Producing Eye-Catching Retail Graphics that Build Brands

Jamie Calon started 54blue in 2001 in Calgary, Alberta as a film and design company for the power sports industry. As 54blue evolved, Calon brought all services in-house to ensure quality and added a satellite office in Riga, Latvia. Now offering branding, design, print and fabrication services along with website and database solutions, 54blue is known for being able to do it all.

“This unique project demanded rapid, consistent top-quality printing on a range of materials. We couldn’t have done it without our Roland printers.”

54blue incorporated a print lab at the Calgary office, where the print master and designers together review every print. 54blue chose Roland’s VersaCAMM VS-640 and SOLJET Pro4 XR-640 64” large format digital printer/cutters to anchor its production because of Roland’s quality, range of ink options and print/cut feature.

“This unique project demanded rapid, consistent top-quality printing on a range of materials. We couldn’t have done it without our Roland printers.”

54blue’s work appears in well- known retailers such as Lenscrafters and SportChek, along with action sports brands including Redbull, Oakley, The North Face and Billabong.

54blue was recently brought in to create a brand identity for Rogue Clothier and Cyclery in Calgary. Calon employed a variety of textiles and print materials to lend an urban feel and maintain the tone throughout the store. The space was designed with six main elements, including window displays and a stage area that allow for easy artwork changes.

Other elements include a wall wrapped with an image of a Brooklyn street, a branded leather piece, a wall with high-gloss custom cut graphics, and a wall featuring classic cycling motifs printed on matte wall fabric in grayscale. “This unique project demanded rapid, consistent top-quality printing on a range of materials. We couldn’t have done it without our Roland printers,” said Calon.

54blue enjoys the creativity afforded by Roland’s inks. “The looks we can create using metallic silver, white and light black ink are fancy and original,” said Calon. “They put our company at a different level.”