Signs of the Times - August 2013 - (Page 38)

TECHNOLOGY REVIEW By Chris and Kathi Morrison Chris and Kathi Morrison own and operate The Image Specialists, a full-service graphics company based in Clements, CA. Chris is also a Microsoft-certified systems engineer. “Sharpen Your Edge” Seminars for Gerber Edge Owners Learn new, profitable uses and gain an Edge tuneup Tahethermal-transfer printing system EDGE FX production system is ™ that uses heat and pressure to transfer resin-based pigments to more than 30 different substrates. It does even more if the system includes a GSP plotter/cutter to contour cut the graphics, and Omega 5.0 software. The substrate list comprises cast, calendared and reflective vinyl; plus polycarbonate, clear film, metallic, polyester label stock, magnetic media and more. The Edge® will print more than 60 spot colors, including white, transparent and CMYK. Even better, you can create more than 3,000 colors by printing one spot-color foil on top of another. The images are easily contour-cut, and they’re outdoor-durable for up to five years, with sensible exceptions that would require lamination. Gerber said its 2012 sales of Edge printers exceeded 2011. We asked why. The answer, according to Gerber’s Dana Goodale, is the Edge Key Information Gerber Scientific Products 24 Industrial Park Rd. West Tolland, CT 06084 (800) 222-7446 www.gspinc.com Contact: Holly Matthews (800) 222-7446 holly.matthews@gspinc.com remains an excellent shop tool for short-run specialty and industrial graphics. He says signmakers should provide short-run labels and industrial graphics for various environments. Signs, of course, and partial vehicle graphics, plus labels, decals, safety and warning signs, instrument panels, industrial-equipment markings, sports and helmet graphics, pipe and industrial box markings, bar codes, menuboards, directories, exhibit and tradeshow graphics, window graphics, aircraft labels Specifications: Gerber EDGE FX Production System Print Technology Thermal transfer Print Resolution 300, 600 or 1,200 dpi (media axis); 300-dpi printhead axis Media Feed Patented sprocket feed Media Width 15 in. Max. Print Width 11.8 in. Imaging Foils GerberColor Foils Color Types More than 60 spot colors blendable to more than 3,000 colors, plus metallic and other special ribbons. Print Outdoor Life 3 to 5 years Compatible Media More than 30 Edge-ready vinyls and specialty materials Software Gerber Omega 5.0 and other software Plotter/Cutter Gerber enVision 375, GS15 Plus or GSx Plus 38 SIGNS OF THE TIMES / AUGUST 2013 / www.signweb.com and interior graphics, promotional graphics and short-run T-shirts. We see an Edge in most shops we visit. Some shops have had theirs for more than 15 years (Our Edge 2 is 10 years old), but Gerber has smartly realized that you – we – may not fully use these nifty little printers. Gerber, therefore, has mapped a learning path that reveals ways for signmakers to tap vertical markets and increase the printer’s returns. Truth is, the short-run, specialtylabel market may be enough to justify buying a new, Edge FX printer solely for that purpose – especially if your shop abuts industrial and manufacturing areas. Further, the 15-in.-wide, environmentally safe, Edge print is right sized for labels. The “sharpen your Edge seminars” provide a two-hour, one-on-one training session with a Gerber application expert. Topics can include software training, information on new techniques and materials, or anything you want to cover. You may also receive a Gerber technician’s engine tune-up for your Edge LE, Edge 2, and/or Edge FX. And, it’s all free. Can’t go wrong there. Just visit Gerber’s homepage and click on “Sharpen Your Edge” to locate a seminar close to you. Don’t be surprised if you see us in the audience. http://www.gspinc.com http://www.signweb.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signs of the Times - August 2013

Signs of the Times - August 2013
Contents
ST Update
Technology Update
Cloud-based signshop software
Vinyl Apps
Strictly Electric
LED Update
Software Update
Technology Review - Esko Kongsberg XN finishing system
Technology Review - Gerber Edge seminars
Sign Museum News
New Products
Standing Their Ground
Commercial-Sign Company 1 on 1’s
Layers
Dynamic Displays at LAX
Advertising index
Editorially speaking

Signs of the Times - August 2013