Hi Rez Digital Solutions

We’ve won something. Something cool. Something tangible. Something related to our field of expertise. Something due to hard work, due diligence, artistic effort and our creative capabilities. We didn’t even have to beg, plead, borrow or steal in order to enter the virtual winner’s circle - not that we normally employ such tactics in the few contests/competitions that we enter. Luckily, no one had to forfeit their life savings, nor were we forced to harm innocent farm animals or kidnap random office utensils. We didn’t even have to bribe any local politicians or trade commissioners! In this day and age of political corruption, competitive cronyism and corporate nepotism, we might be eligible for an entirely separate award for these facts alone. Yes, we’ll be here all week, thank you.

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For Immediate Release from Create Awards 2008 Media Relations:

Hi Rez Digital Solutions WINS SILVER IN THE 2008 CREATE AWARDS COMPETITION

Orlando, FL - September 17, 2008 - Hi Rez Digital Solutions’s entry, “Hi Rez Frog Cards”, in the Self Promotion (K01-K16), Creative Industry Self Promotion, Other category has won a SILVER AWARD in the 2008 Create Awards competition. This year’s entries spanned across the globe, and were judged by 20 leading professionals spanning eight creative industries. Only 361 awards were chosen out of the more than 1,500 entries.

The Create Awards (www.thecreateawards.com) is produced by Brahn Communications, producers of Create Chaos 2008. The intense creative competition included 40 categories and 300 subcategories in eight major creative industries including: advertising and art direction, film and video, motion graphics, graphic communication, photography, printing and packaging, interactive, copy writing, self promotion, and student work from creatives all over the world.

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Well, the feelings of euphoria here are hard to contain, so the next bottled water is on us. You visit the office - we’ll bequeath to you a free bottle of water. You can even obtain our new corporate brochure… fresh off the presses. This is how we celebrate - that’s how we roll.

Oh, by the way, in case you are wondering what the illustrious “Frog Cards” are that enabled us to walk off with a pristine Silver Award, you can hop on over here to get a better idea.

Tags: Awards, graphic artist, marketing // Add Comment »

It was Wednesday, August 20th…

Yes, that was 2 days ago.

No, you didn’t misread that:

INTERGALACTIC. GRAPHIC ARTIST. APPRECIATION DAY.

Yes, you should’ve made at least a financial contribution to your local friendly neighborhood graphic artist. If you didn’t - and be aware for next year lest ye tempt your fate with the unforgiving will of the gods - well, then an artistic donation is similarly acceptable.

No, it’s still not to late to make monetary ammends.

Yes, every day should be graphic artist appreciation day. I’m still working up the courage to circulate the petition for that mantra but the trademark fees are just to cost prohibitive.

So, anyhow - boy, did I fall asleep at the wheel on this one. Not that I am the standard flag-bearer or an authority on this day of creative reckoning… but, being something resembling a graphic artist myself, and being fully conscious of this day at least a few MONTHS in advance, I really should have made the proper preparations. I will now bow my head in abject shame…

What? You didn’t know about this holiday either? Weren’t aware of the celebration that accompanies such a momentous event? Not familiar with the festivities that occur on this grand day of mirth, merriment and mellifluous magnificence? Don’t beat yourself up over it, hoss. Not many people are. As a matter of fact, I’m fairly certain that perhaps a maximum of 6 people in this entire office are even aware of it existence, perhaps 2 people in this office even acknowledge its significance in the pantheon of artistic days of grand celebration, and NO ONE in the office even remembered it.

Nope… Not even me.

So here I am, wiping away the egg stains of embarrasment from my visage even as I type… keyboard is already in need of a severe cleaning, so a little yolk will do nothing but perhaps provide me with a much needed though brief respite from typesetting Nursing Home business cards in 36-point Comic Sans.

Well, there’s always NEXT year.

What are YOU doing for Intergalactic Graphic Artists Appreciation Day, 2009?

Tags: bloated hyperbole, design, graphic artist // 2 Comments »

The June issue of Quick Printing elaborates on leadership in the printing industry and asks the very telling question of, “If I was working for me, would I inspire myself?”  Michael Hennessey asks other questions like, “What difference does your printing company make?” and “If you shop never existed, who would care?”.  The answer lies in not what your print shop does, but what it allows your customers to do.

John Biacy and ImmediaPrint help teach children to read.

Scott and Jane Levine at River City Printing & Imaging collect blood for blood banks.

Emma Email Marketing plants 5 trees for every new customer.

Kevin and Debbie Hebert at St. Charles Printing helped rebuild New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

At Hi Rez Digital Solutions, we give back to our founding community by offering a TANF Training Component which provides tribal communities with an opportunity to develop skills in the Printing Industry.

Even if you don’t have something of that latitude, use what you do have.  A small copy shop helps people sell homes, create fund raising brochures or produces legal briefs.  Hennessey explains how this is almost identical to finding a marketing niche.  When you focus on your company’s purpose as a whole, the by-product is making money.  Find that higher cause and communicate that meaning and value to everyone all of the time.

Read the full article here.

