Large Format Media

German paper manufacturer Hahnemühle is delighted to announce that its Digital FineArt Hemp paper has been selected by its customer, the French company oneart, official licensee of Paris 2024, to be the exclusive paper for the Paris 2024 Premium Posters. Both the limited edition of the iconic Paris 2024 posters and the ‘Paris 2024 Artistic Programme’ premium posters are printed on Hahnemühle Hemp paper. This premium paper is plant-based, tree-free and vegan echoing both the idea of world-class sporting performance and the sustainable commitments of these Olympics.

Commenting on the choice of Hahnemühle Hemp paper, Stéphane Tisseyre, co-founder of oneart, said: “We were looking for a high-quality paper in order to remain consistent with our commitment to enhancing printed media in line with our motto ‘Exceptional image, exceptional paper’.”

Hahnemühle Hemp Paper – from the award-winning Digital FineArt Collection

Hahnemühle Hemp – from the award-winning Digital FineArt collection – is part of the Natural Line range, developed by the inventor of genuine FineArt papers for inkjet printing. Hahnemühle Hemp uses one of the world’s oldest and most versatile natural fibres to create a sustainable FineArt paper with exceptional haptics and printability.

It consists of 60% hemp fibre from this fast-growing, undemanding and carbon-neutral plant. The remaining 40% of the fibres in Hahnemühle Hemp paper are cotton linters – a by-product of the textile and food industries. The combination of these two plant fibres guarantees certified archival properties and an exceptional colour gamut, key characteristics of genuine FineArt papers.

The base of Hahnemühle Hemp paper is distinguished by its natural white tone, which requires no optical brightener. Its slightly textured surface gives the paper a pleasant silky feel. Combined with the matt premium inkjet coating, this results in a truly innovative and sustainable FineArt paper. Colours, contrasts and details are brilliantly reproduced, while the depth of blacks is conveyed with stunning effect.

Hemp has been an essential part in paper production for centuries, often used for enduring historical documents such as the Gutenberg Bible and the US Declaration of Independence, due to its extremely robust fibres. Hahnemühle has re-invented these fibres to manufacture its genuine FineArt papers as well as Hybrid Hemp paper for commercial printing and publishing.

The official Premium Posters on Hahnemühle Hemp

To commemorate Paris 2024, a limited edition of 2024 prints of the official Premium Posters on Hahnemühle Hemp paper has been released under official licence by oneart in France. Designed by Ugo Gattoni, who spent 2,000 hours creating the diptych of digital masterpieces, the official posters present a colourful and festive vision of sport and the French art of living, highlighting Paris’ most iconic monuments in both daytime and night-time versions. The night-time version of the FineArt 2024 prints sold out well before the start of the Olympic Games.

“These premium posters are special because the Hahnemühle Hemp paper was also the illustrator’s choice. We are constantly striving to remain faithful to the artists’ intentions, and I remember the look and approving smile on Ugo Gattoni’s face when I showed him the first proof – it was love at first sight!” recalls Stéphane Tisseyre, from the printing studio oneart.

Each Olympic medallist received a reproduction of this work of art, housed in an elegant rectangular gold box.

Artistic Posters programme as part of the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad

In addition to these official posters, the Paris 2024 organisers offered artists from all over the world a unique platform to express the Olympic and Paralympic values through their various practices, including photography, illustration, painting, drawing and collage. For the first time in history, the Organising Committee has developed the Artistic Posters programme in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). These posters are part of the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad. They are creating a collective memory of the Games – reflecting on the notions of inclusivity, parity, celebration and innovation at the heart of Paris 2024’s mission. All those premium editions by Adam Janes, Clotilde Jimenez, Elsa & Johanna, Fanny Michaëlis, Gilles Elie, Pierre Seinturier and Stéphanie Lacombe comprise diptychs composed of an Olympic poster and a Paralympic poster – strictly limited to 100 pieces each.

Each limited edition of the official Premium Poster and each Artistic Poster is printed in museum quality with pigment inks on a FineArt inkjet printer on Hahnemühle Hemp paper. They are printed and numbered by hand in the oneart workshop in Fontainebleau bearing an iconic Paris 2024 embossing in the bottom right-hand corner. The three-dimensional embossing attests to its authenticity as an officially licensed product and adorns the velvety Hahnemühle Hemp paper. The unique format of each print is 60x80cm.

Hahnemühle France has collaborated with the printing studio in France for all limited editions prints. All Premium Poster can be viewed and purchased here: oneart.fr/en.

About Hahnemühle:

Hahnemühle is considered the inventor of Premium Digital FineArt papers for inkjet printing. As a pioneer, the oldest German artist paper manufactory has been refining its artist papers for photography and art reproductions and in 2022 Hahnemühle celebrated the 25^th anniversary of its Digital FineArt collection.  Hahnemühle is an international premium manufacturer of exquisite papers and has stood for quality, innovation and expertise in crafting since its founding in 1584. In 2024, the company celebrates an incredible 440 years of uninterrupted paper production at Hahnemühle’s headquarters in southern Lower Saxony.

The Digital Fine Art Collection is a comprehensive assortment of high-quality, unique FineArt inkjet papers created for customers who are looking for something special and want to get the best out of their images.  Achieving outstanding printing results and a high age resistance of over 100 years, Hahnemühle FineArt inkjet papers meet the highest standards for fine art applications and are perfect for long-term exhibitions, art collections and special editions.

