Released on March 3, 2016, Shoes UP's magazine cover uses an ink and a unique printing process in France that imitates the retro-reflective strips of shoes.
Jeans Hansen SAG, based, loves five-legged sheep. So when the agency asked the printing group to make a magazine cover with a retro reflective ink to the image of a model of Converse shoes released recently, he did not hesitate.
Inspired by the posters of a magic festival whose text appears only in the light of the flash (more details on A festival of magic creates superb magic posters), the Parisian agency sought for Shoes UP, quarterly on Urban culture, a printer capable of creating a cover that reflects light to promote Converse shoes.
This effect, used in the world of fashion, is obtained with micro beads of retro-reflective glasses. Christophe Pool, senior manager at SAG specializing in screen printing, said: "This is done on fabric, for T-shirts and shoes among others, but never this was done in France on paper." Several tests were necessary to develop this special ink and to apply it because "it is not a product that is easily handled".
He explains: "We put micro-beads retro-reflective material in a rather special way because the agency wanted that instead of the posters of magic that they see without need of flash, we mixed them with particles d Silver alumina. "
Then, this ink was applied, on the blankets printed at Leone Depress in the Pas-de-Calais, silk-screened, but uncommonly. It is not UV inks that have been used, but traditional inks. The solvent evaporates, only the dry matter remains and therefore the effect is even brighter.
Then the reflective fabrics are distributed in the north for cutting, creasing and broaching.
Posters were also produced with the same process to promote this issue 49 Shoes UP in newsstands.