specialists who all made the beautiful package a reality.
The collective result shows how the Color Perfection System works to transform brands, designs, marketing strategies and can decoration into something magical. Their canvas is the metal can; Color Perfection, the physical color swatches and the INX digital color library from the INX Color Catalog are the brushes and paints they use to create visually stunning products that stand out on store shelves.
In these pages, you can find details about these new colors. From conceptual designs to the store shelf, they provide brand owners with substantial cost savings, the benefits of brand consistency and color accuracy, and the ability to get a product to market more quickly than before.
Digital transformations are all around us, from cloud-based data storage to systems and services that enhance customer and employee experiences, product development, printing and decorating innovations, and more. That said, this issue of Color Perfection Magazine is also available in a digital format.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been on our industry’s radar this year, and finding use in graphic design, layout, and other relevant creative services. This issue explores one of our latest technology investments through the INX Venture Capital program — participation in a round of funding for Oden Technologies, a leading AIpowered analytics provider for manufacturing companies. These investments in technology, AI, and materials science startups focus on strategic relevance to the printing inks and coatings value chain.
The other big metal deco news is the expansion of the Color Catalog. Providing brand owners, metal decorators, design agencies, and marketers with more ways to streamline the ink color management process, INX has added 28 new color swatches to the catalog and updated the digital library plug-in.
INSIDE COLOR PERFECTION
Speaking of digital, we talk with INXpert, Paul Edwards, the new Vice President of our Digital Division, who says our broad product portfolio presents a tremendous opportunity for people engaged in and transitioning to digital printing. He discusses this versatile technology and how it’s being used to print metal beverage cans.
I can’t emphasize enough how important and easy it is to become a subscriber of Color Perfection Magazine. We hope you enjoy this issue!
Get a free subscription to Color Perfection by registering at our website! You can subscribe for a print version, digital version or both. You can also access past issues of Color Perfection digitally. This magazine is a great resource for brand owners, graphic designers, and metal decorators. Register today at inxcpmag.com
We
Jackie O’s Brewery’s Mystic
Artist Bryn Parrott creates
INX invests in Artificial Intelligence with Oden Technologies
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving, and is beginning to reshape how we live, work and do business. In April, INX International announced its participation in a $28.5-million Series B round of venture funding for Oden Technologies, led by Nordstjernan Growth, Flat Capital, Recurring Capital Partners. New York Citybased Oden Technologies is a leading AI-powered analytics provider for manufacturing companies, and is the fifth company INX has invested in since establishing a $50-million venture capital investment program in 2022.
Offset Operations VP Chris Tucker said INX wanted to partner with Oden to improve uptime and throughput to enable data-driven decisionmaking via descriptive and predictive analytics. “In late 2022, INX began a journey to expand the digitization of our manufacturing,” he explained. “A major part of the process is implementing the Oden platform. We began using it in our Charlotte, N.C. facility, INX’s primary two-piece metal decorating ink production facility for North America. The initial implementation gave us visibility into each piece of
equipment in the operation, including details of what was running, how it was running, and how efficiently the equipment was being utilized. The next step was introducing predictive quality into the Oden platform.”
The Oden Technologies pilot program with INX produced impressive results. Once the program was active and consistent, INX was able to move to Process AI with Oden, Tucker said. Process AI is a live dashboard that line operators use for realtime production setting adjustments that improve business outcomes and consistency. INX is now using new Oden products such as the Data Engine, Process Analytics, and Process AI.
“Process AI is promising to increase the consistency of production by using intelligent equipment settings to assist even the newest employees to operate at a similar level of our most experienced employees. Process AI from Oden is our first foray into AI in the production environment,” Tucker said.
“In our Charlotte facility, we have recorded increases in our OEE (overall equipment effectiveness) and a reduction in unnecessary downtime. Currently, only the Charlotte facility is working with Process AI. However, our Lebanon, Ohio facility recently completed an initial setup with the Oden platform and will be working
toward Process AI in the coming months. With the benefits already recognized from Oden in Charlotte, this implementation will be followed by all INX North American manufacturing operations in the coming two years.”
“We learned Oden provides significant value in real time manufacturing data visibility,” added Jim Kochanny, INX Chief Operating Officer. “We are enthusiastic to begin testing additional valueadded features related to machine learning and AI, which can help INX further improve manufacturing efficiencies.”
