call 2014 FTA Awards excellence in flexography for entries Welcome to your new look store (2013 Best of Show winners pictured above)

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1 2014 FTA excellence in flexography Now 5mm Coupons inside! Acc epti Year ng Entries - Aldershot C M Y K TESCO Aldershot Deadline: Jan. 10, 2014 Welcome to your new look store Please recycle me for entries rou nd! nx MPS call Return Address: Tesco Stores Ltd, P.O. Box 5199, Northampton NN3 6ZA. Awards 5mm 162x229 TESCO Aldershot.indd 1 26/11/ :16 (2013 Best of Show winners pictured above)

2 Hey there, you brilliant flexographer. That s right, brilliant. Don t be coy. We see the genius of your work all year long. You make bold decisions. Take risks. Use processes and techniques that comply with FIRST. Produce complex printed pieces that get the results everyone wants. It takes guts and determination to do that. And now, we invite you to submit your very best work - the ground-breaking, game-changing, and allaround exceptional pieces that are worthy of the industry s most prestigious distinction, an Excellence in Flexography award. Submit your entries today! Eligibility: All flexographic printers/converters, print buyers, suppliers, designers and students worldwide are invited to participate, regardless of membership status. Entries May be submitted by supplier companies on behalf of a printer or designer with their approval (other than Self-promotion). Must have been flexographically printed; if only a portion of the entry is flexographically printed please identify what part is flexo and what is not on the Technical Data Form in the Additional Technical Information space. Must have been produced for a production run of an actual market product. Products from tests, sample runs, and mock-ups (with the exception of Student and Self-promotion entries) are not eligible. Must have customer s (print buyer s) approval. May be submitted by designers directly. Must have been produced between January 1, 2013 and December 31, Entry Classifications Wide Web: Entries produced on presses having a width greater than 44. Mid Web: Entries produced on presses having a width greater than 24 up to and including 44. Narrow Web: Entries produced on presses having a width of 24 or less. Napkins: Entries printed on tissue-like paper folded and cut in-line (typical of party goods & specialty design products). Combined Corrugated: Entries printed directly on sheetfed combined board (all flutes, combinations, and liner weights). Preprinted Linerboard: Entries printed directly on webfed linerboard before being converted into corrugated board. Envelope: Entries printed both on- and off-line on envelopes of any kind. Self-promotion: Entries printed by companies in-house to promote their printing capabilities (Limit of 3 only open to printers/converters, excludes Student entries). Student: Entries from students enrolled in a recognized technical, vocational or graphic arts institution. All entries must be produced and printed by students. Avoid messy handwriting! Complete your entry forms online at

3 Categories: Please read carefully! Primary Print Categories Line: Printing consisting predominantly of solids and lines [can contain some screen or process elements (less than 10%), but will remain as a line item and will be judged accordingly]. Screen: Printing consisting predominantly of continuous tone screen tints, vignettes, halftones, and duotones using any set of ink colors. Screen entries may also include line printing and/or process printing (less than 10%), but will remain as a screen item and will be judged accordingly. Process: Printing consisting predominately of three or more colors in the reproduction of an image. The result appears as a full color image obtained by the overlapping of various size dots to simulate changes in density and hue of color that give the final appearance of a full color spectrum. Many of these entries may include line and screen elements. ALL PROCESS ENTRIES SHOULD INCLUDE A COLOR CONTRACT PROOF. Points are awarded for the inclusion of the contract proof (target) and the point amount is based upon the quality (closeness) of the match. Substrate Categories for the web entry classifications Film Metallized Substrate: Printing must be directly on the metallized surface of the substrate, otherwise the entry should be submitted in film or paper. Coated Paper: Up to thick. Uncoated Paper: Up to thick. Paperboard: or greater in thickness; this includes folding carton, liquid packaging and tags, etc. Entry Requirements To be accepted for judging your entry must include: A completed Entry Form. An accurately completed Technical Data Form. All applicable entry fees. Proper number of print samples.»» Web printed samples, in roll form, must have four (4) sequential, continuous FULL WEB WIDTH 360-degree revolutions of the print cylinder. Samples may be submitted in sheeted singles only if the roll form is not possible [example: for a 2 across / 2 around job 16 sheets need to be submitted]. A statement MUST accompany the submission explaining why the roll form is not possible. If the proper number of impressions or the full web width is not submitted, the entry may be judged, but in all likelihood will NOT be considered for an award.»» Envelope, four (4) consecutive finished & four (4) consecutive unfinished. If available please submit roll-toroll 4-cylinder repeats of the web.»» Combined Corrugated and Napkin entries must submit a minimum of four (4) preferably consecutive revolutions. If possible please submit a high-res image of the entry to Shelley Rubin (srubin@flexography.org). Important Notes If an entry fails to meet any of the above requirements, the ineligible entry will not be returned and the entry fee will not be refunded. Questions? Contact Shelley Rubin (srubin@flexography.org) at x36. Avoid messy handwriting! Complete your entry forms online at

