Range of digital wallcovering solutions from HP and partners offers easy entry into custom-printed wall décor production 

FRANKFURT, Germany – HP today announced a new HP digital printing solution for wallcoverings, helping print service providers (PSPs) and wallcovering manufacturers capture more of the growing custom décor market.

On display at Heimtextil 2013, Jan. 9-12, the solution consists of a modular range of design software, media, printing and finishing options to help customers expand their wallcovering business. Components include: 

·   The HP WallArt Solution, an easy-to-use, cloud-based web service that simplifies the design, visualization and production of customized wallcoverings⁽¹⁾;

·   Solutions from new partner AVA, including design software and the AVA raster image processor (RIP) for file preparation as well as ripping with enhanced color management in addition to improved efficiency;

·   A wide range of compatible wall decoration media from HP and partners, including coated and uncoated, non-woven, vinyl, paper and PVC-free substrates⁽²⁾;

·   The HP Designjet L26500 and L28500 Printer series for printing proofs or short runs directly to production media;

·   High-volume, on-demand wallcovering production with the HP Scitex LX600 and LX850 Industrial Printers, which provide environmental certifications such as the GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification Program^SM;⁽³⁾ and

·   Automatic, accurate panel cutting from partner Fotoba International.

“In the commercial, retail and residential markets, demand for unique décor is rapidly growing as both consumers and designers seek new ways to reflect their individual tastes, values and experiences in their homes as well as businesses,” said Xavier Garcia, vice president and general manager, Sign and Display, HP. “The new digital printing solution from HP and our industry-leading partners helps PSPs and wallcovering manufacturers deliver this unique differentiation, bringing customers’ creativity to life.”

HP WallArt Solution provides an easy entry into customized wallcovering design

For customers interested in growing their wallcovering business, the HP WallArt Solution offers an intuitive, and easy-to-use design tool that allows PSPs or wallcovering manufacturers to design themselves or work with customers through the cloud to produce customized wallcoverings.⁽¹⁾ The HP WallArt Solution enables the designer to enter precise room dimensions and easily work around windows and doors, giving designers more time to spend creating with an automated measurement process.

Customers can also render realistic visualizations of wallcoverings using their own content for backgrounds, objects and text with advanced image quality as well as scaling features. Requiring no special software or infrastructure support, the cloud-based HP WallArt Solution, allows for fast, convenient client reviews and approvals, keeping all parties involved throughout the process.⁽¹⁾

Color management and increased productivity with new HP partner AVA

New HP partner AVA has delivered computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) software to the printed decorative, textile and wallpaper industries for more than 20 years. With AVA design and file preparation software, designers can work easily with repeated patterns. The software solutions can also improve color management with accurate screen-to-print color matching, accuracy between layers and the ability to match digital prints to analog in a hybrid print environment.⁽⁴⁾

The AVA RIP gives customers increased color control, faster ripping times and a seamless workflow from file preparation to printing.⁽⁵⁾ The RIP increases color saturation and gamut for high-quality wallcoverings as well as helping achieve realistic colors on non-white media. As part of the fully integrated solution, the software also automatically generates cut marks for the Fotoba cutter, simplifying the cutting process.

HP Latex offers broad media compatibility, proofing and high-quality production

Once the wallcovering is designed, customers can choose from a wide range of compatible substrates from HP and industry-leading media providers. HP Latex Printing Technologies have been internally tested with more than 25 wall décor media, including embossed, coated and uncoated, non-woven, vinyl, paper and PVC-free wallpaper⁽²⁾ substrates. Media profiles are available for download from HP at http://www.hp.com/go/mediasolutionslocator.

The HP Designjet L26500 and L28500 Printer series allows customers to print proofs or very short runs directly on the production media, eliminating doubts about how the design will appear on the final product. Ideal for design studios or small PSPs, these high-quality HP Latex printers are both affordable and easy to use.

For high-volume production of customized wallcoverings, the HP Scitex LX600 and LX850 Industrial Printers offer media versatility, a wide color gamut and vivid colors up to 1200 dots per inch. With unattended overnight printing at production speeds, an optional dual roll kit⁽⁶⁾ and prints that come off the printer dry and ready to use, customers can increase productivity and reduce running costs.

HP proofing and production printers with HP Latex Inks give customers a competitive advantage with recognized indoor air quality certifications. HP Latex Ink prints are GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certified^SM,⁽³⁾ meet AgBB criteria⁽⁷⁾ and the inks have achieved UL Sustainable Product Certification.⁽⁸⁾ These inks produce odorless prints⁽⁹⁾ ideal for residential, healthcare and other sensitive environments as well as help improve the work environment with no requirements for hazard warning labels.

Fotoba wallcovering cutting solution reduces bottlenecks

Transforming the traditionally complicated process of cutting wallcoverings, Fotoba International is helping PSPs and manufacturers streamline workflow with automatic, accurate panel cutting. The new XLD 170 WP automatic cutting device is designed specifically for wallcovering panels, delivering precise edge panel cutting on a wide range of media.

The new solution offers horizontal cutting and vertical slitting of multiple panels simultaneously on pieces up to 1.7m (5.57 ft) wide. The XLD 170 WP also works with the automatic cut marks created by a wide variety of RIPs including AVA, Caldera and ONYX.

 Pricing and availability⁽¹⁰⁾

All components of the HP digital printing solution for wallcoverings are available now from HP, AVA and Fotoba.

A free one-year trial license of the HP WallArt Solution is available now at www.hp.com/go/wallart.

HP at Heimtextil 2013

In addition to the new digital printing solution for wallcoverings and the HP WallArt Solution, HP will display its HP Latex and UV-curable flatbed printer portfolios at Heimtextil in Hall 4.2, stand E.81. HP has partnered with world-renowned designer Karim Rashid to bring the possibilities of digital printing to life for today’s forward thinking interior designers. Rashid designed the lounge area of HP’s booth, which features a variety of designs printed with HP technologies.

HP will host product and application experts for informative presentations on the stand daily at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Designed to inspire and educate visitors, these presentations will demonstrate the interior design and home décor applications made possible with HP digital printing technologies.

More information about HP solutions for wallcoverings is available at www.hp.com/go/wallcoverings, on YouTube at www.youtube.com/hpgraphicarts and through the HP Graphic Arts Twitter Feed, www.twitter.com/hpgraphicarts.