By Melissa Donovan
Part 2 of 2
Office décor is ripe for digitally printed products. The level of customization, possibility of a quick turnaround, and cost effectiveness of a short-run or one-off job afforded by wide format digital print means that designers, brand managers, and business owners alike can promote their company in ways never before possible.
The first part of this series looked at 12-Point Signworks, LLC, located in Franklin, TN, which creates office décor in the form of digitally printed wallcoverings in addition to dimensional signage to outfit an environment. The print service provider (PSP) utilizes a number of materials from traditional textured wallcovering media to adhesive-backed vinyl to make a vision become reality.
Similarly, Franklin Imaging of Columbus, OH reaches out to its customers to create customized office environments that include wallcoverings, stretched canvas, photo prints, and vinyl graphics.
To Be Frank
Franklin Imaging has a background in reprographics, so it has always played in the wide format space. The company began in 1998 and when it jumped to color printing, it decided to pursue wide format print beyond reprographic services.
“Our focus has always been to use technology to provide the highest quality product to our customers. As such, we focus on the printers that allow us to provide capabilities not currently offered in our marketplace,” explains Emily Castle, president, Franklin Imaging.
Today the PSP’s staff of 35 specializes in wide format digital printing, including UV-curable, solvent, and latex devices. It runs a Truepress Jet2500UV UV-curable printer by Screen USA, providing high-quality output as well as the capability to print custom Braille work and dimensional graphics.
Franklin Imaging also runs a Hewlett-Packard Latex 850. The ten-foot wide latex device was chosen with the custom digital décor market in mind, according to Castle. An added bonus was the water-based latex inks, which offer versatility, durability, consistent quality, and high environmental standards.
The PSP rounds out its service portfolio with digital cutting and hot, cold, and liquid laminating.
Regular customers include major retailers, restaurant chains, and corporations. In the office décor space, the company works with design firms, architects, and business owners. The number of interested customers continues to grow as the Franklin Imaging sales team educates its contacts.
Franklin Imaging recently created wall graphics for an architecture firm. Stylized aerial photographs of the neighborhood were requested to be displayed in two glass-walled stairwells visible from the street.
For six months the team worked to generate a concept design and prototypes. Once the design was approved, the PSP was left with one week to produce and install the wallcovering. It relied on the consistency and quality of its Screen Truepress Jet2500UV to create the final output.
Digital print makes continued growth in office décor possible. “It allows unprecedented customization and flexibility in office environments. Digital printing is a cost-effective way to personalize a space, and with the variety of substrates available it is easier than ever to refresh and adapt an environment to changing trends,” shares Castle.
Both 12-Point and Franklin Imaging understand the benefits of wide format digital in office décor. Each company’s work showcases the possibilities.
Click on the link above to get more information on the vendors mentioned in this article.
Jun2014, Digital Output DOOD1406