4 2014 ENTRY LOG FORM (an Entry Log Form must be completed for each entry) Entry Name: For internal use only Company Name: CLASSIFICATION (circle one) Wide Web Mid Web Narrow Web Napkins Combined Corrugated Preprinted Linerboard Envelope Self-promotion Student CATEGORY (circle one) Line Screen Process SUBSTRATE (circle one) Film Metallized Coated Paper Uncoated Paper Paperboard 2014 Entry Form (complete only one Entry Form) Entry Information: Contact Name: Title: Company: Division: Address: City: State/Province: Zip: Country: Tel: Fax: Entry Fees: (per entry) Total number of entries enclosed:. 1-5 entries q $80.00 each (FTA Member) q $ each (Non-member) Each additional entry q $70.00 each (FTA Member) q $ each (Non-member) 2 For 1 Special Offer! Is this your 1st time entering the competition or have not entered in more than 3 years? q $80.00 for 2 entries (FTA Member) q $ for 2 entries (Non-member) Payment Method: (select one) q Enclosed is a check for $ (payable to FTA, drawn on US funds) q Paying by wire transfer (please add $20.00 for all wire transfers). Contact FTA at for bank information q Charge the following credit card in the amount of $ : q Visa q MasterCard q American Express Number: Exp. date: CVC*: Cardholder Name: Cardholder Signature: * Enter the 3-digit code from the back of your Visa or MasterCard. Enter the 4-digit code on the front of your American Express Send all entries to: Flexographic Technical Association Attn: Shelley Rubin 3920 Veterans Memorial Hwy Ste 9 Bohemia, NY Please mark all packages: PRINTED SAMPLES - NO COMMERCIAL VALUE PLEASE NOTE: If you would like your contract proof(s) returned, please provide the following information: Account Number: Carrier: q FedEx q DHL q UPS q TNT q Other: If an account number is not provided, contract proof(s) will be discarded immediately following the award judging Did You Remember To? q Complete Entry Form q Complete Technical Data Form(s) q Complete Entry Log Form(s) q Enclose proper number of print repeats q Enclose payment q Samples submitted in roll form OR FULL WEB WIDTH individual samples for roll width

5 2014 TECHNICAL DATA FORM (a Technical Data Form must be completed for each entry) Please read all instructions carefully and make certain all sections are filled out legibly and completely. Incomplete forms may disqualify individual entries or limit the judges ability to fully assess the difficulty or execution of the entry. ENTRY NAME: PREPRESS: q Electronic q Manual PRESS TYPE: q Manufacturer: q Central Impression q In-line Total # of Print Stations: q In-house or Prepress Dept q Trade Shop (specify) q Stack q Combination or Hybrid q With In-line converting PRESS SPECS: Press Width: (in) Web Width: (in) Speed: Webs (ft/min) Envelope (envelopes/min) Corrugated: (sheets/hr) Cylinder Repeat x 4 = req d min. web length SUBSTRATE: Specification/gauge: Material: AWARD CATEGORY: PLATES: Enter print category code from list Thickness: q Analog Photopolymer q Digital Photopolymer q Laser Engraved Photopolymer q Laser Engraved Elastomer q Continuous Photopolymer Sleeve q Laser Engraved Continuous Elastomer PLATE MOUNTING: q Optical q Mechanical q Video Cushion/Stickyback Thickness: CYLINDER IMAGE NUMBER: Plates Across: Images Across: Plates Around: Images Around: CONTRACT PROOF (TARGET) SUPPLIED: q Yes (recommended) q No To be eligible for a maximum level of execution score a contract color target or proof should be submitted. USING FIRST SPECIFICATIONS: q Yes q No PRINTING: Was the job previously run by another printing process? q Yes: (which process) q No SET-UP AND RUN DESCRIPTION: Station # Ink Color Ink System Type* Plate Screen Count &/ or Micron Spot Size Metering System Type ** Anilox Cell Count (LPI) & Volume Anilox Roll Type*** ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION: q I DO NOT want technical information published. * Ink System Type: Indicate water, solvent, UV, or other type of ink ** Metering System Type: 2=two roll system, C= Chambered doctor blade (2 blades), D=Single Doctor bladed holder, O=Other *** Anilox Roll Type: LEC=Laser Engraved Ceramic, CH= Mechanical Engraved Chrome, MEC= Mechanical Engraved Ceramic, O=Other For internal use only

