Rochester, N.Y. - Angie Krisel, Design Services Manager of Liberty Creative Solutions in Tinley Park, Ill., combined her creativity and Liberty's state-of-the-art printing capabilities to produce the winning entry in the Kodak-sponsored Graphic Design: USA's Dimensional Digital Print Cover Contest. This national competition drew more than 100 entrants, all eager to demonstrate the visual and tactile effects made possible by the KODAK NEXPRESS Dimensional Printing System.

Through Graphic Design: USA's (GDUSA) Dimensional Digital Print Cover Contest, sponsored by Kodak, participants competed to design the cover of the magazine's September issue. GDUSA editors and a panel of judges chose the winners based on overall visual appearance, effective communication, originality and the integration of NEXPRESS Dimensional Printing System capabilities into the cover design.

Krisel's winning design is entitled "The Future's So Flat I Gotta Wear Shades" and it incorporates a dramatic illustration of 3-D glasses with a vividly-patterned background visible behind them. "I came up with the 3-D glasses because I thought this would really smack people in the face," she said. She highlighted the capabilities of dimensional printing by utilizing it on the background pattern she placed behind the glasses, constructing her winning entry in PHOTOSHOP Software.

"Our readers are always on the cutting edge of design and technology, always looking for ways to stand out and differentiate their work with new tools or styles, and we feel dimensional printing delivers this ability," said Gordon Kaye, publisher of GDUSA. "We enjoyed working with Kodak on this contest and we look forward to additional contests in 2011 that will again inspire original designs, deliver impact and feature new digital printing capabilities that can be done inline."

In addition to demonstrating creative excellence, Krisel's win also highlights the benefits of collaboration among designers and printers in producing powerful dimensional print pieces, benefits that the comprehensive capabilities of Liberty Creative Solutions uniquely foster.

"One thing they really don't teach you anything about in design school is print production," says Krisel, a graduate of the American Academy of Art in Chicago and a dedicated professional eager to expand her knowledge base through practical, collaborative experience. Liberty's 50 employees comprise a design staff and a full production house, plus in-house web design and mailing capabilities, delivering one-stop-shopping convenience to its clients in the gaming, higher education and consumer products industries. Founded nearly half a century ago by William Kiehl in his small Chicago Heights print shop, Liberty now relies on two KODAK NEXPRESS Digital Production Color Presses (one with Dimensional Printing capabilities) and several KODAK DIGIMASTER Digital Production Systems to meet customers' rapid turnaround requirements.

"Variable printing has brought a whole new level of diversity to our clients," said Krisel.  "I know people use us for it, and they know we can turn things around quickly. This contest is a great way to introduce dimensional printing to the design community-I don't think that many graphic designers knew this ability existed before the contest."

Krisel believes dimensional printing can be especially effective in print pieces that convey prestige and graphic vitality to enhance a client's market position, through applications ranging from business cards to direct mail. "I think direct mail may be its best use, because the impact achieved with the visual and tactile appeal will definitely get your piece noticed and deliver the best response," she said. "People get so much direct mail that something has to stand out, and this technology makes things really jump."

As the winning designer of the cover, Krisel will also be Kodak's guest at Graph Expo 2010 and will be speaking live in the K-Zone on Monday, Oct. 4 at noon.

With the NEXPRESS Dimensional Printing System, designers can create collateral materials, point-of-sale displays, direct mail, business cards, photo products, invitations and other applications that truly stand out. Characteristics previously unattainable with digital printing, such as a 3D tactile photo surface, raised print, and distinctive textures, can easily be incorporated into the design of materials, providing a look and feel that sets them apart. To learn more about the advantages of Kodak's Dimensional Printing for creative and marketing professionals, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX_FfWzn1r0.

Dimensional Printing is achieved by adding KODAK NEXPRESS Dimensional Clear Dry Ink to the Fifth Imaging Unit of a KODAK NEXPRESS Press, much like designing and preparing files for a specific PANTONE color or brand color that would be printed using a fifth printing station. Because the Fifth Imaging Unit can print a variety of other NEXPRESS Dry Inks inline, graphic designers have even more creative options beyond dimensional printing. For example, designers have the ability to add unique watermarks and protective coatings, provide extra security and authentication marks, or match specific colors.