All good fun. But late last year Microsoft (who launched the kinect) announced that the programmers could develop windows based software for the kinect for use in business applications.

Can you see a need for this? Perhaps while fiddling with a printer, you might want to change something on the RIP. Why stop what you are doing and walk to the computer like a sucker when you could simply wave a few gestures at a little black robot head.

This is really a message for software developers. Can you see the potential of something like this. It really isn’t a difficult thing to create and it could have a massive impact on the way sign-makers operate in their workshops. Worth taking a look at this video, kindly produced by Microsoft that pretty much covers all the above… http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=diy7rkWkDtU

I know at least one company, Qurius, that has already developed a way of interfacing with its Microsoft business applications using Kinect in manufacturing environments. I am sure more will follow – and quickly.

This definitely falls into one of those categories of ‘a picture paints a thousand words’ or in this case, a video… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKw_Mp5YkaE

Imagine this on a printed sign? The potential for advertisers is huge, but it does raise some other issues. It is bad enough trying to avoid people that are walking around head down texting. Now they will be walking around head up with a tablet in front of their nose marvelling at whatever holographic imagery is being projected to them.

I don’t think the good developers of AR technology have thought too much about signage as a target. They are focusing on more industrial or retail applications. So if you see this and can see some opportunities, now is a good time to get on board.

This event follows on from the success of GPT’s previous Open Days in January 2012, which was attended by more than 40 companies and over £250k worth of business was placed as a direct result. That event received a lot of positive feedback from both satisfied customers and suppliers alike.

GPT general manager, Stuart Cole, explains, “2012 has seen the launch of several new printers, so we wanted to offer customers a unique opportunity to see and discuss some of these new products for themselves. Our suppliers will be at the event and will be able to answer questions and provide customers with the ‘inside track’ of what’s new for the future.”

On display will be the new award-winning Mimaki JV-400 160 Latex printer, and the new UJF 3042HG UV cure printer. The company will also be demonstrating the flexibility and capability of its complete low cost dye-sublimation solution with a combination of the Mimaki TPC-1000 and the new Secabo Heat Press range.

As well as Mimaki’s complete range of solvent wide format printers like the CJV30, JV33 & JV5 printer, printer/cutter ranges, GPT will also have UV cure print solutions from Agfa, aqueous printers from Canon and Epson, and RIP’s for Mac and PC from Shiraz, Wasatch, & Onyx. Mimaki CG cutter, EasyMount laminator, and KeenCut bench trimmer round off the ranges on display.

There will also be news and discussion of the newly launched (DRUPA 12) Mimaki JFX500 UV cure printer range. The first model being a 2.1mtr x 3.1 mtr bed size, capable of 60 mtr.Sq/hr, on media upto 100mm depth, with latest LED UV cure technology, and capable of quality to hold 2 point text!

Don’t miss out on the most informative and beneficial open week, and if you are ready, reap the rewards of genuine incentives to buy!

For more information on GPT’s open days, or to book a place, call 01189 29 44 29 or email info@g-p-t.co.uk

Oliver Tiedemann, General Manager of Secabo, adds, “We were keen to build a relationship with GPT as they already had a comprehensive dye-sub range, which complement our heat presses perfectly. GPT also have a wealth of experience and knowledge in the broader printing arena and we are confident that they can extend this into the textile and apparel printing trade.”
Secabo’s heat presses and the Mimaki TPC1000 printer/cutter will be on view at GPT’s Dye-sublimation and textile printing area at Sign & Digital UK (27-29 March 2012. Hall 3, stand D30).
For more information on GPT and future events, call GPT on 01189 29 44 29.

Launching to the UK market at Focus on Imaging is Sihl Direct UK’s Clara Beneficial Canvas. This inexpensive canvas for beginners is aimed at the art reproduction market for use in private homes and businesses such as hotels and restaurants.

