West Linn Paper shows its competitive spirit in the clever new Capistrano “Our Hat’s in the Ring” promotion.

Designed by Doug Oliver Design Office, the 4-color plus spot gloss varnish piece uses beautiful vintage hat photography by Heffernan Films with copy by Penny Benda. The promo includes a foldout poster showcasing each of the vintage hats as well as individual 60 lb. – 100 lb. Capistrano gloss and matte printed sample sheets.

“The hat theme was chosen because we wanted our customers, printers and designers to know that, although we are a small mill, when it comes to quality and consistency, our Capistrano No. 2 web papers can go head-to-head with any competitor on the market – thus, “Our hat is in the ring,” says Jill Crossley, director of marketing at West Linn Paper.

Each hat represents a characteristic of the Capistrano paper – Sophisticated, Reliable, Sensational, Smooth, Competitive, Eye-catching, Solid and Snappy. All of the pieces are contained in a kit cover printed on 80 lb. Capistrano gloss cover.

To request a copy of “Our Hat’s in the Ring” promotion, please e-mail customerservice@westlinnpaper.com.

Driven by Design, the Trump International Hotel & Tower Dubai proposal book, designed by Seventh Art Incorporated, was named the grand prizewinner of the second annual Mohawk i-Tonies digital print competition.

The piece was produced in true luxurious Trump fashion. In the space of a week, Texas Graphic Resources was able to produce and deliver the books to Dubai for an exclusive launch party given by Donald Trump, Nakheel and Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The stunning architectural images in the oversized photo book were printed on Mohawk Kromekote IN-fusion C2S 12 pt. on an HP Indigo 5000. All sheets were then silkscreen UV coated. The custom hand bindery was designed in-house as a way to maximize the usage of a single sheet.

The Mohawk i-Tonie awards celebrate the art of digital print production. Eligible entries are those that are produced with a HP Indigo press on Mohawk papers for HP Indigo. You can see images of this and the honorable mention award winners at mohawkpaper.com.

Wausau Paper’s new print promotion, In Vogue, is a collection of objects with enduring appeal that showcases the time-honored style of its Royal Linen line.

In Vogue invites designers and printers to explore trends from the past that continuously reemerge with modern twists and updates – chandeliers have returned to style with new bright, vibrant colors; wide, colorful belts from the seventies and eighties instantly update any modern outfit; traditional plaid patterns in trendy, bright colors adorn everything from shirts to scarves to tennis shoes.

The print promotion reminds printers and designers about the many ways design is reinvented, and encourages them to use beautiful and versatile writing, text and cover papers to add new life to their work.

All Royal Linen writing, text and cover papers are Forest Stewardship Council certified and most of the offering is also Green Seal certified.

As a special offer for PaperSpecs members, please log in and select “Mill Promotions” to request a copy of In Vogue.

Domtar’s Lynx Digital line now includes 100 lb. text weight. This addition makes for an even more complete product offering ranging from 45 lb. to 100 lb. text and 65 lb. to 100 lb. cover.

The sheet sizes include 8.5” x 11” (for desktop applications) up to 14” x 20” (for production digital devices) and 18” rolls (for digital web presses).

All Lynx Digital papers carry the Domtar Electronic Imaging Guarantee. These papers are guaranteed to work on desktop laser and inkjet printers and color copiers and production digital devices.

Lynx Digital is also HP Indigo certified, FSC-certified, SFI fiber sourcing certified and supported by the Rainforest Alliance.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Accreditation Services International (ASI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China (CNCA).

The MOU will foster stronger collaboration between FSC and CNCA to promote the development of forest certification in China. Signed in Bonn, Germany on November 2, 2009, the MOU highlights information exchange, training, technical collaboration and coordination in the development of certification standards as some of the areas in which FSC and CNCA will cooperate.