The Hahnemühle Digital FineArt Collection offers more than 20 different papers, while the Hahnemühle Photo Range now includes 8 media. Among them is the world’s first PF-free, fully recyclable photo paper with a bio-based barrier layer.

All paper grades are produced according to old recipes from high-quality cotton fibres, cellulose or fast-growing plant fibres with advantages in CO2 balance, durability and quality benefits utilising pure spring water from Hahnemühle´s own artesian wells.

Hahnemühle has a worldwide reputation as a ‘Brand of the Century’ among photographers, artists, museums, galleries and collectors. Products are available in more than 130 countries worldwide.

The company is headquartered in Dassel, Southern Lower Saxony; with offices in the United Kingdom, France, USA, Singapore and China.

For further information on the brand, history and environmental responsibilities visit www.hahnemuehle.com

Diversifying into vehicle wrapping can be a lucrative decision for growing print businesses, no matter where you’re at in your large format journey. Recent advances in print technology have made wrapping easier than ever before. With durable water-based inks, intelligent media and, more precise large-format printers all available, there’s never been a better time to get involved.

Market growth

Vehicle wrapping is seeing an especially sharp rise, with the automotive wrap film market expected to grow 22.4% from 2021 to 2028. ¹ The broader signage industry also remains resilient, as it’s a cost-effective solution for almost any business sector. This is all thanks to wider growth in the online and delivery sectors: E-Commerce is expected to grow by 16% in 2022, ² and this means more demand for branded vehicles on the road. With 69% of customers finding out-of-home advertising more trustworthy than digital advertising, ³ it’s time to take advantage of these new opportunities and get results.

To get you up to speed with the basics including materials, technologies, and practical applications we’ve pulled together some of the most useful hints and tips into our short, handy guide.

Tip 1: Select the right media for the job

We’re going to focus on wrapping films in this section, as it’s a durable solution for vehicle wraps, but these principles apply to all media types. Cast vinyls are likely your go-to substrate for car wraps: they’re easy to contour, stretch, and cut, but this flexibility comes at a higher cost. If you’re printing to flatter signage surfaces and want to save some money, calendared vinyl is the way to go.

When there are so many options, you need a versatile print solution that can keep up. HP Latex is fully compatible with substrates from leading brands such as 3M and Avery Dennison. With HP, you can find a solution that fits your application needs and current equipment. These can all be found on HP Media Solutions Locator, giving you access to perfect media for your printer or application. Don’t forget to consider warranties for peace of mind. HP Latex printers are eligible for six year 3M MCS and Avery ICS warranties⁴ for vehicle graphics–helping you print with confidence.

Tip 2: Measure and measure again

A top tip for ensuring a successful sign or vehicle wrap, is ensuring that you have the measurements, images, and specifics of the surface, item, building, or vehicle you are designing for. For vehicles, especially for full wraps, you’ll need the latest vehicle templates, which you can find online. This will ensure your design fits properly, without distortion or slicing the image into pieces.

Tip 3: Design with the end-installation in mind

Less is sometimes more. The human eye can take in seven items at a time, so when designing it’s important not to try and pack in too much information.⁵ Equally, colour and font can help get your message across–but don’t use too many.

For signage, perspective and distance is key. Choose your lettering size carefully to optimise visibility according to the reading distance. As a rule of thumb, for every 3 meters of viewing distance away from your sign, you should increase the letter height by 2.5 centimeters. ⁶ HP Latex helps you print sharp images and text for easier eligibility. With a resolution of up to 1,200 DPI, ⁷ you can print clear text all the way down to 4-point font sizes.

Tip 4: Choose white ink–for prints that pop!

Printing with white ink can drive up your gross margins by up to 30% by adding depth and vibrance to your images–especially on transparent and coloured substrates.⁸ It can also make previously challenging (or even impossible) projects easier, saving time on additional processes and materials.

HP Latex White Ink gives you all the benefits of white without the complexity. HP Latex printers with white ink, such as the HP Latex 700W, 800W, or HP Latex R-series, feature automatic recirculation to prevent clogging. Additionally, they’re built with an offline rotation chamber for white printhead storage, to minimise waste between white ink jobs. 

Tip 5: Select the right print profile

Let’s say you have the design ready, and you’ve chosen the ideal material for the task. Next, it’s important to deliver a sharp, high-quality image for your sign or vehicle wrap. HP offers a wide range of tested, approved and certified ICC print profiles for HP Latex printers. These profiles give your machine specific instructions on how much ink to lay down for the optimum result. This ensures images are not subject to colour shifts, over-saturation, insufficient ink coverage, edge curling or, drying problems.

A lot of print shops don’t follow this important step and use one generic profile for all their media, resulting in images that appear dull or just not quite right. So, by making sure to select the right print profile, you’ll definitely win on quality.
 
Since you’ll most likely laminate your vehicle wrapping prints, remember to disable the overcoat when selecting your profile.
 
Don’t forget–the latest generation of HP Latex also gives you a 10% higher colour gamut, giving you vibrant and accurate colors on any substrate.⁹

Tip 6: Move into lamination

As your vinyl or film will be exposed to the elements, you need to select one that’s suitable for lamination to prevent scratches or water from dislodging it from the surface.