Oden Technologies uses a live dashboard that line operators use for real-time production setting adjustments.
DEFTLY DECORATED CANS SHOW OFF SPARKLING AND PLANT-BASED DRINKS
The popularity of plant-based drinks show no signs of waning, as more consumers in North America choose plant-based waters for health purposes and as a refreshing alternative to sugary drinks and alcohol. Reliable Business Insight predicts you can expect to see more plantbased options with functional ingredients in the future.
LEILO Calm in a can
Kava, a traditional beverage from the South Pacific, is also considered a social tonic. Derived from the roots of the kava plant grown in Fiji, Kava is gaining popularity with lowand no-alcohol consumers for its calming and anxietyreducing effects.
Leilo, a slightly carbonated, ready-to-drink kava beverage, is made with kava root extract, I-theanine amino acid, and vitamin B6 to help calm and relax the mind and body, says founder, Sol Broady. He discovered the powers of kava while in Fiji in 2018, and knew he needed to share this native plant’s health benefits with those in the U.S. “America has built up a significant stress culture over the years,” Broady said recently.
And there’s nothing stressful about the tranquil graphics on Leilo’s tall slim 12-ounce cans. Wavy elements in tropical pastels distinguish the sparkling flavors: raspberry hibiscus, lemon ginger, tango berry, pina colada, and blackberry orange. The brand name is italicized at the top of each white can while “kava” is centered in large all-cap letters. The serene results aim to help consumers unwind.
SANPELLEGRINO
Exotic fruit and flavor
While lemon and lime often top the flavor list, exotic yuzu, blood orange, mango, passionfruit, and blueberry are emerging. For example, Nestle’s Mediterraneaninspired sparkling water, Sanpellegrino, has expanded its drink line to the United States with a zero-grams added-sugar line of sparkling Italian drinks. The Lemonade, Blood Orange, Peach & Clementine, and Pomegranate & Orange flavors contain 1 to 4 grams of sugar from fruit juice. Elegant graphics on Zero’s tall and sleek 330-mL can are flavor-coded in fruity colors. The red Sanpellegrino star and navy branding appear on white above a vignette of the fruit each flavor incorporates.
Sara Mayer, senior marketing manager for Sanpellegrino, says her firm crafts Italian sparkling drinks with real fruit juice from fruits grown in the Mediterranean, and authentic flavors that evoke “La Dolce Vita.”
HIYO Social tonics
California’s beverage brand
Hiyo has a new strawberry guava flavor in its “social tonic” functional seltzer line. Hiyo is said to provide a stressrelieving, mood-boosting lift. The tangy yet sweet hit of ripe strawberries couples with the exotic taste of smooth guava.
Crafted with functional botanicals to be an alcohol alternative, the tonic’s tall cans each contain 30 calories.
The ombre-toned can graphics are sure to lure consumers. Graduated color elements on a white background transition from light to deep hues for a sunset effect.
CELSIUS LIVE FIT Energy and sparkle
Celsius Live Fit from Celsius Holdings Inc., Boca Raton, FL, which PepsiCo now owns, claims to offer calorie-burning properties and better-for-you fitness ingredients. Available in slim 12-ounce cans, the sparkling drink’s multiple flavors and varieties rely on fitness-oriented packaging graphics to describe its metabolic-accelerating, body fat-burning benefits. The line contains green tea, EGCG (epigallocatechin-3gallate), caffeine, guarana seed extract, taurine, and ginger root extract to boost metabolic rates.
Despite plenty of competition, Celsius retains an edge largely because of its healthconscious marketing and on-trend, straightforward packaging presentation. Sharp elements on the can front are color-coded to highlight each flavor on a bright white background. A large two-color “C” brand logo, degree symbol, and brand name are placed above crisp, multicolor flavor illustrations. Bullet points call out the brand’s key benefits on black. The results are helping sales to soar.
INX Retortable Standout Inks in Black and White
Canmakers have requested inks with improved whiteness transfer from blanket to can, and want better substrate coverage and press performance. Many canned beverages, like cold-brewed coffee drinks that contain a percentage of dairy, still require retortable inks.
