Print finishing
By varnishing, embossing or laminating, we achieve optical contrasts or haptic effects that can contribute significantly to a beautiful printed product. This work is therefore referred to as print finishing. However, they often also serve another purpose, namely to protect the print against abrasion, scratches, dirt or moisture.
Techniques
Partial UV Varnish
Generally speaking, a UV coating applied subsequently in screen printing achieves the highest-quality coating effects, but also makes the overall product considerably more expensive. The advantage over drip-off is that the contrast is not between two coatings but between a very high coating application and the original substrate surface, for example a natural paper.
Relief coating
A special form of partial UV coating in screen printing is relief coating. This allows motifs to be highlighted three-dimensionally, usually in a transparent gloss, or alternatively pigmented, i.e. coloured. This is therefore a noticeable motif highlighting, for example for Braille, which can, however, also be done in another way, namely by blind embossing. The application of soft-touch varnish or glitter is also one of the more special possibilities of spot varnishing in screen printing.
Hot foil stamping
The strongest optical effects of all print finishing techniques are created by partial foil transfer. This is usually achieved by hot foil stamping in a specially equipped die-cutting or letterpress machine, such as a platen press.
In particular, a strong metallic effect can only be achieved by foil transfer. In addition to metallic foils, there is, of course, also a wide range of coloured foils.
Relief embossing
Hot foil stamping always includes a slightly noticeable effect, but this can also be significantly enhanced. If the motif is strongly embossed, we speak of relief embossing, which combines the effects of blind and foil embossing.
Film lamination
By laminating the printed sheet with a film, the product is usually more resistant to use and at the same time has a certain visual and haptic effect. We distinguish between gloss, matt and special foils. The glossy film is a way of creating high-gloss full surfaces.
The matt film gives a beautiful effect, for example also in combination with partial UV varnish or hot foil stamping. However, it is somewhat scratch-sensitive in its standard version. Therefore, a more scratch-resistant matt film should be chosen for heavily used objects.
There are also a number of foils that can be used to create special effects. The best known is Forchheim film, a textured film that offers much greater protection than any other film. For image products, a soft-touch film with its feel of a delicate peach skin is sometimes recommended.
High-gloss full surface
There are various methods for producing a high-gloss full surface. The most cost-effective is inline coating with high-gloss dispersion varnish on gloss-coated paper. For other substrates and an even higher gloss effect, we recommend full-area UV coating. However, this only works for unfolded end products, such as picture postcards. In folded breaks and flaps the UV coating bursts and would therefore only work with cut-outs. Folders, brochure covers, covers, folders etc. must therefore be laminated with glossy film instead.
Dispersion coating
Unprotected offset printing on a matt-coated surface requires a long standing time for the ink to dry, and even after that a great deal of attention is needed to ensure that the stress caused by guide belts, press pressure and cuts during finishing does not lead to rubbing or marks on the ink. We therefore recommend and always offer to protect such prints with dispersion varnish, provided the paper is not too thin for this.
This measure is usually cost-neutral and not visible to the layman because we use a varnish with a neutral matt finish.
On the other hand, printing on materials of the quality “glossy image printing” is not critical in this respect and can be processed further after a few hours. Here, the dispersion varnish only serves a higher gloss effect.
Uncoated papers generally do not tolerate inline coating. Therefore, immediate further processing is excluded, but within 1 – 2 days the print on uncoated paper dries very well.
Blind imprinting
With blind embossing we always achieve a haptic effect, often also a visual effect. This is a finishing process using a die-cutting technique for which we are particularly well equipped, even when it comes to long runs. In this process, the sheet is formed without simultaneous material application, i.e. without ink, foil or varnish. The term is therefore independent of whether the embossed motif has been previously printed or partially lacquered, for example.
Of course, the visual as well as the haptic effect is mainly determined by the embossing depth. On a thick and soft paper and with a high-quality brass embossing die, we achieve a particularly distinct embossing.
… and more
In our printing network, we have additional technologies, especially at the Reichenberger Straße location. These include the following.
Color cutting and foil cutting
We can finish the end-cut paper edges of the printed product with color or hot foil. This gives your printed product a very unusual touch. We have strong expertise in this area.
Relief printing
Using an additional unit on our 2c offset machine, we apply plastic granules to the still wet printing ink. When heat is applied, a transparent, shiny, easily tactile relief is created. This process is also called thermography. In principle, all printing inks are suitable for this.
Letterpress
Two of our platen presses can still fulfill their original purpose, i.e. classic high pressure. Executed under high pressure, this creates a noble feel. Of course, we do not use lead type, but etched or engraved printing forms for writing or graphics.
Technique
Easymatrix 106
With up to 500,000 A4 units per shift, this machine represents the upper end of our capacity for die-cutting and embossing. It processes offset printing in full or half format, from simple creasing to complex presentation boxes.
OHT (HF)
Hot foil stamping achieves the most striking effects of all partial print finishes. In particular, a real metallic effect is only possible in this way. But much more subtle foils are also often used. Four of our platen presses have been converted for foil stamping.
OHT (Letterpress)
Two of our platen presses can still fulfill their original purpose, i.e. classic high pressure. Executed under high pressure, this creates a noble feel. Of course, we do not use lead type, but etched or engraved printing forms for writing or graphics.
Mercury
In addition to the optical effect, the film lamination can also achieve a haptic effect and fulfill a protective function. We have all common foils in stock at all times, for offset and digital printing, from high-gloss foils to scratch-resistant and soft-touch foils.