Graphic Art on the iPhone

The calendar (^_^) 365 (o_o) by Heidelberg Japan was created by 365 designers and six printing companies. It combines 15 printing techniques and 11 types of paper to form a "unique overall work," the jury of the International Calendar Show 2010 said about the joint project between Heidelberg and the Japan Graphic Designers Association (JAGDA). Each sheet of the vivid yellow A5-size calendar is unique.

Each day a new design: 365 Japanese artists, from art academy graduates to internationally renowned prize-winners, designed the calendar pages. The Heidelberg project team suggested which printing technique and type of paper to use. The calendar was printed on Speedmaster XL105 presses by six printing companies, all of which are certified according to the offset printing process standard. "From the idea to the planning, the project took two years to complete. The greatest challenge was to coordinate the almost 400 people involved," reports Masahiro Kaneko from Heidelberg Japan.

• Left image: Wide Color Four-color + High-Intensity Silver Printing + UV-coating
• Center image: Super Fine Color
• Right image: Wide Color (Four-color printing) + Cold Foil
  

"Not only snow, the moon, and flowers, but also bats have traditionally been hailed as symbols of happiness."
( Amayagido Jun, designer)
Silver and pearl inks on partially metallic paper were used for this motif, to create superb iridescent effects. The extremely matte art paper with a skin-type structure and an ISO-whiteness of 93 percent supports the shimmering effect and ensures high brilliance.

"May 12 is Maritime Safety Day. The Ainu patterns are said to avert evil." ( Kambara Aiko, designer)
Jagged rocks jut from the ocean that is shrouded in mist. Seven-color printing was used to achieve the rich shades and hues. Color reproduction is natural and vivid, but there is also a subtle reproduction of texture and transparency.

"The first 10 years of the feverishly saluted 21st century are coming to an end." ( Nagai Kazufumi, designer)
Rows of numbers gleam in silver, metallic blue, and red: Even minuscule numbers are easy to read, thanks to the Cold Foil technology. The paper is coated on both sides to enhance its whiteness and the brilliance of the Cold Foil finishing.

iPhone users have the opportunity to download the calendar free of charge, enabling them to call up a different design on their display every day. At the same time, they are given information on each of the designers and the respective printing technique and can select an image as the display background, if they so choose. Those who do not own an iPhone can download the calendar to their PC. "Right from the start, we had planned not only a printed, but also a digital version of the calendar. That allows us to additionally use the penetration of platforms and tools such as Twitter, blogs, or apps for cell phones," explains Masahiro Kaneko. In only four months, the calendar has been downloaded more than 10,500 times. "Distribution via digital media is a fantastic possibility of intelligently advertising the value and effect of printed products," emphasizes the marketing expert Kaneko. A total of 8,000 copies of the calendar were printed and sold within a few weeks.