p r i n t – an education

Print Communicates

 

Since the invention of the printing press, countless techniques have evolved to add visual interest to printed communications. The printing process begins at planning and design, but even a well-designed piece can only tell part of your story.

 

Paper stocks, printing methods and special finishing techniques can add depth and set the tone for your message with powerful and memorable results. The possibilities are only limited by the imagination. This piece is intended to inspire, as well as inform; to showcase some of the possibilities that exist to produce dynamic and effective printed three occasions.

 

No matter where your imagination takes you, Proforma has the experience and resources to make your ideas a reality.

 

 

4-Color Process

4-Color Process printing involves separating full-color, continuous-tone images, into ‘subtractive’ primary colors: Cyan, Magenta and Yellow, with Black added for extra richness. This combination is known as CMYK. You’re probably familiar with it from your home or office printer.

 

Printing plates are created for each of the colors with images broken into screens of positive and negative space. These plates are used to sequentially apply the inks to a substrate (usually paper) via a mechanical printing press, effectively reproducing the original full-color image. This method is the standard for commercial printing, but is really only the beginning of what can be accomplished with print.

 

Paper Stocks.

Paper adds tangible qualities to your printed communications. Different colors, weights, textures and finishes give a physical impression before a single word is read. To present yourself and your business in the best light, you need to start with the proper paper stock. Most commercial printing uses coated papers, which are produced with additives that allow all the ink to sit on the surface of the paper rather than absorbing and spreading into the paper fibers.

 

Gloss Paper Stocks, or coated stocks are burnished to give them an extra glossy appearance. The gloss surface reflects light and makes images appear sharper and richer. This makes them well-suited for projects that feature numerous photographs and images.

  

 

Print Motivates

 

Spot Colors

Unlike 4-Color Process printing, which relies on a combination of four inks to achieve a color, Spot Colors are pre-mixed inks that can be applied by a single printing plate. Spot Colors can create bold and dynamic graphics, and yet remain a cost-effective print method for larger print runs. They are also preferred for small printing pieces, such as labels or business cards, where 4-color plate-to-plate registration may produce less desirable images. Spot Colors are the best means for achieving accurate color matching, making them ideal for ‘brand conscious’ companies. The Pantone Matching System® (PMS) is the industry standard for color matching and Spot colors.

 

Matte Paper Stocks

While Gloss Paper Stocks are great for full-color images, they’re reflective nature makes them less suitable for large amounts of text where the glare can be hard on the reader’s eyes. Matte Paper Stocks, while still coated, have a rougher texture that disperses light rather than reflect it. Since it is more textured than gloss paper, it can give a subdued feel and refined appearance to a printed sheet.

 

Another consideration when selecting paper is color. Even an off-white paper can alter the appearance of the images printed on it. When large areas of the page are covered with photographs a bright white stock is usually best. Colored paper stocks, however, can create a unique and natural appearance that can’t be duplicated with 4-Color Process printing.

 

Print Educates

 

Spot Varnish

Is a liquid coating that can be applied to a printed surface to add a glossy, matte or satin finish. Varnishes are added to enhance or soften the appearance of images, while protecting the pages and preventing ink rub-off. Spot Varnishes can be applied to selected areas of a printed piece. This effect can highlight and draw attention to specific parts of the design and create contrast between items on the page. This contrast and texture add visual interest and helps identify the piece as premium in the perception of the reader.

 

Satin Paper Stocks

Somewhere between Gloss and Matte Paper Stocks are Satin, Dull-Coated, Paper Stocks. Satin Papers have less texture than Matte and less luster than Gloss, making them a nice option for pieces that feature combinations of text and images. Satin Paper Stocks are more evenly coated than Matte, which provides a smoother canvas for multipurpose designs. They have a smooth, velvety touch that evokes a feeling of simple elegance.

 

 

Print Illuminates

 

Duotone

A Duotone is a type of image which is printed in halftone screens of two colors. While

4-Color Process can reproduce full-color images, Duotone’s are often chosen to make an artistic statement that can’t be duplicated with CMYK. The classic and timeless look works well with marketing and brand campaigns that wish to suggest ability, longevity and style.

 

Typically, Duotone’s are made with black and another color, but any combination of colors can be used depending on the desired effect. Duotones are often more cost-effective than 4-Color Process printing as they only use two printing stations or passes on a sheet-fed press. A duotone image can also be complemented with opaque white to further push contrast and call attention to the richness and depth of a photo.

