Africa Print was at the launch of the 4th Munken Journal, hosted by Antalis South Africa at The Kitchen Bar in Fourways on Thursday 15 November. It was designed by The New Black, copy was written by Robyn A. Jephson and 3000 sought after copies were printed by Ultra Litho. Having seen the previous Munken Journals, I wondered if the last one could really be improved on, but the fourth Munken Journal has topped the last. It is set in the early twentieth-century (1922-1933) and takes the reader on a journey of a Swedish traveler and Munken paper from Sweden to the world.
The Utforskarens, Explorers Journal in Swedish, is an informative tool allowing the user to discover the world as well as the origins and details of Munken Papers. The story is about one fictional explorer S. Ansgar who begins his journey in Sweden at the iconic Munkedals. His character is loosely based on Saint Ansgar from the ninth-century who introduced Christianity to Sweden. The journal is so realistic that there are even finger prints, ink spills and dirt smudges on the pages that were intentionally designed and printed that way.
Ansgar visits seven destinations all of which are portrayed using a different Munken Paper that echo the temperature and nature of each destination ideally suited to that climate and area. It is a story of adventure and discovery in a significant time of explorer history. There are 40 unique hand illustrations, 14 archived photos and intimate journal entries accentuated by special finishes such as clear, white and gold foils, embossing and de-bossing, laser cutting and raised varnishes to make Ansgar experiences come to life on paper.
At the same event Jean Lloyd, Digital Category Business Director MEAFT region for Kodak, gave a presentation on Printeractive and how change inspires innovation. Printeractive is about how print interacts with other media, like the web and broadcast, as part of an integrated multimedia campaign. It’s about how print itself is an interactive media that brings thoughtful relevance to messaging in today’s digital world and helps to boost response rates. Most of all, Printeractive is about finding that right media mix and achieving a better return on marketing investment by using print to drive action.
Lloyds presentation highlighted the new buying behaviours such as reduced print spend and sending every job out for a quote and just in time ordering. The effect on the printer is that they have to defend every quote and/or make lower margins. They have to find new ways to add value to their client communications. They have to find a way to profitably accept, produce, and deliver a higher volume of short run, colour jobs in less time. According to predictions from industry source PIA and Frank Romano, run lengths and turnaround times are decreasing, and by 2020 49% of printing will be delivered within 24 hours.
Lloyd showed print samples and discussed opportunities that the Kodak NexPress offers such as opening up the document to allow the addition of promotional offers, adding dynamic colour, ensuring consistent branding with other media (logo, type face, colours) and designing for consistent multi-channel delivery (print, web, other).
With the NexPress, printers can expand applications with one machine, such as red fluorescing ink for security features, Light Black for ultra-high quality printing, Dimensional printing, colour gamut expansion (R, B, G), gloss, coating/watermark, extended sheet size, matte finish and many other features. The NexPress also offers 3D raised printing and Intelligent Color enabling printers to take on more jobs with critical colour requirements with exact matching of Pantone PMS & Pantone Goe or custom colours.
Lloyd also revealed two exciting solutions that would be available in 2013 – the NexPress Pearlescent Dry Ink and NexPress Neon Pink Dry Ink. The Pearlescent sparkle effect is achieved by using a clear, translucent dry ink for applications such as collateral, photos, direct mail.
Neon Pink can be used as a solid highlighter or graphic colour for applications such as advertisements, direct mail, transpromo, loyalty mailings and point of sale materials. Neon Pink can be combined with other process colours to create an impressive palette of neon colours. Neon Pink can be used in a 5-colour process to enhance some images.