With Clara Beneficial Sihl has created a fabric that is cost effective to manufacture but also has all the other qualities needed for framed art and photographic prints. The result is a 1:1 structured blended fabric consisting of 78% cotton and 22% polyester. The canvas comes in one 12m length but six different widths (610mm, 914mm, 1067mm, 1118mm, 1270mm and 1524mm).

Ian Turnbull, operations director of Sihl Direct UK, says, “The Clara Canvas is suitable for all standard printers using water-based inks but can also be used with latex inks. Pictures can be stretched over canvas frames manually or automatically, with virtually no cracks occurring under tension with an angle of up to 90 degrees. This great value product produces high quality end results.”

The Clara Beneficial white 350 matt Canvas, is Sihl’s price competitive alternative to its wide range of other canvas products already available. For more information on all Sihl’s canvases visit Sihl Direct UK at Focus, contact us at info@sihl-direct.co.uk or call us on 0161 927 9051.

Ends

The museum commissioned the Zurich print service provider, The Image Factory, to print the exhibits, who in turn made the decision to use Sihl Direct UK’s Wallpaper Persomural in combination with the Epson’s Stylus Pro 9900 and 11880 printers.

Ai Weiwei is an architect, conceptual artist, sculptor, photographer, blogger, twitterer, interview artist and political activist who concerns himself with current themes and social problems. He deliberately questions social relationships in China by means of photographic documentation. This first major exhibition and book project dedicated to his photographic and video work, sheds light on the diversity, complexity and interlaced character of Ai Weiwei‘s work, with hundreds of photographs, blogs and explanatory essays. Ai’s work is extremely impactful to the viewer but needs to be printed on the right material.

Ian Turnbull, operations director of Sihl Direct UK, said, “They chose our wallpaper for several reasons. It has an attractive structure, the good dimensional stability of the fleece material – in both a dry and wet state and easy bonding and handling. Of course one of the main reasons they chose the Sihl Wallpaper was because it offers the best printing results, which is most important when printing images on such a huge scale.”

He adds, “Also, because this display was the first in a series of Ai Weiwei exhibitions, the fleece basis of Persomural170 matt 3260 made it possible to reuse the prints. By using the adhesive supplement Tylose (methyl cellulose), the paper can be moistened and removed after the exhibition. It can be moistened again, pasted and then remounted in other locations. Even after repeated use, the dimension of the material remains unchanged and the printed image is as brilliant as ever.”

This huge benefit was demonstrated earlier this year when the exhibition successfully moved to the Kunsthaus Graz Museum in Austria. Ai Weiwei’s work is currently on display at the Jeu de Paume in Paris until 29th April 2012.

But wow! Never have I wielded perspex with such ease and purpose. It glided (glid?) through the ice on my windscreen like Jonah Lomu through a pack of girl guides. I looked at the other ice scraper, purchased with good money from tescos, and merely skids across the ice like a blue, plastic TorvillandDean.

I suppose there is an element of German manufacture in there somewhere but i hate to indulge in stereotypes. However, it really is a very good ice scraper. I am not sure if they will still have them at Sign UK – but if you should go past the stand, it is worth asking.

fat lot of use

I was walking with my dog when coming along the track towards me was the most ominous of sights. A substantial lady on horseback. Now my hound is generally ok with horses as long as there aren’t any around, so I have put her on a short lead and tried to squash us as far out of the way as I can before this giant beast trots past, hoping upon hope that Rosie doesn’t start barking her head off in a show of protection and strength while hiding behind my legs.

As I pushed to the side, I suddenly felt like I had been punched or kicked or perhaps even shot in the lower back. I must confess my language was quite unbecoming causing the horse to snort at me with great disdain.

The attack itself turned out to be the electric fence that I head unknowingly leant against. Once I could speak without expletives I looked around for evidence of this being an electric fence (other than the fact that if you know what they look like, then you would know). And what did I see? This apology of a sign…

Round the corner, what do I see but a lovely new bright sign – clearly warning poor unsuspecting horse-avoiding dog-walkers of the need to steer clear.

that's better

It got me thinking there most be hundreds, if not thousands of signs out there that are simply unfit for their purpose. Could this be where
the recovery starts!