 

Metallic Paper Stocks

When you are looking to make an impact, Metallic Paper Stocks are guaranteed to dazzle and amaze. Metallic and pearlescent colors shimmer under different light, giving a printed piece depth and dimension that ink can’t imitate. Add sparkle to invitations, folders, brochure covers and business cards. The vibrant appearance of Metallic Paper Stocks, creates a sophisticated and contemporary canvas for any design.

 

Print Indulges

 

Linen Paper Stocks

Linen, or Laid, Paper Stocks are a semi-rough paper that emulates the look of linen cloth with slightly lifted grooves to give a textured feel. When you want to portray a sophisticated image, fancy laid and linen papers are ideal for correspondences. Like a tightly woven, fine cloth, Linen Paper has an inviting hand-feel and visual appeal that makes it a natural choice for stationery, business cards, envelopes, and memo pads as well as promotional items like brochures and mailers.

 

Linen Papers add traditional elegance and sophisticated refinement to your project while delivering contemporary flexibility and supreme printability. The soft-spoken feel of the subtle linen finish makes it an absolute standard for business and personal communications.

 

 

Print Embellishes

 

Foil Stamp.

When you need to add some sparkle, consider using a Foil Stamp. Foil Stamping uses heat and metallic film in the specialty printing process that produces a shiny design on paper, vinyl, textiles, wood, hard plastic, leather and other materials. This process can be combined with embossing to create images that pop off the page. Foil stamping is ideal for business cards, folders, packaging and posters.

 

Cover Stock

Cover Stock, or Card Stock, is thicker and more durable than standard writing or printing paper, but thinner and more flexible than other forms of paperboard treated. It is often used for postcards, catalog covers, announcements, posters and other pieces that require higher durability than regular paper. The surface is usually smooth, but can be textured, metallic or glossy.

 

Print Challenges

Die Cutting

Die Cutting is a technique that adds cut shapes or holes in the surface of the paper. It allows you to include engaging and interactive elements within your printed design, challenging the reader in ways that a static printed piece cannot. A dye is a custom tool cutting shape, similar to a cookie-cutter that is run inline while the inks are being applied during the printing process.

 

Debossing

Debossing is a technique that uses male and female dies with the combination of heat and pressure to make a permanent impression in the paper, resulting in a lowered surface. This process is generally done on press directly after the last ink or varnish has been applied. Debossing adds visual interest to designated areas of your design, drawing attention and giving real three-dimensional appeal.

 

Print Reflects

 

Metal FX®

Another way to make your images come to life is with metallic effects. Metal FX Technology is a universal process and Spot metallic color system that allows millions of metallic colors printed, all by adding a base silver ink to the usual CMYK mix.

 

Metal FX enables an unlimited amount of metallic colors to be printed all at once. At no extra cost and only requiring one extra print station. The effect is especially memorable when used with shiny and reflective images.

 

UV Varnish

Ultraviolet (UV) Varnishing is a process for achieving a vibrant gloss coating on your printed materials. Requiring the use of special UV drying machinery, a UV coating is like a deluxe version of the non-UV varnishes, with the varnish appearing noticeably richer and more look luxurious.

 

The UV varnish can also be applied as an ‘all over’ coating which covers the entire printed surface. Although silk and matte are also available, gloss UV varnish is the most common type of all over UV varnish.

 

Print Decorates

Metallic Inks

While Metallic Paper Stocks can give a lustrous and glimmering appearance, they can be considerably more expensive than other paper stocks. If you are looking to give your artwork a true metal-like luster, without going over budget, metallic inks are great choice. The metal-like shine of these inks will grab consumers’ attention like no other type of ink.

 

Metallic inks actually use real metal flakes as pigments. Silver or Gold Metallic Inks are popular choices, but there are dozens of Pantone colored metallics to choose from.

 

Embossing

The opposite of Debossing, Embossing uses male and female dies to make a permanent impression in the paper, resulting in a raised surface. Both techniques can be done either blind, with no ink, or registered, which is done over an image. Embossing is generally more common than debossing and can be simple or complex depending on the effect you want to achieve.

 

 

Print Illustrates.

Opaque White Ink

While most inks are transparent in order to build upon one another, some inks are intentionally opaque so they are visible on darker paper stock. Opaque White Ink is frequently used as an undercoating to a 4-Color Process image. When the image color is critical and stock other than white is used. Often double hits of the ink need to be applied over each other to achieve the needed density. Another popular option is using white foil stamping or foil blocking as an attractive way to get the white color you want.