Two new beverage can inks from INX provide just that. Featured by INX recently at Cannex & Fillex Asia
Pacific 2024 in Guangzhou, China, the new pair of black and white inks for twopiece metal decorating are upgrades that canmakers and beverage brands can use to help their packaging stand out on store shelves. The first is AP Retort Jet Black, which was upgraded to help print at high densities. Alex Folloso, who was recently promoted to Vice President of R&D Metal Decorating Technology, said customers using it notice sharper, dense black printing with improved color strength, ink transfer and coverage, and mileage.
“Most canned beverages that contain a percentage of milk or dairy will require a retortable ink like AP Retort Jet Black,” Folloso commented. “Major coffee and beverage brands in North America are telling us
about the ink’s improvements in performance and appearance. Some customers also notice reduced Hold For Inspection (HFI) rates for quality issues involving an off-color or some type of can defect.”
“One decorator can print up to 10,000 cans in five minutes, so based on the quantity of cans produced, there is a huge cost for HFI,” he added. “The target is zero so reducing the number of HFI’s is important to the manufacturer. These are some of the improvements our metal R&D and technical team will continue to address.”
AP Retort Jet Black ink is available in the U.S. and is also being launched in other countries.
Also introduced at Cannex, the AP LoVOC Line White
inks exhibit high tint strength, excellent transfer, and low misting. Formulated for highspeed printing on aluminum or coated steel, the series of inks allow customers to print a bright and sharper white, with better press performance and drying. Customers using it have noted improved opacity, smooth transfer from blanket to can well, and better substrate coverage.
“We also improved the rheology of this ink,” Folloso noted, adding that customers say AP LoVOC Line White meets their requirements. “One major beer company is currently using AP LoVOC Line White on several brand labels that require a high percentage of white coverage. For metal decorating inks, it is important to balance the viscosity and flow for optimal performance on high-speed decorators printing around 2,000 cans per minute.”
2023 SUSTAINABILITY
REPORT Now Available
INX’s 2023 Sustainability Report, released in May 2024, highlights the company’s continuing leadership and progress in its commitment to sustainability and a circular economy. As sustainability continues to grow in importance, ink manufacturers including INX, are developing new systems that advance recycling. INX’s investments support a three-pronged sustainability strategy: product, process, social responsibility, and its commitment to coloring a safe and sustainable future.
The 36-page report also analyzes the company’s evolving environmental practices. “Some of the other highlights from the 2023 report include how we increased our recycling efforts last year by 45
percent, reduced scope 1 emissions by 4.2 percent, and scope 2 emissions by 4.6 percent”, said Alex Folloso, Vice President of R&D Metal Decorating Technology at INX.
Bryce Kristo, INX President and CEO, said with changing consumer demands and regulatory requirements, INX International must enhance and grow its leadership position in the industry and help meet the needs of its brand owners, customers, and consumers by improving the sustainability of our products. “Our Coloring a Safe and Sustainable Future pledge serves as a guide to how we develop, manufacture, and distribute products and how we work with our customers and suppliers.”
Download the Sustainability Report at inxinternational.com/ sustainability-report-2023.
UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS –See You There!
SEPTEMBER 10-12
LABELEXPO AMERICAS
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL
LabelExpo America is the largest event for the label and package printing industry in the region, with more products, more launches, and more live demonstrations.
SEPTEMBER 10 - 12
PRINTING UNITED EXPO
Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Central and South halls
The PRINTING United Alliance is a most dynamic and comprehensive printing event that focuses on bringing together the print community to experience the latest printing technologies and applications in one place. New applications, technology, and trends will be on full display from wide-format to apparel and everything in between.
SEPTEMBER 24-26
IMDPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Itasca, IL
The International Metal Decorating and Packaging Association includes more than 600 individual members from more than 200 companies located around the world. Their upcoming conference includes presentations on employee engagement, political outlook, metal packaging financial analysis, regulations affecting metal packaging, LED Curing, Digital Printing, Customer Branding Initiatives, Printing Equipment improvements, and industry innovations. An annual Tabletop Exhibit also takes place at the IMDPA’s annual conference.
An IMDPA Membership is your gateway to more than just the conference. You'll gain access to quality resources and tools and unlimited networking, so your organization stays one step ahead.
Join by visiting metaldecorators.org.
