Alcan Composites USA Inc., Mooresville, NC, teamed up with SGIA, its members, and business partners to provide large-format graphics for unused storefronts on Canal Street, one of the most heavily trafficked streets in New Orleans. The street connects the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center with the historic French Quarter. The graphics, which depict the food, music, architecture, and culture of New Orleans, include more than 80 4 x 8-ft panels and two super-graphic products.

“The French Quarter is in great shape, as is the convention center, but Canal Street just needs a little extra attention to reach its potential,” says Michael Robertson, president and CEO of SGIA. “You can see and feel that opportunity when you walk this street.” Alcan Composites has donated approximately 100 sheets of its Dibond graphic-display board to the Canal Street initiative. Andrea Jimenez, Alcan’s marketing manager, says Dibond’s outdoor durability made it the perfect choice for the Canal Street project from Alcan’s extensive line of graphic-display boards.

“We were delighted to help SGIA support the recovery of New Orleans,” Jimenez says. “Durable Dibond seemed best suited to meet SGIA’s project specifications since it would be replacing plywood and installed over windows for up to five years. Through direct digital printing and the application of vinyl graphics, Dibond has helped to create an updated, colorful look for Canal Street without compromising on durability. And, it’s saving both time and money because it will not have to be replaced occasionally as would plywood.”

Lafayette, LA-based PIXUS Digital Printing contributed digital printing services to the Canal Street project. PIXUS employees used a Gandinnovations Jeti 3150 UV True Flatbed to direct print Dibond Brushed Silver graphic-display board with images of jazz music, gas street lights, and wrought-iron fences that were created and donated by local New Orleans artists. PIXUS finished the printed panels with 3M Scotchcal Matte Overlaminate 3545.

New Vista Image, Golden, CO, also supported the Canal Street project by using an HP Scitex XL1500 printer and solvent-based inks to digitally print New Orleans themed graphics on 3M Controltac Plus Graphic Film with Comply Performance 180C-10. The graphics were laminated with 3M Scotchgard Graphic and Surface Protection Film 8991. The printed and laminated graphics were then mounted to 4 x 8-ft sheets of white Dibond board through a heat-transfer process.