2023 – Winner

Who is the creative and production team?

Hazen Paper’s 11th Enshrinement Yearbook cover for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts is a light show worthy of the dazzling Dome. The limited-edition 2023 cover, created with Hazen HoloJet® paper, projects an amplified refractive three-dimensional image of a basketball symbolizing the Hall of Fame Dome.

According to Hazen President John Hazen, “once again the Hazen holographic team has raised the bar amplifying the special effects each time to ensure the cover is more exciting than ever.” For 2023, this includes Fresnel Lens technology and a new holographic element Hazen calls “Metal-Morphosis™,” utilizing a new deep-groove system for sharper images and greater dimensionality. Appearing to move and change with the angle of light, the holographic treatment induces engagement and interaction with the book.

Hazen originated the holography completely within its vertically integrated Holyoke facility, for superior quality, performance, and efficiency. The custom holograms were created in Hazen’s holographic laser lab, then micro-embossed and transfer-metallized onto smooth,12-point WestRock Tango C2S using Hazen’s environmentally friendly Envirofoil® and HoloJet® process. The holography is created with an optical structure that is imparted on the surface of the paper (underneath the printed graphics) with an ultra-thin polymer layer that is less than 2 microns in thickness. Envirofoil is a non-plastic paper that is recyclable as paper.

The yearbook cover was designed by agency GO of Hartford, CT, and printed and individually numbered for authenticity on an HP Indigo digital press by Starburst Printing of Holliston, MA. Mohegan Sun Casino also once again used a custom hologram on the backside cover to create a high voltage graphic that radiates energy.

Founded in 1925, Hazen Paper Company is an innovative paper converter specializing in holographic origination, film coating, foil and paper lamination, metallizing, gravure printing, specialty coating and rotary embossing to create specialty materials for worldwide use in retail display and POP, luxury, beauty, entertainment and media packaging, bookbinding, scratch-off lottery and other security-related tickets, tags and cards, and fine art applications. Family owned, run by a multidisciplinary management team, Hazen is committed to sustainability, using hydropower produced by the Connecticut River, with certification to supply converted paper and paperboards that are FSC, SFI and PEFC certified.

Hazen was recognized with a 2023 “Gold Leaf” award by the Foil and Specialty Effects Association (FSEA) for the 2023 Super Bowl Stadium Program Best Use of Holographics. Hazen also received “Product of the Year” honors in 2018, 2019, and 2020 from AIMCAL, the Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators. Hazen received the “Next Century Award” in 2020 from the Associated Industries of Massachusetts for unique contributions to the Massachusetts economy and the well-being of its residents. For more information, visit www.hazen.com or call 413-538-8204.

What was it for and how did it work?

According to Hazen President John Hazen, “once again the Hazen holographic team has raised the bar amplifying the special effects each time to ensure the cover is more exciting than ever.” For 2023, this includes Fresnel Lens technology and a new holographic element Hazen calls “Metal-Morphosis™,” utilizing a new deep-groove system for sharper images and greater dimensionality. Appearing to move and change with the angle of light, the holographic treatment induces engagement and interaction with the book.

What is significant about this hologram project?

Hazen originated the holography completely within its vertically integrated Holyoke facility, for superior quality, performance, and efficiency. The custom holograms were created in Hazen’s holographic laser lab, then micro-embossed and transfer-metallized onto smooth,12-point WestRock Tango C2S using Hazen’s environmentally friendly Envirofoil® and HoloJet® process. The holography is created with an optical structure that is imparted on the surface of the paper (underneath the printed graphics) with an ultra-thin polymer layer that is less than 2 microns in thickness. Envirofoil® is a non-plastic paper that is recyclable as paper.