Colors
OUR UPDATED COLOR PERFECTION CATALOG FEATURES 28 EXCITING NEW INK COLOR SWATCHES FOR METAL CAN DESIGN.
As North America’s leading supplier of metal decorating ink for the twopiece metal can market, INX International recently added to its myriad of metal ink colors by expanding the INX Color Catalog. The collection of more than 650 proprietary numbered, removable metal color swatches accurately represents the finished metal print. This helps brand owners, designers, and metal decorators select, communicate, and approve color efficiently, reducing lead times and bringing brilliantly decorated cans to market faster.
Also updated is the corresponding INX Digital Color Library plug-in, available for users in today’s Adobe® design programs. The Color Library gives designers and prepress teams access to the INX two-piece metal Catalog colors for use during the design phase.
The Color Catalog and Digital Color Library plug-in are critical elements of INX Color Perfection, the color management system which builds brand consistency and ensures color accuracy. Regarded as the only true color standard for metal decorating, Color Perfection helps increase the shelf appeal of two-piece cans with consistent color available anywhere in the world.
“Once users register their Catalog with us, they will be able to download a copy of the INX Digital Color Library located in the catalog support area,” says Sarah Jacks, INX Technical Sales Representative.
VARIETY OF CHOICES
Available since February, the update includes 28 opaque, transparent, and semitransparent inks in various greens, purples, yellows, blues, pinks, oranges, reds, gold, and more. This provides brand owners, metal decorators, design agencies, and marketers with more ways to streamline the color management process.
“A year ago, we had about 350 of the color catalogs in the market,” points out Renee Schouten, INX Vice President of Marketing.
“Now, there are over 400 catalogs in the market, and there will be greater interest with the 28 new metal swatches. More than 50 percent of the catalogs belong to brand owners, many of whom support the annual Colored By INX Can Design Contest.”
“Our commitment to the Color Catalog is to update it periodically,” notes Jacks, who discusses how INX expanded the Color Catalog.
“Running many ink colors, INX continuously evaluates and qualifies inks on their performance and quality. Color Catalog users now have an expanded choice of colors, giving brand owners and designers more options in the design process.”
New ink color candidates are first tested and run on a can decorator that prints test cans to see how the colors would appear on a finished can. After INX runs the samples, each can is cut into individual metal swatches that go through a set of quality checks before being assembled in the INX Color Catalog.
“When adding colors, we consider factors such as marketplace trends in color,” Jacks says. “We also continuously evaluate the Catalog to ‘fill in the blanks,’ asking our field personnel for new color suggestions and to understand what colors customers frequently request.”
Each catalog is handcrafted and manufactured at INX’s production facility in Charlotte, NC.
“Designing for metal decorating requires true representation, and print on paper just doesn’t cut it,” Jacks adds. “Expanding the two-piece Color Catalog raises our standards for achieving fast and accurate color selection, cost-effective color management, improved color communication, lower applied finished costs, and reduced lead times.”
One metal can printer/color proofer said his customer was thrilled with being able to visually choose the exact aluminum printed colors needed to achieve a desired look.
“Seeing a large variety of color swatches and knowing exactly how they will look when printed on an aluminum can are the key benefits of the Catalog,” he said. “It has greatly reduced the number of color changes at our pilot facility, saving us countless hours of downtime cleaning ink fountains, rollers, blankets, and plates.”
“We’re able to select a color outcome that’s realistic and accurate when it prints on the can, leaving no surprises at press check.”
—Coppola Winery
“Anticipating color alignment and specifications, the printed colors matched our design intent for more efficient press checks.”
—Talking Rain
“We used the Color Catalog swatches with our Bale Breaker cans on pilot runs through two different vendors. It was great having consistent callouts to both vendors, so we had true apples-to-apples comparisons.”
—Blindtiger Design
Wins Fifth Can Contest
Jackie O’s Brewery’s Mystic Mama takes the top spot in INX’s fifthannual Colored by INX Can Design Contest.
For Jackie O’s brewery Owner/President Art Oestrike, winning the fifth-annual Colored by INX Can Design Contest 2024 was especially poignant; the Jackie O’s name came from his mother, Jackie Oestrike. The owner and design team of Jackie O’s Brewery, Athens, Ohio, won top honors for Jackie O’s Mystic Mama West Coast Style IPA.