Tip 7: Eliminate the need to de-gas

By choosing HP Latex technology, you can remove the need to de-gas your vinyl prints before you install them. HP Latex prints are dry straight from the printer, ready to be laminated or installed immediately after leaving the print tray. This cuts out an entire step from your vinyl printing workflow, saving you time, and freeing up your resources for other tasks. A great way to boost your productivity and improve your bottom line.

Tip 8: Start your installation squeaky clean

The most time-consuming part of most signage or vehicle wrap installations is the preparation stage. For new signage installations, this may involve removing old graphics and adhesive, then washing with water and detergent to ensure a grease-free dry surface. When preparing for a vehicle wrap it’s essential to clean every inch of the surface as well as under trims and cracks to make sure they are 100% dirt-free. You should use a suitable solution to remove any wax, before wiping the vehicle with alcohol to remove any residue. All cleaning must be completed the day before to ensure the vehicle is completely dry before installation. Understandably this is often the least preferred part of wrapping a car and is sometimes neglected, but this is at the peril of long-term wrap durability as the slightest dirt left behind could result in the vinyl’s adhesive failing. So, to be sure of success, make sure your vehicle is always squeaky clean.

Tip 9: Apply graphics with ease

The installation of a car wrap undoubtedly requires skill and practice. But the real key to success is post-heating. After the wrap is installed, you should apply a heat gun to the vinyl at 85-95 degrees Celsius, especially where there are deep recesses or contours. This will ensure that the vinyl will retain its memory and remove the risk of it ‘popping’ out.

If you are wrapping in colder weather, keep the car inside until the next day. This will allow the vehicle and vinyl to cool down gradually to minimize the risk of lifting.
 
With the HP Latex 700 and 800 printers, you can achieve 30% better adhesion to laminate, 10 making it easier than ever to get smooth, long-lasting fits. What’s more, HP Latex Inks are very flexible. Discover ink elongations up to 30% without losing quality.¹¹

What are you waiting for?

Signage and car wrapping undoubtedly offer a range of exciting possibilities for entrepreneurial print businesses to explore. There are certainly some tricks of the trade to learn upfront, but once proficient, you’ll be able to offer a wide portfolio of services that will ensure your customers will never need to go elsewhere.
 
Remember, you’re not alone on the journey. Printer manufacturers and media vendors are always on hand to help, and you’ll find online tutorials and videos to help with any questions along the way.

Footnotes
 

1.      Grand View Research, Automotive Wrap Films Market Size Report 2021-2028, https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/automotive-wrap-film-market
 
2.      Insider Intelligence, Ecommerce Industry Statistics, https://www.insiderintelligence.com/insights/ecommerce-industry-statistics/
 
3.      Statista, 2016 https://www.statista.com/topics/5771/out-of-home-advertising-uk/#topicHeader__wrapper
 
4.      Warranty coverage varies by region, please see graphics.averydennison.com and 3Mgraphics.com for information about what is offered in your country. Some warranty limitations may apply.
 
5.      Simply Psychology, Short-Term Memory: Facts, Types, Duration, and Capacity, https://www.simplypsychology.org/short-term-memory.html
 
6.      Signs.com, Signage 101 – Letter Height Visibility, https://www.signs.com/blog/signage-101-letter-height-visibility/.
 
7.      HP Latex 800 print resolution: up to 1,200 DPI. See the spec sheet for more info: https://h20195.www2.hp.com/v2/GetDocument.aspx?docname=c06990640
 
8.      Based on research conducted by Keypoint Intelligence July 2020 and commissioned by HP, across over 100 print service providers across the U.S., Europe, and India
 
9.      On HP Latex 700 and 800 printers, when compared with same ink density in HP Latex 365/5x0 printers. HP Latex 700/800 printers provide lower color distance to some Pantone* (average visual colour distance 1.99 dE vs 3.34dE): Blue (Pantone 289C): 1.3dE vs 3dE, Red (Pantone 201C): 0.49dE vs 3.8dE, Orange (Pantone 153C): 1.6dE vs 3dE. *Measured Xrite i1Pro 2, dE calculated based on the CIEDE2000 standard L500 (10p: 151 sqft/h 110% saturation) vs. L700/800 (8p: 183-215 sqft/h 120% saturation)
 
10.   Compared to HP Latex 365/5x0 series printers.
 
11.   HP Latex 365/5x0 and 700/800 Printers inks show similar ink flexibility performance. We can support ink elongations up to 30% (2dE criteria). In case of HP Latex 700/800 printers, white ink has similar flexibility as the other colours.

In a world where environmental consciousness is increasingly important, sustainable alternatives to conventional materials are gaining more significance. This is especially true for the advertising industry, where the demand for PVC-free films has steadily grown in recent years. Neschen, as a renowned manufacturer of high-quality printing films and coatings, has in an early stage already embarked on the development and production of PVC-free films to meet the rising demand for more environmentally friendly solutions.

