Tips and FAQs
What is a paper's role in designing an identity?
Paper is one opportunity for your audience to hold your identity in their hands. This rare and intimate occasion can vastly influence their perception of your organization: Are you low-voltage or high-tech? Flimsy or substantial? And is your message durable or disposable?
The selection of paper is just as important to brand integrity as is consistent use of color, logo or type. While developing the letterhead concept, consider the business card, envelope, proposals, folders, promotional brochures and annual report. A system that supports, integrates and maintains the integrity of your identity is what allows you to unify your corporate image – so that whether your pieces stand together or alone, they communicate one clear message.
Why use specialty/fine paper?
A specialty paper may completely meet the needs of a project's application. For the right project, specialty papers deliver maximum ROI (Return on Impact). But specifiers must look beyond rich textures and glittery surfaces when assessing a grade's suitability for a job.
Fine paper best for corporate communications?
Conqueror. It has been voted, for the second year running, one of the strongest Business to Business brands. This prestigious award has been presented to Conqueror by the Superbrands organisation, an independent authority that promotes the discipline of branding and highlights and pays tribute to exceptional brands around the world.
When to use metallic paper?
Metallic papers communicate value with an elegant force. The actual sparkle comes from a mica coating, mica being a mineral consisting of shiny, transparent, platelike chemical crystals. Some metallic papers are iridescent with a glittering sheen that changes color depending on the angle of the light source. Their even-sided rigidity makes them ideal for cover and packaging projects.
What should be considered in printing on metallic papers?
Metallic papers are suitable for printing techniques such as offset lithography, letterpress, embossing, debossing, silkscreening, die stamping and foil blocking. Fully oxidizing inks are recommended. Use anti set-off spray when printing multiple colors. Hydro active drying agent can be added to the ink or water to improve the ink drying. You can expect the distinctive metal-like surface to show through the ink and reduce the image contrast. Some manufacturers recommend that you avoid designs with large areas of solid color when using metallic sheets.
Laser printing: Use laser stable inks for subsequent laser printing.
Transparency of translucent papers.
Translucent papers are available in various levels of transparency achieved by chemical or "natural" means. Those "chemically transparentized" are less translucent and tend to be brittle and prone to cracking. Naturally translucent papers are more translucent as well as acid free, recyclable, biodegradable and even grease resistant.
Can printing be done on translucent papers?
Yes. Translucent papers tend to perform well with all standard-printing techniques, including lithography, letterpress, embossing, silkscreen printing, thermography, foil stamping and die stamping.
Are translucents suitable for desktop printers?
100g colored papers and 112g clear papers are suitable for laser and monochrome inkjet. If laser printing is anticipated, please use compatible inks and other materials.
What kind of specialty paper is best for one-color jobs?
A single halftone can't provide sufficient tonal range so the impression may look flat compared to a multi-colored printed piece. You can get around this drawback by choosing the right artwork, using appropriate ink and printing techniques. Incorporating textured and colored paper into the design is another cost-effective way to introduce visual dimension to the piece.
How textured paper adds impact to printed materials?
A range of textured papers give you the opportunity to let readers "feel" the design as well as see it. The pronounced textures of specialty papers have an inherent tactile quality that adds warmth and emotion to the visual message. Textured papers add reality to an image by appealing to multiple senses.
When to use papers with fibers, flecks or multicolored bits?
One way to give an image more credibility and impact is by choosing a paper that echoes the visual texture of the subject. This helps enliven pages of solid text or add dimensional interest to the simplest one-color artwork. Incorporating the paper"s visual qualities into the layout is not only smart design; it is convenient way to stretch your printing budget.
Why prefer Chlorine-free papers?
Give preference to papers processed without chlorine or chlorine compounds (i.e.,"processed chlorine free" or PCF papers), as long as they also meet recycled content goals. Printed materials on Chlorine-free papers have higher life expectancy, best for archival of documents. Processed Chlorine Free (PCF) and Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) completely substitutes oxygen-based compounds for chlorine compounds.
* The terms PCF and TCF refer to paper produced without chlorine or chlorine compounds. As used in the market today, PCF paper is preferable because it contains recycled fiber, while TCF refers only to 100% virgin paper.
Print on documents an accurate description of the attributes of the environmentally preferable papers used, in order to raise awareness and accountability.
Is there a Chlorine-free fine paper available locally?
Yes. Beckett Expression is made for environmentally responsible communications. Made carbon neutral with 30% post consumer waste fiber, it has 98 Bright White that renders color with immeasurable intensity and Low Sheffield at 60 to ensure minimal dot gain.
How to achieve best 4 color results on dark-colored papers?
A white foundation must be printed prior to color printing. The foundation must be a mixture compromising of 80% opaque white and 20% silver. This must be left to dry before further printing. For even better results, print over the foundation again with only opaque white. Normal CMYK can then be printed over to achieve desired results.
Why sometimes ink does not dry or is slow drying on fine papers?
Ink used for art coated is not suitable for fine papers. Use ink formulated for uncoated fines. It is recommended to use oxidizing inks and anti-set off spray; and to check the fount solution is not too contaminated (or too acidic). It is advised to keep delivery stacks small.
What to consider on printing inks with uncoated papers?
Conventional positive drying inks are recommended without Infra Red drying assistance. UV inks can be used. Avoid the use of press-stable inks when further machine passes or processing is required. Use laser stable inks if laser processing is required.
When printing texture papers increase printing pressure to ensure ink gets into the valleys of the papers texture.
The press speed should be as low as is practicable, 5000 to 6000 impressions per hour.
Screen ruling for printing on uncoated papers.
A maximum of 200 dpi is achievable with careful ink density control. May require under-color removal for dark 4 color images. Recommended to use no more than 175 dpi for standard printing requirements.