This marks the fourth time a craft brewer has won the Contest in the last four years, and the third time the brewery has entered the Contest. The 2024 winner was determined in a voting process involving an independent judging panel and the public via INX International’s Facebook and LinkedIn social media pages.
The winning can design presents a magical, ethereal illustration that wraps around the aluminum can in a moody mix of black, purple, gold, and white colors. Based
on the unique artwork of distinguished West Virginia woodcut artist Bryn Perrott, who also hand-carved the woodcut designs appearing on several of Jackie O’s other beer packages, the scene is a mystical illustration that completely wraps around the can, inviting drinkers into a world where brewing tradition meets artistry.
“Mystic Mama is our flagship West Coast style IPA,” explained Erica Mirth, Head of Design at the time, for the Athens, Ohio-based brewery.
“It stands as a testament to bold flavor and a rich narrative, and it called for packaging to capture that essence. The can graphic designs featuring Bryn’s woodcuts stand out so well on a [store] shelf. They have so much visual appeal. Mystic Mama has been a heartfelt homage to the memory of Jackie Oestrike, the eponymous matriarch of Jackie O’s. The cans are adorned with imagery drawn from the mystical and matriarchal realms, echoing the spirit of its inspiration." ..........................See next page.
Jackie O’s Owner/President Art Oestrike, and his Jackie O’s on Fourth staff celebrate winning the Colored by INX Can Contest. From left to right; Rebecca Walker, Alyssa Mizer-Steffes, Jonathan Greathouse (kneeling), Eric Castle, Art Oestrike, Bailey Logsdon, and Stacey Kamphaus.
We wanted a bold and regal color palette for this design.
“They (INX color catalog) brought our enchanting vision to life in a way that both wows our customers and proudly stands as a lasting tribute to the woman behind the Jackie O’s name.”
"We wanted a bold and regal color palette for this design, and the extensive selection of color swatches within the catalog and the INX digital color library allowed us to select hues that were the perfect balance of striking and majestic.”
Shortly before Jackie Oestrike passed away in 2006, Art Oestrike bought a bar in Athens that he later renamed Jackie O’s Brewpub and continued to expand. Currently, there are three Athens locations: Public House Restaurant, Uptown Brewpub and Taproom, and the production brewery –plus Jackie O’s on Fourth in Columbus, OH.
Today, Jackie O’s is considered among the very best craft breweries in Appalachia. Mystic Mama West Coast IPA is available at all Jackie O’s locations and is distributed in six-packs at convenience stores in Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington D.C.
CATALOG STREAMLINES DESIGN
Having the INX Color Catalog, the metal decoration industry’s only true color standard gives the brewery a choice of nearly 650 color metal swatches to choose from, which provides the design team with peace of
mind, assuring each color is accurate and consistent, Mirth explained. After much consideration and testing, the brewery selected five colors for the final Mystic Mama artwork: white, black, opaque yellow, and two opaque purple colors.
“The physical color swatches and the INX digital color library ensured we had the perfect palette,” Mirth added. “They brought our enchanting vision to life in a way that both wows our customers and proudly stands as a lasting tribute to the woman behind the Jackie O’s name.”
“We use INX inks frequently,” noted Art Oestrike. “And we have depended on the metal swatch Color Catalog since the day we received it.”
The INX Color Catalog helped the Jackie O’s team streamline the design process from ideation to production, Mirth continued.
“The color selection is extensive within the catalog. We looked to INX as the leader in metal decorating technology when we started amping up production of our canned products,” she recalled. “The INX Color Catalog provides our team with ample color options and ensures that the colors we select will be true to the swatches within the catalog.”
The design was a collaborative effort across various Jackie O’s Brewery departments, including Design, Marketing, and Sales, as well as Bryn Perrott, the distinguished woodcut artist in Morgantown, WV, who created the original artwork, canmaker Ball Corp., and Josh Nigh, INX Inplant Manager at Ball’s Findlay, OH, aluminum canmaking facility. Nigh ensured the printing inks were effectively managed during the can decorating process (see accompanying article).
After Perrott hand-carved the design and photographed the woodcuts in a highresolution format, the design team at Jackie O’s digitized the design, tracing every line in the imagery digitally (which can take a week of a designer's time). Next, the designers brought it to life even more, choosing the INX Color Catalog ink swatches and using the INX Digital Plug-In. Oestrike said it took another two months for the design team to digitize the artwork and add colors to each area of the design.
