Part 1 of 3
By Melissa Donovan
The August issue of Digital Output magazine presented the four winners of our annual Application for the Year awards. The first, second, and third place honorees, as well as one honorable mention, were elected by peers for exhibiting innovation and excellence in their nominated applications.
While the first place winner, FASTSIGNS – San Diego on Miramar Rd. of San Diego, CA, is profiled in the August issue, we also wanted to include profiles on the other winners. First up, the second place winner, Vsualmente, based out of Guaynabo, PR, for its work for the Zone 3 restaurant in Cupey, San Juan, PR.
Dedicated to Digital
Vsualmente celebrates 15 years in the industry, offering high-quality services and printing. According to Hector J. Espinosa, president, Vsualmente, the company is dedicated to digital printing. “Our strength is large format printing for the interior or exterior of shops, stores, or any space that needs to be labeled.”
Projects over the last 12 months include several fleets of vehicles for various clients, labeling the second floor railings of the Puerto Rico Convention Center, several interior wall graphics signs, and interior signage campaigns and point of sale materials for current and new customers.
The second place win in Digital Output’s 2024 Application of the Year awards was for two floating fascias measuring 35 feet long by 16.5 feet wide by three feet high for Zone 3 restaurant in Cupey, San Juan, PR.
For the design concept, the team looked to combine three different yet complementary aesthetics that helped differentiate between individual sections in the restaurant. “We did many color tests and took them to the restaurant to see how they interacted with the lights and the atmosphere of the premises. All under the approval of a client who is extremely demanding,” explains Espinosa.
Graphics were printed using a Roland DGA Corporation TrueVIS VG-640 eco-solvent printer. The print shop chose General Formulations’ 285 RoughMark for the material due to its flexibility and durability.
Installation took about eight hours with two installers present. In addition to the fascias, Vsualmente also produced and installed interior round light box signs as well as two five-foot high full-color canvas signs.
When asked why this project was nominated and subsequently won second place in the 2024 Application of the Year contest, Espinosa notes that it was the “perfect combination of very good material, printing quality, and meticulous installation, along with good graphic design.”
Looking Ahead
Vsualmente continues to create stunning graphics while meeting the tight turnarounds of its customers. In the second half of 2024 it plans to offer additional services like laser cutting and engraving. New and old skills combined, Espinosa says “we are very positive that this year we are going to have better sales than last year.”
As someone deeply involved in the industry, Espinosa offers insight on one of the big trends and technologies that have defined the last year and will eventually follow through into 2025—eco-friendly ink sets and printers.
“I understand that more printers are changing their equipment for UV and latex printers. We have been using UV printers for several years with very good results in quality and in a cost-effective manner. Although we have been using eco-solvent ink printers for many years, we are aware of the change in awareness to a more eco-friendly environmental one and we are considering the use of resin or latex-based equipment,” shares Espinosa.
Congrats to Vsualmente for its stunning work placed in Zone 3 restaurant. The print provider’s skill in design and production is evident in the final product.
The next article in this series profiles the third place winner of Digital Output’s Application of the Year awards, Metro Wraps of Huntsville, AL.
Aug2024, Digital Output