The MOU will strengthen FSC’s presence in China and is viewed by those in the organization as an important milestone in the development of forest certification in the country. Over 1.3 million hectares of forest in China are certified to FSC standards. FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) certification has grown to over 1,250 companies certified to supply FSC-labeled products in greater China from 200 in 2006.

CreativePublic recently added a new membership plan for $19.95. This lower-priced plan gives members one year of unlimited access to the CreativePublic members area.

Citing the present challenging economy, the company felt that those designers who couldn’t afford the lifetime plan should still be able to have access to the site so they can better conduct their businesses.

You can still purchase the $49.95 lifetime membership plan too of course. Both plans come with the business Q&A section and free e-mail support for business questions.

PEFC’s Director General Ben Gunneberg was spreading his message to Paperworld visitors in Frankfurt saying, “Currently PEFC remains the certification system of choice for forest owners globally. An additional 16 million hectares of forest area were certified to PEFC since November 2008, which represents a growth of seven percent.”

The demand for chain-of-custody (CoC) certification also continued to gain momentum in 2009 with responsible companies seeking to procure wood-based products from sustainably managed forests. Last year PEFC CoC certificates recorded an increase of 36 percent. With more than 1,500 certificates being awarded, there are now more than 5,700.

In addition, five countries were either endorsed or re-endorsed in 2009. These included Australia, China, Gabon, Malaysia and Russia. And Gunneberg is confident more will follow soon.

New standards and guidelines have also been introduced, with a revision of the International Chain-of-Custody standard, which started in spring 2008, due for final approval later this year.

A joint PEFC – International Accreditation Forum (IAF) document for certification bodies that conduct CoC audits has now moved into its final stage for formal approval by the IAF.

Neenah Paper has expanded its digital offering with the addition of two new weights to the CLASSIC CREST Digital Papers selection: 24 lb. writing and 130 lb. double thick cover.

Both weights are available in four sizes in Solar White, Classic Natural White and Recycled 100 Bright White.

“We feel that by offering these weights to our customers we’re opening up the possibilities for the types of projects that previously might not have been considered for digital printing,” says Jeff Ringgold, brand manager at Neenah Paper. “Both weights can add tremendous flexibility to a marketing campaign.”

Like all Neenah Digital Papers, both weights are HP Indigo Certified, ensuring that the paper meets the highest HP Indigo performance expectations. And like all CLASSIC CREST Digital Papers, the new additions are FSC Certified, Green Seal Certified, Green-e Certified and made Carbon Neutral Plus.

Leader Paper Products has released a new swatchbook for its updated Basis paper line, which includes the new color “Purple.”

Basis is a distinctive range of vat-dyed colored text and cover papers manufactured with an antique vellum finish that offers a rich textile feel with good bulking characteristics and rigidity.

The offering is acid free (archival), elemental chlorine-free (ECF) and compatible with lithography, inkjet, digital, laser and silkscreen printing. It can also be varnished, diecut and blind embossed.

Basis is available in 70 lb. text and 80 lb. cover weights as well as a variety of envelope sizes: A1, A2, A4, A6, A7, A9, #10 (policy and square flap), 9 x 12 Booklet and 6.5 square.

As a special offer for PaperSpecs members, please log in and select “Mill Swatchbooks” to request the new Basis swatchbook.

NewPage announced a strategic partnership with Rodale Inc. and the Rodale Institute on two environmental initiatives that hope to pioneer an approach to organically plant and harvest trees as a crop.

The first, “Tree as a Crop” is designed to educate farmers and small forest landowners about the environmental, social and economic rewards of properly growing and harvesting trees.

The second initiative involves a fourth partner, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and is titled Eco4 the planet. Eco4 the planet is a demonstration project through which approximately 3,000 trees will be planted and organically grown at The Kellogg Conservation Center, a working farm adjacent to the world-renowned Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

“As farmers and small forest landowners adopt this practice, the potential of trees to improve biodiversity, capture carbon and provide revenue for communities and farmers will be maximized,” says Mike Marziale, senior vice president, Marketing, Strategy and General Management at NewPage.