“Mystic Mama is our lead product — our benchmark — so we took our time to get everything perfect,” summarized Jackie O’s President/Owner. “Once approved, the digitized proofs went to the graphics specialists at Ball Corp. in Colorado where the printing plates and pilot cans were made. When those were finalized, they went to Ball Findlay and Josh Nigh,” he remembers. “We have used INX inks for a while and will continue to use them. The Color Catalog has been a very handy resource. Having the color swatches in your hands tells the true story.”
Erica Mirth; Head of Design, Jackie O’s Brewery
Erica Mirth; Head of Design, Jackie O’s Brewery
CAN CONTEST FINALISTS
And their INX Color Perfection® System color info
THREE FLOYDS BREWING ZOMBIE ICE:
"Being able to see a large variety of color swatches and knowing exactly how they will look when printed on an aluminum can."
Colors: 1299071, 1141429
ELYSIAN DRAGONSTOOTH STOUT:
"Being able to quickly view the actual inks on the aluminum substrate on which they will be printed allows for the designer/creator to realize the vision of the artwork.”
Colors: 1299071, 1366849, 1459785 & 1625231
NEW BELGIUM VOODOO RANGER FRUIT FORCE:
"Choosing the right colors to achieve the gradients and effects that the artist imagined."
Colors: 1299071, 1135857, 1444102, 1392890, 1492709 & 1625231
LOST COAST BREWERY STARGATE WIT:
Some key benefits of using the INX Color Catalog was the "availability of color sample swatch, and the clarity of book layout and design."
Colors: 1299071, 1469692 & 1625231
Ballast Point Brewery and design team,, Ball Corporation
Uncanny Design,
Uncanny Design,
Artist Bryn Perrott is based in West Virginia. She is photographed with Jackie O's Brewery Mystic Mama can that she originally designed as a wood carving. See more of her work at deerjerk.com.
Artistic visions transcend mediums as impactful woodcuts become sleek cans
The unique can artwork for many of Jackie O’s Brewery’s beers began as hand-carved relief woodcuts created by artist Bryn Parrott. Jackie O’s Brewery has used several of Perrott’s woodcut designs for its beer packaging over the years.
Invented in ninth-century China, woodcuts involve a relief process in which designs are carved into the surface of a wooden block. Woodcuts began appearing in Europe in the thirteenth century stamped onto textiles. Though Perrott’s studio is 150 miles away from the Athens, OH, brewery, Jackie O’s Owner/ President Art Oestrike said it was an easy decision to use her artwork for the second rendition of the Mystic Mama core cans.
“In 2012, we set out to create a product line that stood out on the shelves like no other,” Oestrike explained. “When later updating those can designs, we wanted to replace the individual characters [featured earlier] with a to-scale design that filled the entirety of the can. Our team and Bryn planned to update all of our core cans with this methodology. We had Bryn update designs for three different products. Once it was presented to her, she went to work on the woodcuts, and the new layout was formed.”
A prolific artist, Perrott fashions intricate wood artwork in designs referencing tattoo imagery, flowers, nature, ancient symbols, and her love of animals. Recognized by her internet identity - DeerJerk. com - she has designed album art, T-shirts, book covers, jewelry, and beer packaging for brewers like Jackie O’s Brewery.
WOODCUT ARTIST BRYN PERROTT
“My process starts with a drawing of whatever the requested piece is, and from that, I make a larger (wood) stencil of the drawing and use it to cut out the general shape,” she explained. “Most of the details come from the carving. After I transfer the design to the stencil, then I carve (into the wood) with various tools, and the design sort of moves as I go.”
For the Mystic Mama project, she created the imagery based on Jackie O’s direction.
“They were thinking about snake charming, fortune telling, and flame dancing [motifs]. I think we decided on a night scene to elevate that magic quality, and the colors selected are effective with that choice,” she commented. “Part of my inspiration when making Mystic Mama was vintage carnival images and folklore.”
Perrott’s actual woodcut design for Mystic Mama features intricate and finely detailed images of snakes, stars, flames, and a truly magical lady. (Photo courtesy of Bryn Perrott).
The results lure beer drinkers into a mysteriously spiritual world where tradition meets artistry.