A sustainable development in advertising technology

The demand for PVC-free films has significantly increased lately. Companies, especially large global brands, are increasingly focusing on sustainability issues. Neschen, as a pioneer in sustainability in the advertising technology industry, has been offering PVC-free alternatives for some time now to meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly solutions. Explore Neschen’s wide range of PVC-free films here: Neschen Green Graphics

Types of PVC-free films

Neschen offers various PVC-free films, including polyolefins such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), bio-PE, and polyester (PET). PP and PE films are cost-effective alternatives with robust product properties for UV printers. Bio-PE films, with an organic content of over 50%, are currently not printable, but we are working on that. Our PET films, made from polyethylene terephthalate, offer optimal performance and are optimized for printing with latex and UV inks.

Advantages of PVC-free films

Compared to conventional PVC-based products, PVC-free films (e.g., easy dot® PET matt L-UV or UVprint PP easy dot® matt) offer a range of benefits. They are dimensionally stable, do not deform, and have almost no shrinkage. Transparent PVC-free films (e.g., easy dot® PET transparent L-UV) provide significantly better clarity and are also more environmentally friendly as they require up to 40% less material, thereby producing less waste. Neschen aims to offer high-quality PVC-free films that are not only environmentally friendly, but also provide top performance and quality.

Challenges and solutions

While the use of PVC-free films brings many advantages, it also presents certain challenges. For example, dimensional stability can make processing more difficult. Through innovative solutions and profound expertise, Neschen assists its customers in exploiting the benefits of PVC-free films.

“The development and production of PVC-free films are not only a commitment to the environment for us at Neschen, but also an opportunity to develop innovative solutions that are both environmentally friendly and of high quality.” – Moritz Weber, Head of Marketing, Neschen.

Support measures for the Use of PVC-free films

Neschen actively advocates the promotion of PVC-free films. By participating in various project groups and initiatives, the company strives to encourage distributors and end customers to increasingly opt for environmentally friendly alternatives. Emphasizing the benefits of PVC-free films, such as significantly better environmental performance and cost savings in disposal.

Future outlook

The future of PVC-free films looks promising. With increasing demand and rising production volumes, market prices for PVC-free films are expected to close the gap with PVC-based products.Neschen will continue to strive to offer innovative and environmentally friendly solutions to meet the growing demands for sustainability. As a leading manufacturer of PVC-free films, Neschen is well positioned to drive the development and use of these sustainable materials forward.

Conclusion

The use of PVC-free films in the advertising technology industry is a significant step towards a more sustainable future. This concerns us all! Neschen has established itself as a leading manufacturer of high-quality PVC-free films and actively contributes to reducing the ecological footprint and minimizing environmental impact. Through continuous innovation and commitment, Neschen will continue to play a leading role in the development and production of environmentally friendly printing films.

For the first time, Hahnemühle receives two TIPA World Awards. In 2023, Hahnemühle wins in the categories “BEST PHOTO CARDS” and “BEST PHOTO PAPER”. This makes the paper manufacturer now a 12-time TIPA World Awards winner since 2005. Consumers can use the TIPA WORLD AWARDS as a useful benchmark and guide when making purchasing decisions. The Technical Image Press Association honors and recognizes companies in the industry as well as their products.

Winner of the category BEST PHOTO CARDS

The Hahnemühle FineArt Photo Cards are the Hahnemühle Digital FineArt Collection in your pockets! Available for twelve different qualities in two different sizes (DIN A5 and 10 x 15 cm / 5.8” x 8.3” and 4” x 5.9”). Whether as a mini-collection for a ‘mobile’ portfolio presentation, an invitation, a giveaway at an exhibition, or simply as a small gift for a friend – Hahnemühle’s high-quality FineArt inkjet photo cards offer a variety of creative design options. A fun and creative way to capture and share memorable experiences and moments. The sought-after fine art cards are packed in an elegant metal tin that contains 30 cards with beautifully rounded corners. The elegant packaging with the embossed rooster protects the prints and is ideal as a small, mobile archive. A short step-by-step guide with a borderless printing template can be found on the Hahnemühle website and in the app.

In addition to popular paper types such as Photo Rag® 308 or Museum Etching, all four Hahnemühle Natural Line papers are now available as FineArt Photo Cards! This means that papers from all four paper ranges in the Hahnemühle Digital FineArt Collection (except Canvas) are now available in this practical format. Artists can choose from matt glossy, smooth, textured, and sustainable papers. The Natural Line has a special place in the Hahnemühle Digital FineArt Collection. It focuses on four FineArt inkjet papers made from unique raw materials: bamboo, hemp, agave, and sugar cane. The plants that provide the cellulose require minimal maintenance, grow quickly, and don’t need any pesticides. Their rapid growth means that more cellulose can be produced on the same cropland than with other raw materials, and they also require much less water, helping to save valuable resources and protect the environment.

TIPA Jury Statement

“These 10×15 cm (4×6 inch) or DIN A5 (5.8×8.3 inch) photo cards can be used professionally as a mini portfolio, as a small remembrance gift for those attending exhibitions, or as a personalised postcard. Available in a variety of high-quality Hahnemühle paper surfaces and weights, including all four sustainable Natural Line media, the classic Photo Rag® 308, and the high-gloss metallic-shimmering Photo Rag® Metallic. The 30-sheet packs are designed to match every photographer’s personal taste as well as coordinate with the mood and subject matter of the images. The company provides a printing guide for the cards as well, which entails creating a template, sizing instructions for borderless printing, printer settings, and specific paper profile settings.”