6 Print Category Codes Carefully select the correct print category code for each entry and indicate (where applicable) the substrate printed on. Wide Web: A.1.a Line, Film A.1.b Line, Metallized Substrate A.1.c Line, Coated Paper A.1.d Line, Uncoated Paper A.1.e Line, Paperboard A.2.a Screen, Film A.2.b Screen, Metallized Substrate A.2.c Screen, Coated Paper A.2.d Screen, Uncoated Paper A.2.e Screen, Paperboard A.3.a Process, Film A.3.b Process, Metallized Substrate A.3.c Process, Coated Paper A.3.d Process, Uncoated Paper A.3.e Process, Paperboard Mid Web: B.1.a Line, Film B.1.b Line, Metallized Substrate B.1.c Line, Coated Paper B.1.d Line, Uncoated Paper B.1.e Line, Paperboard B.2.a Screen, Film B.2.b Screen, Metallized Substrate B.2.c Screen, Coated Paper B.2.d Screen, Uncoated Paper B.2.e Screen, Paperboard B.3.a Process, Film B.3.b Process, Metallized Substrate B.3.c Process, Coated Paper B.3.d Process, Uncoated Paper B.3.e Process, Paperboard Narrow Web: C.1.a Line, Film C.1.b Line, Metallized Substrate C.1.c Line, Coated Paper C.1.d Line, Uncoated Paper C.1.e Line, Paperboard C.2.a Screen, Film C.2.b Screen, Metallized Substrate C.2.c Screen, Coated Paper C.2.d Screen, Uncoated Paper C.2.e Screen, Paperboard C.3.a Process, Film C.3.b Process, Metallized Substrate C.3.c Process, Coated Paper C.3.d Process, Uncoated Paper C.3.e Process, Paperboard Napkins: D.1 Line D.2 Screen D.3 Process Combined Corrugated: E.1 Line E.2 Screen E.3 Process Preprinted Linerboard: F.1 Line F.2 Screen F.3 Process Envelope: G.1.c Line, Coated Paper G.1.d Line, Uncoated Paper G.2.c Screen, Coated Paper G.2.d Screen, Uncoated Paper G.3.c Process, Coated Paper G.3.d Process, Uncoated Paper Self-promotion: (Open to printers/converters only) H.1 Maximum of 3 entries Student: I.1.a High School I.1.b Post-secondary School Avoid messy handwriting! Complete your entry forms online at

7 Awards Judging Guidelines Judging: Qualified teams will blind judge all entries for Degree of Difficulty and Level of Execution. Degree of Difficulty (DD): The Degree of Difficulty of an entry will be determined by the following criteria: Substrate Printability/Ink Compatibility: Five to ten points will be awarded based on the difficulty of successfully applying the ink used to the particular substrate. Judges will consider all aspects of the particular substrate in order to determine an exact DD score within the given ranges. Registration Tolerances: If the design and graphics of the entry require extraordinarily close tolerances for all registration aspects, a DD score of 10 may be awarded by the judges. Less stringent registration requirements will be given appropriately lower scores as determined by the judges. Registration requirements that are below average as a difficulty factor in printing the entry may be awarded a low point score. Plate/Printing Complexity: Higher scores will be awarded for multiple outs, multiple press passes, printing on both sides of the substrate, and unusual or complicated web or substrate handling. Higher scores will also be awarded for a print from one plate with incompatible elements over a similar print where incompatible elements are divided into multiple plates of the same color. Incompatible elements are solids, reverses, tints, halftones, line art, and type in various sizes and combinations printed the same color. Fineness of Print and/or Screen: Exceedingly fine type, graphics, and fine screen values (for screen and process) will be given appropriately high DD scores. Tonal Range: A tonal range for screen and process from 1% to 100% dots will be given a DD score of 10. Commensurately lower DD scores will be awarded for narrower tonal ranges. Defect Detectability: Design and graphics are such that print defects and imperfections are not easily or clearly seen. A clean design will warrant a higher score than more busy designs. Technical Data Form: To aid the judges ability in evaluating the entry, it is important that the Technical Data Form be completed with as much information as possible. Level of Execution (LE): The Level of Execution score of an entry will be determined by the following criteria: Image Sharpness: Clarity, clean and sharp edges, fill-in, squeeze, excessive ink laydown, spots, hairs, hickeys, waviness and any other print attributes or defects will be evaluated. Ink Coverage: Solids and trap areas will be evaluated for smooth, complete, even pinhole and void-free ink laydown. Registration: Copy straightness, alignment, and precision of registration of all elements, including process vignettes (including copy to shape or die, as applicable). Dot/Screen/Vignette Quality: Screen and process areas for dot print quality, dot drop-off, bridging, moiré, missing dots and overall appearance of these areas. The entry will be compared to that target to determine the degree of target accomplishment. Consistency: Consistency of all previously judged variables throughout the image and the submission of four revolutions of the cylinder. Award Levels: At the discretion of the awards judges, a Gold, Silver, and/or Bronze Award may be given in each subcategory within each major classification. Best of Show: At the discretion of the judges and Awards Committee, a Best of Show is awarded in each of the major classifications (Wide Web, Mid Web, Narrow Web, Napkins, Combined Corrugated, Preprinted Linerboard, and Envelope). The selection will be made from among the Gold Award winners in the classification. The FTA Excellence in Flexography Awards Competition winners will be announced and placed on display during FTA s 2014 Annual Forum & INFO*FLEX Exhibition in Baltimore, MD, April Avoid messy handwriting! Complete your entry forms online at

8 2014 FTA excellence in flexography Awards call for entries