Print embellishment includes a variety of clear and pigmented products – some of which are the embellishment in their own right (e.g. a High-Build varnish) and others which facilitate an embellishment e.g. foil or print-receptive coatings and inks .
The range of print embellishments possible is huge but generally fall into one of the following categories:
- Gloss, Satin or Matt coatings and varnishes for paper., plastic and foil
- Tactile inks, coatings and varnishes (Hi-Slip, Low Slip, Soft-Feel, “ grippy”)
- “Scratch-Off “ UV-latex inks
- Hi-Build or raised-image effects
- Flow effect (e.g. Hammer Finish, bubble-print) inks
- Metallic solid and metallic process effects
- Colour effects including pearlescent, interference, fluorescent and phosphorescent ink
- Particle effects including pearlescent and holographic inks
- Temperature sensitive effects (thermochromic inks)
- Light Sensitive effects (photochromic inks)
- Light-Resistant colours for demanding environments
“Facilitator” (Problem Solver) products include such products as:
- Print and foil-receptive UV Screen, Flexo and Offset whites for clear plastics as an opacifying print base
- Print and foil-receptive inks, varnishes and coatings
- Varnishes and coatings for thermal stocks to maximise the life expectancy of the thermal heads
- Thermal-ribbon receptive varnishes, coatings and inks to enhance the durability and scuff resistance of thermal print
- UV cured adhesives for clear and opaque film laminations
- UV Cured adhesives for cold or dieless foiling