“Part of my inspiration when making Mystic Mama was vintage carnival images and folklore.”
— Bryn Perrott, Woodcut Artist
“The final woodcut is large in scale,” she said. “It's 2 by 4 feet. It took several days between drawing, layout planning, and actual carving to complete. My thoughts during creation are usually about whether I made a successful image. Did I use my ability and style to solve a design request and will the image be received positively? This is important because I'm creating a product label.”
The mood-setting colors and unusual design combine to create an extraordinary look on shelves. The results celebrate craftsmanship, heritage, and the power of storytelling.
“We just want to send our eternal thanks to Bryn and our design team for bringing the cans and now, these sparkling new 12-Packs to life…” said Erica Mirth, Head of Design for the Athens, Ohio-based brewery.
After completing the woodcut for Jackie O’s, Perrott photographed it and sent the image files over to Jackie O's to digitize. She made the woodcut composition and size to fit the can layout pretty much as-is.
“This gave them a jumpstart and kept the art as close to the original as possible,” she said.
FROM WOODCUT TO DIGITIZING, COLOR SELECTION, AND PRINTING
A colorful collaboration to the end from proofing to printing
After a month of work, the Jackie O’s design team spent two more months digitizing Perrott’s artwork and adding the colors to each design.
“Upon approval, the final artwork was divided into spot colors, separated into plates where each plate represents a color. These were sent to the graphics specialist at Ball Corp.’s Findlay, Ohio facility,” Art Oestrike says. “This collaboration has always been one of the best steps in the process, from conception to implementation.”
At the Ball facility, Joshua Nigh, the onsite INX inplant Manager, was able to oversee ink inventory management, ensuring precise amounts were available for the print runs, and handling several tasks that allowed the press operators to focus on their responsibilities.
“I worked with Jackie O’s design/art department and they told me what colors they were looking for,” Nigh said. “They chose the ink color swatches in the INX Color Catalog in the shades/ opacities they wanted, and when the formula was ready I made small batches in our inhouse lab. Then we printed
the inks on aluminum can samples, added varnish, and proofed them. We then sent the samples to Jackie O’s to choose which ones they wanted and make approvals.”
Ball Corp., which was instrumental in producing beer cans that won previous INX Can Design Contests including last year’s Shiner Beer winner, readied the plates and shipped them to its Findlay plant for print preparation.
“The plates were made using a laser engraving method to achieve the fine lines and details,” Nigh explained.
The cans were printed using a dry offset printing process, where a blanket transfers the ink from the printing plates to the cans as they roll over it. Printing on metal presents challenges because the metal substrate can affect the final appearance of the ink. Achieving accurate brand colors can be difficult, but INX’s color catalog and metal swatches make this easier because they streamline printing operations.
“Getting good cans to print on is crucial, and Ball Findlay is one of the best,” Nigh adds. “Using high-quality INX inks is very important. The Dense Black and Vibrant Purple pop on the can together. We added a smooth over varnish to protect the inks.”
Nigh next checked the print runs for ink color quality and ensured they met Jackie O’s requirements. At the printer, Nigh oversaw the print runs to ensure the cans were printed according to Jackie O’s Color Catalog ink specifications and were a perfect match on the cans to the swatches.
“INX metal inks are highquality,” he said. “The black was super dark, and the rest of the can colors were bright and vibrant, which really made the results eye-catching.”
“This collaboration has always been one of the best steps in the process, from conception to implementation.”
Art Oestrike, Jackie O’s Brewery
Separate Color Plates Color Info
Print on Aluminum
Add Varnish Pilot Can
Proofed
Edwards is ‘excited’ about the digital future of the metal packaging market. His team is helping customers make a smooth transition.
PAUL EDWARDS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE DIGITAL DIVISION
What does Paul Edwards say is new with INX International and its digital ink products?
“The opportunities in digital printing are significant, especially in packaging, where we are advancing the analog-to-digital transition,” he answers. “Two words describe how we are growing the digital printing business: FOCUS and DELIVERY. We focus resources on the most important/strategic projects for the business and then deliver the products on time, to specification, and on budget. It sounds simple, but there’s a lot of work to make these targets a reality.”