Winner of the category BEST PHOTO PAPER

Hahnemühle Photo Rag® is one of the world’s most popular papers and the valued all-rounder for high-quality FineArt inkjet printing. The white cotton artist’s paper, with its characteristic, wonderfully soft feel, boasts a lightly defined felt structure, lending each artwork a three-dimensional appearance and impressive pictorial depth. Combined with the matt premium inkjet coating, this paper produces outstanding prints that feature brilliant colours, deep blacks, striking contrasts and perfect reproduction of detail. This acid- and lignin-free classic meets the most exacting requirements for age resistance and is specially designed for FineArt applications. Whether it is used for FineArt photography or art reproductions, the ideal combination of structure, print quality and weight makes Photo Rag® one of the most versatile Hahnemühle Digital FineArt inkjet papers.

Hahnemühle has now qualified the 188 gsm version of its classic Photo Rag® for LayFlat binding. This enables premium Layflat photobooks with the Photo Rag® 188 as content paper and individual hardcover designs. Such exclusive photo books become works of art in themselves and must be handled with care – a foldable FineArt print. The advantage of such a high-end Layflat photo book is that one can enjoy the printed images in full; no bulge in the middle covers up parts of the motif. The FineArt print can be enjoyed seamlessly across both sides without having to hold down the book. This is another reason why they are great for images that span across two pages, such as landscape (panoramic) format. Layflat books with prints on Hahnemühle Photo Rag® 188 have a great impact and make an excellent gift or feature piece at home, an exhibition or showroom. A sophisticated way to enjoy photography printed on Hahnemühle FineArt Inkjet paper.

TIPA Jury Statement

“This new paper offering from Hahnemühle expands the creative and expressive options for photographers who want to offer their best work in a lay flat book format. Photo Rag 188, already esteemed for fine art digital printing, has now been qualified for LayFlat binding, a process that allows for full appreciation of an image and other content without the need to hold down the book to appreciate content and image information that might otherwise be lost in the gutter. One of the chief uses of this format will be for photographers-landscape and architectural, for example-who do not want to be constrained in their layout options, as the format allows for fully viewable “double-truck” (i.e. a two-page spread) images as well as numerous additional design and layout options.”

About TIPA

The Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) is an organisation made up of editors and publishers of photography magazines from North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Each of the 30 member magazines focussing on photographic technology, photographic culture and trade, presents the annual TIPA Awards. Experts from member magazines in Asia, Australia, Europe and North and South America vote on the best products in 40 categories, including cameras, lenses, accessories and printers. TIPA also provides vital information about the photo industry, conducts in-depth testing of photo products, and initiates expert discussions with imaging companies. For more information, visit www.tipa.com.

About Hahnemühle

Hahnemühle is considered the inventor of Digital FineArt papers for inkjet printing. As a pioneer, the oldest German artist paper manufactory has been refining its real artist papers for photography and art reproductions for more than 25 years. The papers – manufactured for more than 439 years with characteristic craftsmanship – receive a special coating, without influencing the noble haptics of the papers. This inkjet coating allows prints with pin-sharp details, in both rich colour and deep blacks. All papers have excellent aging resistance. The Hahnemühle Digital FineArt Collection offers more than 29 different papers, while the Hahnemühle Photo Range is comprised of six media. All papers and life science solutions have class–leading quality attributes and excellent ageing resistance. Hahnemühle has a worldwide reputation as a ‘Brand of the Century’ among photographers, artists, museums, galleries, and collectors. Products are available in more than 130 countries worldwide. The company is headquartered in Dassel, Southern Lower Saxony, with offices in the United Kingdom, France, USA, Singapore and China. For further information on the brand, history and environmental responsibilities visit www.hahnemuehle.com

Hahnmühle’s award-winning “green” papers made from highly renewable plant fibres are among the best sustainable products in Germany! Hahnmühle is extremely proud of their papers and has been nominated for the German Sustainability Award 2022 in the category of ‘Design’.  “Hahnmühle has been selected from 1000 sustainable concepts and products and is among the top 50 in this category.  We are delighted to have been nominated for an award that is highly regarded internationally that offers solutions to the major ecological and social problems of our time,” says Bettina Scheerbarth, responsible for corporate and sustainability communications at Hahnemühle.

The “Natural Line” paper range occupies a special place within Hahnmühle’s globally distributed Hahnemühle artists’ papers, manufactured using sustainably resourced hemp, bamboo, sugar cane and agave this high-quality digital fine art paper as made exclusively to meet the highest demands of galleries and museums. 

The world’s first Hybrid Hemp paper has also been nominated for the German Sustainability Award 2022 from our “Natural Line” family. As a plant-based paper, it is an environmentally friendly alternative to scarce printing papers made from tree pulp. It is used in high-speed inkjet printing to create sustainable print products such as books and brochures.

Hahnmühle’s “Natural Line” paper has been nominated for the German Sustainability Award because they are innovative and meet the ever-increasing demand for alternative papers made from tree-free fibres. “The more trees are not used for paper production, the more CO2 they can store. On the other hand, plants like bamboo, hemp or agave need little water in cultivation and no pesticides. And the cotton and sugar cane fibres that we use for our first-class papers are residual materials from the textile and agricultural industries. For us, they are raw materials for valuable papers that would otherwise be incinerated or otherwise disposed of,” explains Bettina Scheerbarth.