And hey, after implementing Hennessey’s advice, work might get a little more fun.

Tags: business practices // 1 Comment »

This open house and demonstration “will showcase the latest technology available in wide-format printing, featuring every component of the digital printing process.” I bet General Manager Drew Hendricks at Hi Rez could put on the same open house if only there was more room here.

The event includes sneak previews of products and equipment not yet released to the industry! Well known vendors such as FLEXcon, HP, Onyx, Hahnemuhle, OKI Printing Solutions, and Digital Equipment Company are giving half hour presentations throughout the day. It’s interactive, free and food is on the house. Go get a tan in Florida and check it out.

For more information, hit up http://www.lexjet.com/OpenHouse/.

Tags: printing // Add Comment »

We all know that fonts provide an underlying tone in all sorts of media from email marketing to newsletters. Anyone who’s taken Design 101 or read an invitation knows that. What you might not know is that fonts have an annual conference. That’s right! They discuss the latest in font happenings and even prevent bad fonts from taking over the world. This year’s was caught on tape:

Font Conference 2008

Tags: design, marketing, printing // Add Comment »

Direct mail should not only have a relevant context to your recipient, but also a consistent message from your chosen postage type.  These three types of postage listed below make different statements about the mail’s message and company’s efforts in delivering it.  Efficiency might not be the answer this time.

• Stamps - The most personal approach attesting for its proof on higher client return.  Applied one by one.
• Metered Postage - Displaying less personality than the stamp, this is applied to each envelope in bulk by a machine.
• Postal Endicia - Very institutional and “bulk mail” looking.  Indicates that the message is business related.

One postage or another is not necessarily better, it just fits a different need.  Be aware of the message you are trying to relay and choose the appropriate postage accordingly.  You can also choose your stamp’s image including picture, words, and even taste!  That’s right.  To celebrate the year of the pig, China released a stamp that smelled and tasted like pork.  Yummm.

Tags: direct mail, lead generation, marketing // Add Comment »

Trade shows have hundreds of companies competing for attention. Needless to say, it’s tough to stick out amongst a crowd where everyone has the same agenda. Compelling graphics, bold colors, and a stellar theme can make your trade show booth really stand out and boost lead generation. Of course there are other small things you can do to create a bigger impact.

We put together a list of 5 quick and easy tips to focus the attention on you:

1. Scope out the scene. Know where you’ll be positioned before the day of. Whether or not you have outlets, a windy door or window etc. will influence the materials you can bring.
2. Dress it up. Bring your own tablecloth that complements your display and use levels to give your presentation depth.
3. Give-Aways. Draw your consumers in with something they can’t resist. Possibly food or a generous coupon. Make it necessary that they give their contact information up first.
4. Be inviting. Entertain the idea of an elevator pitch if your product calls for it. Have help manning your station to keep your attitude fresh!
5. Branding Branding Branding. Post your company’s logo as much as you can without clutter. There are many names at tradeshows and you want yours to stick out like a black sheep.

Tags: lead generation // Add Comment »

Hi Rez Digital Solutions is now home to what I would argue is the world’s greenest, most ecologically friendly printing press.

Not because it runs earth friendly soy-based inks (which it does)

Not because it prints out beautiful full color prints on 100% recycled paper (which it can)

but because we purchased this press used from another shop that had already paid its carbon debt. We did this not because it was cheaper, but because of our commitment to the environment. Press manufacturers such as Heidelberg and Komori are constantly under pressure to to produce and sell new machines. Factory incentives would have made it very easy to install a new press. However, we could not justify the carbon footprint a new press would make when there are still fully functional presses ready to be run.

In addition, we invested in the latest platemaking technology. Today’s platemaking systems use a fraction of the chemicals used by systems just a few years old. Traditionally platemaking was one of the most environmentally hazardous steps in the printing process. Our platemaker greatly mitigates these hazards.

In the June 2008 issue, Wired Magazine summed up this philosophy well when they pointed out in their, “Inconvenient Truths: Get Ready to Rethink What It Means to Be Green,” article. Specifically, you would have to drive a Toyota Prius 100,000 miles to offset its carbon footprint versus buying a decade old car. Given most people only drive 65,000 a year and the battery of the Prius is gauged to last 7 years, the carbon footprint is never erased.

“Still, the comparison suggests a more sensible question. If a new Prius were placed head-to-head with a used car, would the Prius win? Don’t bet on it. Making a Prius consumes 113 million BTUs, according to sustainability engineer Pablo Päster. A single gallon of gas contains about 113,000 Btus, so Toyota’s green wonder guzzles the equivalent of 1,000 gallons before it clocks its first mile. A used car, on the other hand, starts with a significant advantage: The first owner has already paid off its carbon debt. Buy a decade-old Toyota Tercel, which gets a respectable 35 mpg, and the Prius will have to drive 100,000 miles to catch up”

So, take the carbon debt out of the equation, add in the eco-friendly platemaking system, multiply by soy-based inks and recycled paper and you have the formula for a printing press that rivals all peers for earth friendly.

Tags: green, printing // 2 Comments »