Edited by Cori Watkins, editor, PostPress
As spring arrives in full bloom – with sunshine in the air and flowers coming to life – so too does the celebration of creativity and craftsmanship in print and packaging. The 32nd annual FSEA Gold Leaf Awards once again has honored a variety of impressive submissions from leaders in the industry.
One standout piece that truly captures the spirit of the season is the Sunflower poster submitted by Shenzhen Jujin Paper Packaging Co., Ltd., (Jujin Packaging), located in Guangdong Province, China. This striking wall-sized image of a sunflower has captured the spotlight by winning the prestigious award for Best of Show: Best Use of Digital Embellishments.
According to the website, Jujin Packaging has been involved in the luxury printing and packaging industry since 2008. Jujin Packaging integrates innovative R&D, creative design and smart and mass production. The company devotes itself to the luxury, cosmetics, wine and food-grade packaging industries. Jujin Packaging is a global leader, delivering high-quality packaging solutions for renowned brands including Cartier, Chanel, Estée Lauder, Nike, Hennessy and others.
Jujin Packaging collaborated with Scodix, using the Scodix Ultra 6500 SHD, along with the latest 3D circular printing technology and the HP Indigo 12000 digital press, to create the Sunflower poster. The combination of the Scodix technology with advanced RSP™ (Rotate, Scale, Position) algorithm for automatic image positioning with ±100 micron accuracy and the HP Indigo 12000 high-volume production printing capabilities made the intricate and stunning design of the sunflower poster possible.
“The sunflower was chosen as the design theme due to its universally recognized symbolism of sunshine, hope, courage and strength,” reported April Lytle, regional marketing manager from Scodix. This characteristic is uniquely displayed in the poster with its bright, bold, sparkly appearance that also conveys feelings of warmth, happiness and vitality. Not only is the poster aesthetically appealing, but the texture also is inviting with shiny raised embellishments and diverse textures.
The first step in the process of constructing the poster was to create a surface slicing model for the design. By subdividing the design graphics and understanding the contrast of light and shadow, Scodix depicted the layers and structure of every detail. Using digital enhancement techniques, the company outlined the main shapes and controlled the curvature of details through the overlay of digital UV mapping. The final step was to decompose the craftsmanship layers, recombine them and output the project files, which then were transferred to digital equipment for the research and prototype-sampling phase.
For the poster material, matte silver foil cardstock was chosen. The metallic effect of the paper, combined with the printing overlay technique, was used to handle the layering of the image. This approach enhanced the color saturation of the design and created a reflective visual effect from the metallic areas. It also served as the first step in preparing for subsequent processes.
The most challenging aspect of the design process was controlling the curvature and slicing of each flower. Scodix needed to manage the ink leveling properties and gather data by combining the material’s surface tension. By utilizing the UV pre-estimation system, the three key data points were adjusted multiple times: 1) ink leveling data, 2) material tension data and 3) UV LED pre-estimation temperature. This iterative adjustment allowed Scodix to achieve the curved slicing effect that initially was envisioned. In the end, the company tested and finalized the best data file for production.
“The client was extremely impressed with the sunflower poster,” said Lytle. “Many guests were drawn to touch the raised texture of the design, and the combination of visual impact and tactile feedback left them in awe.” The client expressed that, compared to other printed materials the client had previously encountered, this piece provided a unique and remarkable sensory experience that had not been experienced with previous print products.
Judges from the FSEA Gold Leaf Awards also were impressed with the sunflower poster for its technical excellence, creativity and seamless integration of print and embellishment. The project exemplifies the future of print, where digital technologies empower designers and printers to push artistic boundaries and deliver premium, multi-sensory experiences to clients and audiences alike.
The Best of Show-winning sunflower wall poster is more than just a decorative piece – it is a showcase of what is possible when cutting-edge digital embellishment meets inspired design. As digital print embellishments and finishing continue to evolve, the industry likely will see even more awe-inspiring projects that blur the line between print and art.