Hahnemühle has been developing the “Natural Line” papers since 2008 and manufacturing them in Germany in compliance with high environmental and social standards. In addition, we are researching other papers made from plant fibres and have a special focus on agricultural residues. And we donate part of the proceeds from the “Natural Line” papers to our own, globally unique environmental initiative Green Rooster. In this way, we support climate and environmental protection as well as environmental education projects on a regional, national and international level every year. This also impressed the Stiftung Deutscher Nachhaltigkeitspreis e.V. in our nomination. At the end of September, the finalists will be chosen from more than 1,000 submissions and then, at the beginning of December, the winners of the German Sustainability Award 2022.

About Hahnemühle

Hahnemühle is regarded as the inventor of Digital FineArt paper for inkjet printers. For more than 20 years, the oldest German paper manufacturer has been leading the way in producing true artist papers for photography and art reproductions. The papers – made with over 435 years of manufacturing experience – all receive a special coating that does not affect the exquisite feel of the papers. The inkjet coating produces prints with razor-sharp details, bold colours and deep blacks. All papers have excellent resistance to ageing. The Hahnemühle Digital FineArt Collection offers more than 20 different types of paper, and the Hahnemühle Photo range includes eight types of media. Awarded ‘Brand of the Century', Hahnemühle enjoys an esteemed reputation worldwide among artists, photographers, museums, galleries and collectors.

About the German Sustainability Award:

The competition for the 15th German Sustainability Award comes at a challenging economic time. Numerous companies, start-ups, agencies, designers and architects have applied their courageous and innovative contributions to sustainable change. The award honours exemplary sustainability achievements in business, communities and research. With eight competitions and 1000 applications, the DNP is the largest award of its kind in Europe. The winners will be announced and honoured at the award ceremonies of the 15th German Sustainability Award on 1 and 2 December in Düsseldorf.

A sustainable further development made of polyester is coming onto the market after the successful launch of the white easy dot® PET matt L-UV. The easy dot® PET transparent L-UV allows for attractive and innovative glass surface design without placing an unnecessary burden on the environment.

High-quality print results and easy application

Specially developed for use on glass and window surfaces indoors, the highly transparent film also features the proven water-based and solvent-free easy dot® adhesive technology, which ensures easy handling and durability at the same time. Thanks to its crystal-clear transparency, unprinted areas remain absolutely transparent.

Fast, bubble-free application and easy removal allow even short-term design initiatives. However, the film is just as suitable for permanent looks. In particular, application to the inside of shop windows with a mirror-image printed motif increases durability many times over, as the film is thus protected from environmental influences and vandalism. If required, easy dot® PET transparent L-UV can also be combined with PP matt backing. The white special film serves as a laminate and completely replaces a full-area white print. This saves ink, time and money, making it ideal for environmentally friendly composite applications with transparent media. The easy dot® PET transparent L-UV can be easily plotted using the kiss-cutting process. This keeps all finishing options open.

HP-certified for best results with latex and UV inks, easy dot® PET transparent L-UV enables particularly durable print results in high optical quality. In addition, the film is absolutely dimensionally stable and exhibits no shrinkage.

The ecological properties of easy dot® PET transparent L-UV

Since Neschen always develops its product innovations with the environment in mind, the new easy dot® film is also PVC-free. It also enables material savings of around 25% compared to PVC products, significantly reducing waste volumes. With an EN 13501 certification, it has the best possible fire protection class for polymer films, B-S1,d0. easy dot® PET transparent L-UV is available in widths of 137.2 cm and lengths of 50 meters and 10 meters.

Although PVC's hazards to the environment are well known, and steps have been made in a more environmentally friendly direction, PVC is still widely used in the print media industry. Fortunately, the more sustainable options seem to be gaining in popularity. Those who visited Fespa Amsterdam might have noticed; terms like "environmentally friendly", "PVC-free" and "sustainable" were a common theme at the fair. The global situation and the long-term trends in sustainability, health, and well-being are fundamental to this. More and more companies and well-known brands are discontinuing the use of PVC and looking for PVC-free alternatives.

Harmful effects of PVC as a raw material for print media

PVC - polyvinyl chloride - is a plastic that is originally rigid, transparent, fire-resistant and deformable at high temperatures. By adding additives to the material, you can give PVC all kinds of other properties. The notorious plasticizers, for example, make the material flexible, but certain additives can also improve colour, stability and resistance to cleaning agents, for instance. When PVC burns, dangerous substances - chlorinated hydrocarbons - are released. In addition, the plasticisers used are released into the environment. These plasticizers can be harmful to the environment and health.

Major parties recommend avoiding PVC

Major parties awarding cradle-to-cradle (C2C) certificates already recommend avoiding the use of PVC. But also the list of major corporations, like Microsoft and Unilever, as well as large printing houses that have a policy of avoiding PVC, continues to grow. In some sectors - hospitality and health care, for example - alternatives are often chosen anyway, as they are subject to strict plasticizer regulations.