 

Specialty Paper Stocks

Occasionally, a job calls for paper stock with a truly unique feel and appearance. Stock of this type is great for folders, book covers and other specialty projects that don’t typically receive full-color images. The dense black of the stock, combined with the opaque white ink, creates an effect comparable to original scratch board illustrations.

 

Print Celebrates

Labels

While specialty printing techniques can allow you to create dynamic brochures, catalogs and other types of marketing pieces, print also allows your message to travel creative and memorable ways. Labels are the perfect vehicle for increasing awareness and spreading the word.

 

Label material consists of two separate stocks joined by an adhesive. A special dye is used to cut the label stock while leaving the liner intact, allowing the label to be removed by the end-user. Labels are often printed on rolls of material, making them ideal for use during the manufacturing process. They are available in a variety of different stocks and adhesives so they are adaptable for everything from warning labels to bumper stickers.

 

Print Animates

 

Lenticular Printing

Print can bring your creativity to life, but can also add a sense of motion to your printed piece. Lenticular printing is a technology that produces images with an illusion of depth, or the ability to change or move as the image is viewed from different angles. Examples of lenticular printing include flip and animation effects such as winking eyes, and advertising graphics to change their message depending on the viewing angle.

 

The technology for Lenticular Printing was created in the 1940s, but has evolved in recent years to show more motion and increased depth. Originally used in novelty items, lenticular prints are now increasingly popular marketing tool. Recent advances in large-format presses have allowed for the process to be used in lithographic printing.

 

Print Informs

 

Specialty Die Cutting and Folding.

Die Cutting and Folding allow for unlimited creative potential. Paper can be folded, cut and assembled in almost any way imaginable (think of the pull tabs and windows of a child’s pop up book). The same techniques can be used for any type of informative or interactive piece. An example is when a die cut sheet is joined with a paper wheel to educate and inform readers using multiple-choice selections.

 

Print Instructs

Perforations

Perforations are simply a series of holes that puncture the paper so it can be torn more easily along a given line. They are useful when sections of the printed piece are intended to be removed by the end-user. Postage stamps and coupons make use of various types and sizes of perforations to accomplish different degrees of ease of separation. Notebooks use a fine perforation, next to the ring so allows the page to be separated from the book without rip pages or ‘confetti’.

 

Print on Colored Paper

As mentioned earlier, Colored Paper Stocks can help you achieve a unique appearance. That can’t be duplicated with 4-Color Process printing. You should take into account that most printing inks are transparent, and the color of the paper will affect the appearance of the final image. This can be useful when a vintage effect is desired.

 

Print Entertains

Repositionable Stickers

Print should be fun! Whimsical and fantastic imagery can be used in, nation with all types of printing techniques. Repositionable Stickers demonstrate how print, combined with specialty adhesives and paper stocks, can be used to create a truly interactive piece.

 

Produce with a similar technique as labels, cutting guides are used to create the unique shapes around each character. A special adhesives combined with a glossy varnish coating allows the stickers to be applied and repositioned multiple times without losing their tackiness.

 

Print Clarifies

Transparency

Print is often used to clarify complex or complicated subject matter. Overlaying transparencies is a nice way to convey variable levels of information. This technique is often seen in manuals, textbooks, and other types of instructional pieces that can be used in a number of creative ways. The transparent nature of standard printing inks, allows for a see-through effect while Opaque White inks can cover areas where transparency is not desired. Color transparencies or translucent vellum stocks can also be used to add layers of interactivity and visual interest.

 

The use of a single spot color can be a cost-effective solution to your printing needs. As an example, it can be used as a background for full-color transparent images, but a single color with varying shades can be used to communicate a bolder message.

 

Print Preserves

Eco-Friendly Printing

With increased awareness around environmental issues, it’s hard to ignore your impact on the planet. Choosing Eco-friendly Printing methods is not only good for the planet; it allows your business or organization to make a statement about your dedication to the environment.

 

Other ways to produce eco-friendly pieces are by using vegetable-based inks and water-based aqueous coatings, which come from renewable resources and emit less volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). You may also consider the use of die cutting and embossing as an eco-family way to create interesting printed pieces.

 

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

The Forest Stewardship Council is an international, nonprofit association that brings people together to find solutions, which promote responsible management of the world’s forests. Products carrying the FSC label are independently certified to assure consumers that they come from forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.

