Publisher DC Thomson enlisted their long-running comic characters The Broons in a ground-breaking £10,000 competition for readers of The Sunday Post utilising cutting-edge digital printing.
Using new technology from DC Thomson’s Discovery Print arm in Dundee, an instant giveaway voucher featuring The Broons in a comic with bespoke competition codes was published in the paper this weekend – and different endings to the story.
Up to 500 lucky readers of the Sunday Post’s in10 magazine will win cash. For those readers who don’t gain instant access to Maw Broon’s purse, there was be a further chance to win by entering a phone prize draw.
Discovery Print and DC Thomson Head of Operations (Newspapers), Guy Forester explained, “Our Kodak digital print head provides the ability to produce tailored marketing and advertising initiatives via uniquely printed numbers, barcodes, QR codes or even high end graphics.
“We’re one of only two newspaper printers in the UK with this technology, so as far as I’m aware The Broons cartoon strip is the first ever variable data strip that has been produced in the UK newspaper marketplace, possibly even the world! “
The technology produces one billion droplets of ink per second, allowing text and images to be changed without slowing down the printing press. The digital print head can produce unique content on each paper at a speed of 90,000 copies per hour.
The Sunday Post’s Editor-in-Chief Donald Martin said, “The digital print head offers exciting new capabilities and fresh ways to engage our readers and advertisers in Scotland and the North of England.
“It has been a genuine team effort with Editorial, our writers, artists and graphic designers, working alongside colleagues in Operations, Production, Marketing, Advertising and Enterprise to create this imaginative reader offer.
• Further information on Discovery Print’s product range and current portfolio can be found at www.discoveryprint.co.uk
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics - Current British Publishers, Comics Competitions, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
2000AD Creator Competitions, New Posters At Thought Bubble 2015