These drivers, combined with a need for more sustainable forms of print media, the availability of high-performing PVC-free alternatives (PP, PET, and non-wovens) and, a significant narrowing of the price difference, are making it easier to replace PVC

PVC-free alternatives for PoS and interior decoration

In the past, PVC-free products did not perform as well or were not favourably priced in comparison to PVC materials. But this is no longer the case, as PP is a good alternative to PVC. The raw material PP (polypropylene) is recognized as an environmentally friendly alternative, as it is a very simply constructed plastic - consisting of carbon and hydrogen - and moreover is obtained anyway as a "by-product" in the petroleum industry. PP also bends and forms well at high temperatures. It is strong and stiffer, allowing up to 40% reduction in raw material use to achieve similar film haptic. And the significant advantage of this raw material is that no plasticizers are needed to make it flexible. PP is naturally resistant to acids. Moreover, when heated, no harmful substances are released. Because PP has to undergo various treatments to make it suitable for printing, it is slightly more expensive than PVC print media.

But besides PP-based media there are other suitable PVC-free alternatives:

1. easydot® PET matt L-UV. This environmentally friendly PET film consists of 25% recycled material (the max. possible content to remain the properties). As polyester is a more rigid material, less material is needed to achieve the same haptic perception as PVC, which results in a material saving of 40%, allowing waste volumes to be significantly reduced.
    
2. easySTYLE self-adhesive furniture film. This is a fast and economical way for interior design and shop fitting. Our furniture films are made to high sustainability standards to protect the environment. The material is a combination of PET & FSC® certified paper and therefore 100% PVC-free.
   
   
3. Neschen fleece wallpaper of the GREEN WALL range. These are digitally printable non-woven wallpaper, PVC-free, suitable for indoor applications such as interior design of shops, restaurants, trade fairs, museums, and living spaces. Besides smooth versions, some different textures and also self-adhesive versions are available.

2000 trees were planted by Hahnemuhle trainees and 70 volunteers in one day for World Earth Day 2022.  In total, Hahnemuhle are planting 6000 Green Rooster trees with the "Bergwaldproject - Mountain Forest Project" in the Harz mountains - near Hahnemuhle's company headquarters.

With Hahnemuhle 'Green Rooster' initiative which is unique in the paper industry we partnered this year with the oldest German and internationally recognised forest conservation project.  Under the motto 'Planting up against climate change' Hahnemuhle plat native rtees such as sycamore maple and larch.

The plantings are essential for erosion control, as drinking water reserviors, for bio diversity and for cooling the landscape.  In 40-60 years, the resulting stable mixed forests will also resume their important function as CO2 reservoirs.  We believe that is a genuinely meaningful and future-oriented action to make the Harz a green lung again.  The tree planting project is part of our Hahnemuhle's apprentice academy and will plant even more trees in the future.

Hahnemuhle teamed up with the tree planting initiative which has been working since 1993 to protect, preserve and care for the forest and to promote and to promote understanding of the interrelationships in nature.  The aim is to encourage a broad public to use natural resources in a nature-friendly way through the voluntary work in the forest eco-systems.  "Bergwaldprojekt - Mountain Forest Project" is internationally recognised and is Gold Standard certified climate projection projects.  Find more information on Hahnemuhle's Green Rooster initiative at hahnemuhle.com and on Berwaldprojekt - Mountain Forest project at www.berwaldprojekt.de.

About Hahnemuhle

Hahnemuhle FineArt has been producing paper since 1584. Today's portfolio includes traditional and digital FineArt paper for painting and all types of printing techniques as well as stationery products. The customised production of high-purity papers for life science applications and speciality papers are also part of the manufacturing portfolio

All paper grades are produced according to old recipes from high-quality cotton fibres, cellulose or fast-growing plant fibres and pure spring water. They have best-in-class quality characteristics and are highly resistant to ageing. Hahnemuhle has an excellent reputation worldwide as German "Brand of the Century". Its products are available in more than 130 countries worldwide.

The company has its headquarters in Dassel in southern Lower Saxony and subsidiaries in Great Britain, France, USA, Singapore and China.

With its "Green Rooster" initiative, Hahnemuhle has been supporting environmental protection projects worldwide since 2008, including reforestation, animal welfare and environmental education programmes. The long-established company produces papers in a landscape conservation area under strict environmental regulations and with its sustainable paper production, makes an important contribution to environmental and climate protection.

Large windows are an ideal advertising medium. By applying window graphics you quickly attract the attention of the public. In addition to advertising, the main reasons for applying film to windows are: to prevent people from looking in, decorating, or providing information. The biggest problem? The white colour in logos and designs. What if your logo or design contains white? Can you print window graphics with white ink? In this blog, we'll take a closer look at this.

My design contains white: what to do?

Applying a window film to the inside of the window to see the message from the outside can be done by printing in mirror image on a transparent window film. A common problem here is that many printers do not have the ability to print with white ink. This is a problem if your design contains white. In addition, stickers are often easier to read with a white background regardless.

But how do you solve this? Applying the graphic on a white film to the outside of the window is not an option. Vandalism to stickers costs organizations a lot of money every year. In addition, the film is more easily damaged by moisture and other weather conditions. The solution? Transparent film! You print your design in mirror image on a transparent film and laminate it with a white film on the printing side. This still creates a white background and solves the problem with the white colour in your design.

