Design company launches cutting-edge 3D prototype service

A design and label company has developed a cutting-edge 3D prototype service for wine brands that allows brand owners to showcase new products to potential customers at an early stage of development.

Reflex Label Plus has developed the new ‘Proof Plus’ service which allows customers to have direct-printing capabilities onto a virtually limitless choice of three-dimensional bases.

It said that substrates (the surface of the base layer) and print finishes were often overlooked in the initial design stages and didn’t always form an integral part of the overall process, but this development would enables brand owners to visualise the brand before its goes to print, see what it looks like on shelf and give them the tools to sell their products to the consumer off- and on-trade during development.

As a result, this could help to fast-track a prototype through the creative process, streamlining the process and making it more cost-effective.

According to Reflex, the packaging industry was not challenging itself enough when it comes to using the latest print proofing technology to address simple issues.

“When it comes to design, the timeframes for launch are often exaggerated due to number of touch-points in the process and as a result fees increase,” it said. “There is a demand for quality and efficiency in a linear service that delivers on conception, creation, proofing, origination and print.”

The new system comes off the back of investment in the firm’s creative studio in Stamford, Lincolnshire, and includes: a cloud-based portal to enable quick repeats for proofs, matched colour process to ISO standards inclusive of 39L, spot colours to DE2000, braille to 250µm, setting colour standards before going to press, decorative tactile exceeding 60µm, foil embellishments and industry leading CAD, as well as a library stocks of substrates on-site for a range of proofing options and finishes.