Dreaming Big

Even in a crowded office, it's difficult not to notice "Dreamland," the 2004 promotional calendar of press manufacturer KBA (Koenig & Bauer AG) of Germany. "Dreamland" measures 19×27", which is almost twice the size of an average wall calendar.

The super-size calendar showcases the playful and exuberant paintings of Austrian artist Horst Kordes, which radiate with bright primary colors [visit traumlandgalerie.de for more about Kordes]. In selecting Kordes' paintings for "Dreamland," KBA had the perfect opportunity to display its hybrid printing capabilities on a large scale—and make a big impression.

What is novel about "Dreamland" is KBA's use of myriad printing processes and techniques. To capture the often fiery colors of Kordes' paintings, KBA used high-pigment Aniva inks, which afford a larger range of color and "produce near-photographic quality of the originals," says Michael Eichler, manager of KBA's U.S. demonstration and training center in Williston, Vt.

The black background of the calendar was printed with hybrid inks in a second pass. KBA then printed all of the calendar's 14 pages and its heavy corrugated cardboard envelope with aqueous spot coating and UV coating, creating a startling combination of matte and gloss effects throughout the project.

"By combining new processes and technology into one printed art piece on a high-quality press, we were able to produce truly superior print quality," says Eichler.

"Dreamland" was conceived and designed by KBA's marketing department in Radebeul, Germany. Media Service, Burgsdorf, Germany, performed the prepress work for the job. All of the printing and coating was performed on a six-color KBA Rapida 105 sheetfed offset press with coater at KBA's showroom in Radebeul.

The hybrid and Aniva inks and overprint varnish are from Epple Druckfarben, Neusäss, Germany. Weilburger Graphics, Gerhardshofen, Germany, supplied the UV varnish, while Cartiere del Garda SpA, Riva del Garda, Italy, supplied the Garda Matte Art 170-gsm paper. The MM Topliner 230-gsm packaging is from FS-Karton GmbH, in Neuss, Germany.

A Berlin bookbinder, Bruno Helm, performed the project's finishing work, which includes black Wire-O binding at the top of the calendar.

KBA printed 10,000 copies of "Dreamland," and distributed the calendar to select business partners and customers last year, offering additional copies for sale to the public.

"Our customer feedback has been very positive," says KBA vice president of marketing Eric Frank. "We're impressed with the response."

The public also liked what it saw. "We've gotten so many phone calls regarding the calendar," Frank adds. "It's amazing."

The public's desire for copies of "Dreamland" has exceeded the supply. The calendar is sold out, but select pages of "Dreamland" can be viewed at on the Web at kba-print.de/en/news/unternehmen-investor/2003-12-10-00/index.html.