Combinations to take into account

If you are going to use this handy solution with a transparent and white film, it is important that you take into account the combination of materials that you use. It is important that you choose equivalent material with the same properties (for example: shrinkage of the film). So choose PVC on PVC, PET on PET, PP on PP, and so on.

In general, an inexpensive PVC sticker material is often chosen. But what if you decide PVC-free environmentally friendly material? Then the film you use to create your white backing must also be PVC-free. In order to offer an environmentally friendly white film for PVC-free sticker materials, Neschen is launching: PP matt backing. Using this film in combination with UVprint easy dot® PP transparent, a PVC-free solution is offered for finally white window stickers for an inside application.

Film properties of the PP matt backing

Neschen's transparent films have a number of properties that should also be considered when choosing a backing film, namely PP matt backing:

• 75 µm, warm white, and matte, non-printable backing film
• For laminating the backside of mirror image printed transparent media
• Perfectly suited for our UV print PP easydot transparent (green PP compound)
• Typical use behind glass
• For indoor use: (store) windows and lightboxes
• PVC free
• No shrinkage due to high dimensional stability
• Waterbased adhesive

All the advantages of transparent window graphics

The biggest advantage of the PP matt backing is of course the possibility of creating films on which you can see the white colour. It is a perfect alternative to full surface white printing (UV & Latex). Another advantage is that it reduces production time and costs by up to 50%. Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, it also offers the possibility of an environmentally friendly option thanks to its PVC-free composition with less waste and ink. And because of this solution, you no longer have to apply the film to the outside of windows, preventing a lot of damage from vandalism or weather conditions.

Have you given any thought to the Christmas decorations and designs you want to use for your business this year? Before you know it, Christmas will be here, a significant sales period for many retailers. People are on a shopping spree, and of course, retailers like to exploit it. But how do you make sure that you stand out from your (online) competitors? Make sure that a physical visit to your shop in the Christmas spirit is an "experience" that is nothing compared to online shopping. In this blog, we explain how you can do this using print media and how you can stand out with a well-designed Christmas campaign.

Bring the Christmas spirit to shop windows

Online shopping may be practical, but the ambiance is also an essential factor in the shopping experience in December. With a festive décor and matching shop furnishings, you can attract potential visitors. But first, you have to get people passing by to come inside. How do you do that?

• Make your storefront the showpiece of your shop; raise the curiosity of people passing by and make it attractive for them to step inside. Tell your story or message conveniently with an easy-to-apply window film. Use window film as lettering or go for contour-cut decorations like Christmas balls, Christmas trees, and snowflakes to create a beautiful Christmas atmosphere.
• Use material suitable for temporary (Christmas) campaigns; an ideal material for window advertising is easy dot®, a cost and time-saving solution for the busy festive season. Air channels are created because the easy dot® adhesive is not uniform but consists of "dots". This makes it very easy to apply, reposition and remove the film without leaving any adhesive residue. Therefore, your designed, easy dot® stickers can be applied effortlessly by the end-user (e.g., your staff). Simply applying the sticker by hand is sufficient; any air bubbles are easily removed through the air channels in the adhesive. Did you apply something to the wrong place? No problem! easy dot® can be removed carefully and re-applied. Besides white or transparent, easy dot® is also available as a coloured film in the colours of gold, silver, red, blue, green, yellow and black. Perfect for the Christmas season! The colour films can be easily plotted or die-cut and are therefore ideal for window lettering and decorations.

Tip: For shop window advertising, the sticker is best applied to the inside of the window. This way the sticker is not only protected against vandalism, but it is also not exposed to weather conditions. In addition, the sticker adheres much better, because the inside of a window does not (easily) reach a temperature below zero. The sticker can be applied to the inside of the window by mirror-inverted printing on transparent material, making the advertising message optimally visible from the outside.

Transform your walls with print media for wall decoration

Naturally, wall coverings cannot be left out of an attractive Christmas decoration. You can think of several options for the decoration of walls. With contour-cut stickers made of easy dot® material, you can give your walls, doors, and displays a quick and easy makeover. Do you really want to go all the way? Then opt for a wall-to-wall design so that you stand out even more. Do you prefer materials with a more natural look? Then a PVC-free self-adhesive non-woven wallpaper for temporary applications is a good option. Neschen event fleece L-UV adh is an inexpensive self-adhesive non-woven material wallpaper, with a removable adhesive, for almost all smooth surfaces and therefore ideal for short-term promotions such as your Christmas campaign. Want a more luxurious look at Christmas? Then take a look at PVC-free self-adhesive banner material such as FILMOeco Kavalan Gecko FR-AD. This is a polyester textile banner especially for wallcoverings with a water-based PVC-free resin coating and equipped with a removable adhesive. Last but not least, FILMOeco Kavalan Gecko FR-AD, just like the easy dot® range and also the event fleece, is flame-retardant and certified according to EN 13501 (European test standard for reaction to fire).

Involve the floor in your festive decor as well

Shop windows, windows, and walls may be more obvious, but you can also use the floor for advertising and decoration. Floor graphics are ideal for advertising, decoration, or signage because they have high attention value. So use the floor for your Christmas campaign too, because your visitors literally cannot miss it when they walk on it. A good anti-slip certified material is absolutely essential here. Would you like more tips on using floor stickers? Then also read the associated blogs below with the most frequently asked questions about these materials.