Agfa Graphics has been honored with two Gold Ink Awards from Printing Impressions magazine. The Gold Ink Awards are considered the industry’s most prestigious print competition. The Azura video card won a gold award in the “Direct Mail” category and the Agfa Graphics 2014 VIP Calendar won a silver award in the “Calendar” category.

The video card was developed to promote Azura, the company’s global leading chemistry-free printing plate. The creative strategy was to showcase the product in a piece that integrates print and video technologies. When the video card is opened, an embedded screen starts playing an educational video about Azura plates. It was created using several Agfa Graphics technologies including Apogee workflow, Sublima screening, and processed through an Avalon N8 platesetter on Energy Elite Pro plates. Designed by Rudy Van Hoey of MathildeStudios, Belgium, the gold award-winning Azura video card was printed by Artoos, one of Agfa Graphics Partners in Development, also of Belgium.

The Agfa Graphics 2014 VIP Calendar won a Gold Ink silver award. The 2014 VIP Calendar is a testimony to the “power of print” and was based on the theme “Connect/Create/Care”. A joint effort of the Agfa Graphics community, the VIP Calendar showcased the thirteen best images submitted by employees during a photo contest. It was created using several of Agfa Graphics’ technologies and materials, including Energy Elite Pro digital thermal printing plates, the Avalon platesetter with Apogee workflow software and Sublima screening technology. Specific offset printing techniques gave the calendar the additional flavor that make it a product demonstrating ’the power of print’. Rudy Van Hoey of MathildeStudios, Belgium, created the 2014 VIP Calendar. It was printed by Guido Maes Printingdeluxe, also of Belgium.

“It is an honor to be recognized for the creative visual achievements represented by our Azura video card and 2014 VIP Calendar,” said Deborah Hutcheson, Director of Marketing, Agfa Graphics North America. “To be chosen from among 1,000 entries is a testament to the passion that runs deep within our organization.”

This year’s Gold Ink Award winning pieces surpassed their competitors based on print quality, technical difficulty and overall visual effect. A panel of distinguished graphic arts professionals judged entries over the course of four days.

Winners will be honored at the annual Gold Ink Awards & Hall of Fame Gala held on Monday evening, Sept. 29, at the Hyatt Regency at McCormick Place in Chicago.