Edwards has worked as a project manager in technical positions for more than 30 years. His leadership and technological experience within the analog and digital imaging field, from a fluids and printing system perspective, has steadily moved him toward the digital revolution in print, and in the development and commercialization of digital inks, coatings, and printing systems. From his perspective, the growth in metal decoration for packaging is accelerating and INX is looking at bringing the metal packaging and direct-to-object printing (DTO) markets into the digital space.
“We have been heavily involved in DTO,” he says. “INX was a pioneer in this area and has patents on helical printing, which is commonly used for bottles, cylinders, and two-piece cans. We provide ink, hardware, and software technologies to many customers.
“In terms of metal packaging, INX is 100-percent committed to providing digital solutions in all application areas. Examples include creating overt or covert security features for metal containers and QR codes that can be enhanced using digital technologies. Digital can bring some new, unique options to the looks of cans such as a thick laydown of ink that offers enhanced 3D effects.
“The use of a jetted OPV in digital fashion can create different areas of gloss on the print and accentuate areas of an Image. It’s also possible to create holographic effects with some modifications of the printing process and a ‘soft touch’ surface feel. Many ideas could be implemented digitally on a can.”
PROFESSIONAL LOOK THAT’S ECONOMICAL
Digital penetration into the metal decorating market is relatively recent, but Edwards says INX is making major inroads as it develops more technology, technical services, printing equipment, and ink choices.
“There has been an explosive growth in the demand for digital printing for beverage cans. We are helping customers progress into these digital applications and work with them on future developments and improvements.
“The huge growth of U.S. craft brewers drives the need for shorter-volume print runs. Brewers want impactfully decorated cans with their specific product
details to attract customers to their products. Digitally printing metal cans allows for economical short runs isn’t possible using analog can printing methods. Labels and shrink sleeves have partly addressed this market, and can be digitally printed offline. However, printing directto-can will generally provide a more professional look and is more economical.”
INX brings its expertise to customers in both digital ink formulation and digital hardware. Digital printing systems technology has caught up to traditional printing methods in speed and reliability, Edwards observes.
“But thanks to the improved reliability of single-pass printing technology, digital printing systems for both flat metal and DTO applications — commonly cylindrical objects — can produce the print quality required at the speeds that make the DTO technology economical for shorter-run jobs. It’s not just the printing system that’s new, but the development of inks for metal decorating applications, which is equally important.
“Print engine performance and the interaction of the print engine design with the ink itself are critical to achieving the desired print result. If you design a print engine or ink without considering the other, the final product likely won’t be fully optimized.”
The INX Digital Inkjet Systems group in Huntsville, AL, which creates print engines, has an in-depth understanding of printhead technologies, he says.
“We use this expertise to create innovative ink systems and ink combinations that solve technical problems and challenges as digital printing is implemented for metal packaging. The INX Digital Division is identifying and addressing several new
opportunities in our core packaging markets and is successfully introducing new products to current and new customers.”
CHANGING EXPECTATIONS
While most customers have been evaluating digital printing’s potential impact, some are in the process of adding digital printing technology to their operations. Edwards believes changing consumer expectations are driving larger worldwide trends related to digital printing.
“Metal decorators see the need for shorter print runs. Brands, particularly craft brewers, are driving massive demand for short-run digital print. Brand owners want more product differentiation and shorter print runs.
“Consumers expect products to be delivered overnight, which has a profound impact on the supply chain. Products must get to market faster. This all impacts the metal decorators. So, there’s a need for short-run digital printing that can satisfy these demands economically.”
He says equally important is metal decoration’s digital color management.
“INX pioneered the development of the CP800 digital proofing printer, which metal can printers use to create a digital proof directly onto a can. The reflective nature of bright cans can create challenges in color reproduction, so color management is critical.”
No doubt, INX customers will experience some big changes, technical challenges, and learning curves as they implement digital printing into metal packaging, he says. Their customers and brand owners demand that products arrive sooner, in shorter runs, and in more personalized formats.
“In food packaging, we must consider the different applications, barrier properties, and regulations for ink chemistry and indirect food contact. Customers will need to learn and need support on many new things. Inks and printing technology will continue to be refined to adapt to these new challenges. That’s why INX is the best partner to help with the transition. We can support our customers in every stage to maximize their success in a digital world.”
The INX CP800 digital proofing printer.
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inxcolorperfection.com