 

Print Adheres

Eco-Friendly Labels

Eco-friendly printing goes beyond the paper stocks and inks that are used. Eco-friendly Labels use water-based adhesive that don’t contain harmful solvents and are safer for the environment and human beings. The use of environmentally responsible materials is not just a good idea, it is often required. For instance, labels placed on produce and other food items must adhere to strict manufacturing guidelines.

 

Recycled Paper

The production of Recycled Paper has significant environmental advantages over virgin (non-recycled) paper production, including less impact on forest resources, less air pollution, less water pollution, less water consumption, less energy consumption, and less solid waste.

 

Print Anticipates

The Future of Eco-friendly Print

The quality of environmentally friendly paper stocks has improved dramatically in recent years. As the demand has risen, more options have become available at cost-effective prices. As society reaches out for more sustainable solutions, it is almost certain that this trend will continue and it’s likely that environmentally friendly printing methods will eventually become the norm.

 

Stochastic (FM) Screening

Conventional lithographic printing uses grid-like screens that separate images in the evenly spaced halftone dots. Stochastic printing, also called Frequency Modulation (FM) Screening, uses same sized dots, but varies the density to create an image that is closer to continuous tone than conventional halftone processes.

 

While there are challenges associated with Stochastic Screening, it offers the advantages of more detail, less ink on the sheet, increased tonal values, crisper fine lines, cleaner reverses an elimination of moiré’ patterns. Rather than a pattern of overlapping halftone grids, the final effect is similar to the grain on photographic film, which makes stochastic screening ideal for reproducing high-quality images.

 

Print Adapts

Digital Printing

Digital Printing allows you to produce a variety of printed pieces in any quantity at affordable prices. Digital presses use electronically charged cylinders to apply combinations of CMYK toners rather than traditional offset printing plates and inks. Because of the lack of plates and press set up, Digital Printing is useful for quick turn-around and cost effective for small print runs.

 

Variable Data Print (VDP)

Digital Printing allows every printed impression to be different, as opposed to making several hundred or thousand impressions of the same image from one set of printing plates. This capability allows you to incorporate variable elements such as text, graphics and images into each individual printed piece.

 

Known as Variable Data Print (VDP), this form of on-demand printing allows you to customize your message to reach people on a personal level. When used correctly, Digital Printing and VDP can greatly impact an overall communication campaign and increase your return on investment.

 

Print Evolves

Web 2.0

The most common file format that items are printed from is a PDF file. These computer generated files are unique in that they are able to hold formatting and fonts in place for printers to interpret into plates and files for the finished product. With the files already in a digital format they can be manipulated and transposed into websites, Blogs and more.

 

Vmags

The V-Mag is an online publishing solution that transforms PDF documents into dynamic, interactive and user friendly presentations. V-Mags are much more than just a page turning tool. V-Mags allow users to manage, edit and design a PDF publication using an easy to use publicator tool. In addition the V-Mag publicator enables users to receive valuable statistical information on reader behavior allowing measurement of the effectiveness of the publication.

 

With V-Mags users can add media content to their publication; video and sound. Readers can search for any key words from within the publication, use internal and external links and do much more. The V-Mag becomes a publication that is interesting to view and read and will retain readers on a long term basis. The full featured tracking ability allows users to view instant feedback on what region had the most readership, which pages, features and images held readers attention the longest – ROI at its best.

 

 

PURLs

Simply stands for a Personalized web-site (URL) that is customized to the person visiting the web site. It is often used with to further increase results with Direct Mail campaigns (see Digital Printing and Variable Data Printing). On the direct mail piece there would be a web-site listed that would encourage the recipient to log on to the PURL, usually incorporating the senders company and the recipient’s name.

 

When the direct mail recipient logs onto the PURL, the information from the database is used to tailor the web page experience to that person. Moreover, once the individual logs in, the Web site can track the respondent’s activity and continue to tailor the information based on their behavior. This information can also be used to further tailor future print and Internet communications, providing another instrument to measure instant ROI via a Web 2.0 print evolution piece.

 

 

Proforma Knows Print

One Source. Infinite Resources.

Proforma is your one source for complete printing solutions. More than three decades of experience equip us with the ability to asses your project needs and present the perfect solution every time. We will guide you through the printing process from concept development to production, including the selection of the best paper stocks and finishing techniques, for the total project solution.

 

Whether you’re producing an annual report, setting up a web-based print-on-demand solution or looking to give your sales collateral a creative edge, Proforma will help you deliver professional results. The creative possibilities are endless with our network of infinite resources.