Fabrics were a huge trend all throughout the GlobalShop, and we were right on trend with some tried-and-true favorites as well as brand-new to the market options.“Fabric was everywhere, and it’s always going to continue to trend,” says sales rep Matt Radauscher. “The guys who don’t have dye-sub yet were happy to hear they had options to print fabrics on latex.”

Our team showcased HP Durable Backlit Fabric, a lightweight option suitable for SEG frames that’s latex-compatible. We also had dye-sub users covered with Fisher Textiles 4608 Power Stretch and 9048 EZ Stretch, which are, for the first time, available in wide-format sizes exclusively through our company, LexJet.

We also brought the brand-new adhesive fabric, Squid, which generated a ton of buzz. The fabric’s fibers are finished on one side with a special adhesive that is designed for windows. Squid can be printed or used alone to create privacy, block out the sun’s rays and/or display brand messaging. It’s an elegant solution for high-end retail and corporate environments. Stay tuned for more info to come soon!

We also showcased two new canvas options, Fredrix Metallic Gold and Pearl Canvas, which offer a metallic finish to canvas wraps that were not available to the wide-format market previously. We sampled HP Recycled Satin Canvas, made of 100% recycled water bottles. We’re excited to see how this new, award-winning option will impact our industry.

Throughout the show floor, we were mesmerized by some of the emerging trends, most of which played around with dynamic color and customization. SuperColor Digital featured printable blackout fabrics that were enhanced with lighting features that actually changed the colors of the graphics (see photo).

We noticed that many of the exhibits focused on brick-and-mortar retail’s current challenge: competing with ecommerce by using dynamic, sometimes over-the-top displays to create a memorable in-store experience.

“When looking at the booth designs, nearly every one of them had some sort of electrical element in the displays themselves,” says S-One Marketing Director Terry Lynn Belzer. “Whether they were blow-up fixtures, floor fixtures or even animal displays with eyes that lit up. There was also a lot of focus on tactile experiences throughout the show.”

There was even an “Instagrammable” moment with a Game of Thrones-inspired display with a giant throne and sword that was a photo opp just waiting to happen.

Our products like ChromaLuxe Photo Panels, Vescom Gold and Silver Mylar wallcoverings and Signetics Duo magnetic-receptive media offer a variety of ways to incorporate print into dynamic retail displays.

Colorful, hyper-customized walls, windows, floors and even ceilings showcased the power of print throughout the exhibits at GlobalShop @ RetailX. To get a closer look at the materials that S-One showcased, please visit our RetailX page for product info or give one of our retail specialists a call at 800-453-9538.

Transfer paper is a vital element in the dye-sublimation printing process. At LexJet, we’ve developed the InFuze line of dye-sub transfer papers with a proprietary microporous ink-receptive coating that handles and performs better than other papers on the market.

The microporous coating is different because when the ink is printed, it sits on top of the paper, rather than soaking into the paper, like other that are considered “swellable.” The LexJet InFuze line of papers won’t cockle the way others do, and it’s a lay-flat, fast-dry solution that makes transferring easier. The coating also helps to minimize ghosting of the image, even with heavy ink loads.

“We are very excited to expand our dye-sublimation solutions with the new InFuze line of dye-sub transfer papers, specifically engineered to achieve the highest quality color transfer,” says LexJet Vice President Angie Gruss. “LexJet InFuze provides better handling with a significant monetary value over other dye-sublimation paper brands.”

These four papers provide great imaging and easy release, and cover a wide range of substrate applications that optimize your dye-sub capabilities:

LexJet InFuze Multipurpose Dye Sublimation Paper: Ideal for transferring on flexible fabric or rigid substrates, like mugs, promotional items, banners, snowboards and more.

LexJet InFuze Textile Dye Sublimation Paper: Suitable for a wide range of flexible polyester fabrics for fast fashion, sportswear, banners, flags and other soft signage.

LexJet InFuze Apparel Dye Sublimation Paper: Made with a tacky surface that’s designed to prevent slippage between transfer paper and elastic-type textiles, like moisture-wicking, quick-dry performance sports apparel.

LexJet InFuze Rigid Substrate Dye-Sublimation Paper: Approved by ChromaLuxe® as an optimized transfer paper for metal panels used for wall art, table tops, high-end photo art and more.

Give one of our print specialists a call at 800-453-9538 to learn more about the advantages of these new papers. Visit our dye-sub page to learn more about the full dye-sub solution we offer, including printers, inks, transfer papers, ChromaLuxe® panels and heat presses.

About LexJet: LexJet (www.lexjet.com) is dedicated to total convenience and personal customer service for its vast line of digital color imaging products. With one-day ground delivery to most of the continental United States, telephone and on-line ordering, highly trained account specialists, free and unlimited product and technical support, and extensive educational resources, LexJet is the industry’s premier one-stop, direct source for all kinds of imaging products.