A newcomer to the world of coated inkjet media for both small and wide format will be making its first appearance at Sign and Digital UK 2012. Visitors will be able to see for themselves the broad range of quality coated media designed for a broad range of applications on all major printing systems.

Sihl Direct UK has begun trading from its sales, admin and warehousing facility in Altrincham and enjoys the backing and support of the entire Diatec Group. The company is already well-known in the inkjet printing market as a leading provider of coated media through OEM, distribution and reseller channels. The company already has a reputation for quality, consistency and reliability and Sihl Direct UK has been established to service the UK large format printing market directly from its UK base. Sihl Direct’s branded media are available through both selected partners and directly to the end user.

Ian Turnbull is Operations Director of Sihl Direct UK and he explains, “Sign and Digital UK is a very important show for Sihl Direct. Our broad range of coated media for aqueous, solvent an UV-cure printers are of exceptional quality and we invite visitors to the show to see this for themselves. The quality of coating on inkjet media can make a huge difference to the overall viewing experience for printed output and our media has been tested extensively with all major printers and in a range of environmental conditions.”

He continues, “The Diatec Group has a massive manufacturing operation and we are ideally suited to developing a broad range of popular, high quality coated media products and delivering cost-effective solutions to the market. Even though we are setting up this business from scratch, we have the confidence and backing of a known and trusted name, coupled with the full support of a multi-million pound international corporation.”

Products now available from Sihl Direct include a broad range of specialist materials for most wide format inkjet printers and ink technologies, such as canvas, vinyls and films as well as a comprehensive stable of photobase papers ideal for high quality photographic and fine art reproductions.

Turnbull concludes, “We have the manufacturing capability to deliver very high quality materials and substrates with high service and support levels at cost-effective prices. We are actively encouraging both resellers and end users looking for the best quality at great value to get in touch with us to discuss their requirements and discover what we can offer. For more information, please contact us at info@sihl-direct.co.uk or call us on 0161 927 9051.”

A newcomer to the world of coated inkjet media for both small and wide format will be making its first appearance at Focus on Imaging. Visitors will be able to see for themselves the broad range of quality coated canvas, photobase and other media designed to help bring images to life.

Sihl Direct UK has begun trading from its sales, admin and warehousing facility in Altrincham and enjoys the backing and support of the entire Diatec Group. The company is already well-known in the inkjet printing market as a leading provider of coated media through OEM, distribution and reseller channels. The company already has a reputation for quality, consistency and reliability and Sihl Direct UK has been established to service the UK large format printing market directly from its UK base. Sihl Direct’s branded media are available through both selected partners and directly to the end user.

Ian Turnbull is Operations Director of Sihl Direct UK and he explains, “Focus on Imaging is an excellent show for Sihl Direct to make its debut. Our broad range of canvas and photobase media are of exceptional quality and we invite visitors to the show to see this for themselves. The quality of coating on inkjet media can make a huge difference to the overall viewing experience for printed output and our media has been tested extensively with all major printers and in a range of environmental conditions.”

He continues, “The Diatec Group has a massive manufacturing operation and we are ideally suited to developing a broad range of popular, high quality coated media products and delivering cost-effective solutions to the market. Even though we are setting up this business from scratch, we have the confidence and backing of a known and trusted name, coupled with the full support of a multi-million pound international corporation.”

Products now available from Sihl Direct include a broad range of specialist materials for most wide format inkjet printers and ink technologies, such as canvas, vinyls and films as well as a comprehensive stable of photobase papers ideal for high quality photographic and fine art reproductions.

Turnbull concludes, “We have the manufacturing capability to deliver very high quality materials and substrates with high service and support levels at cost-effective prices. We are actively encouraging both resellers and end users looking for the best quality at great value to get in touch with us to discuss their requirements and discover what we can offer. For more information, please contact us at info@sihl-direct.co.uk or call us on 0161 927 9051.”