Talking about: Art Paper Printing Precautions

The uniqueness of the papermaking process has made the art paper a lot of specialties in the structure and performance of the paper, resulting in many special aspects of the printing process.

1. Absorption All kinds of art papers have a large absorption of ink, such as: coaster paper is easy to absorb ink, Lenny paper is easier to absorb ink, and transparent paper is difficult to absorb ink. The ink absorption of the used art paper is directly related to the quality of the printed product and the required delivery time. For papers with poor ink absorbency, driers can be properly added to the ink or cured by UV light to prevent the ink from drying out too slowly and causing back-face smearing and imprinting. Of course, the structure of the paper has a great influence on ink absorption. Some papers have a loose texture and the ink can easily penetrate and dry; while others have a very tight texture and the ink floats on the surface of the paper, so that it is not easy to penetrate the paper and it is less likely to dry. Art papers with different ink absorption properties can usually be controlled by adjusting the printing pressure and processing the ink. If necessary, a certain amount of test printing can be performed first (the quantity is determined according to needs). 2. Smoothness Due to different papermaking processes, some art papers are thicker and have lower smoothness; some papers are denser and have higher smoothness. In the art paper, there are also papers with embossed effects (such as embossed paper) and stripe-like texture effects (such as bamboo paper). In the case of such paper, it is generally recommended to print less or even not to print, and to use paper's natural embossing, to perform some simple local processing, such as embossing, uv glazing, hot stamping, etc., thereby basically retaining the characteristics of the original paper. And make full use of these qualities to achieve the desired decorative effect. Of course, if it is necessary to print, it is very necessary to regulate the printing pressure so that specific problems can be analyzed. Such as the printing of relatively loose art paper, the printing pressure should not be too large, otherwise it will undermine the characteristics of this type of art paper shading obvious, and make paper deformation. On the other hand, if it is an art paper with a more closely printed texture, the pressure on printing should be appropriately increased.

With the improvement of people's living standards and the variety of paper, more and more varieties of paper have emerged. Special paper has emerged and is widely used in various graphic designs, especially the design of high-end albums and book covers. The love of the people. The special paper has the advantages of compressibility, foldability, and convenience of processing and easy molding, which is not achieved by other packaging materials, and is also a great advantage as a paper printing material. There are many types of paper texture textures, and there are also great differences in the performance of print design. Designers must understand and master the characteristics and performance of different specialty papers in order to make better use of their advantages and design a variety of different styles such as simple and elegant, luxurious and festive, modern and simple. Specialty paper has a certain strength, light weight, surface bumps, textures, smoothness, gloss and other different types, its color is diverse, beautiful appearance. In particular, paper materials manufactured and processed from plant fibers are environmentally friendly and recyclable. They are the preferred materials for green packaging.

1. Texture Texture is the skin of an object, and it is also a modeling factor related to any object. The roughness or smoothness of the surface of the object belongs to the texture, and it must be perceived by sight and touch. Texture does not refer to form nor color, it is a modeling factor that requires special feelings. Texture can be divided into two categories: one is the tactile texture that can be touched by the hand, and the other is the visual texture that can be felt through the visual sense. (1) The tactile texture The tactile texture is extremely direct. The blind person can feel it by touching it, but after being photographed, the directness of the touch sense texture is lost. In recent years, paper and other packaging materials have used a variety of special paper materials with different textures, such as embossed paper and paper, to make people feel the tactile pleasure of their surfaces. There are obvious differences in touch texture on the surface of offset paper, coated paper, and special paper, and thus their artistic expression varies. (2) Visual texture We watch TV every day. The television tube is made of glass and is smooth. But the texture that people feel on the screen in television is the visual texture caused by the visual sensation and not the real sense of texture. Paper is a flat material, and you can feel the visual texture of the material through graphics. For example, stripes and patterns are designed using people's visual texture. 2. The application of texture in printing design In the recent painting and printing design, texture has become more and more important. The production of texture and the texture itself have become commonplace. The effect of printing on a rough textured paper surface can further enhance the texture, and even a small pattern printed on Mammoth Paper with a fine concave-convex effect can have a very good visual texture effect. In print design, the use of rough, textured paper is an important texture design.

The texture of the paper 1. Texture - texture of the surface of the object Any object has a different surface. Different materials have different textures. This texture is called texture. Some of the textures on the surface of the object are naturally formed, and some are obtained through manufacturing processes. All kinds of materials used in printing, such as metals, plastics, ceramics, glass, paper, specialty papers, etc. belong to the latter. Different textures have different textures. They are hard and soft, concave and convex, coarse and fine, sparse and dense, and dark and light. The staggered arrangement of the plant fibers, the dense glittering of the metallic material, and the extensible smooth and wrinkle-free surface of the plastic all constitute different texture effects. 2. Visual texture and tactile texture is divided into visual texture and tactile texture. Visual texture is a texture that is felt with the eyes, such as stripes, patterns, etc., displayed on the screen, but it is a two-dimensional plane texture. The tactile texture is generally obtained through processing methods such as splicing, die-cutting, and engraving. It is a three-dimensional texture that can be felt by hand. In the graphic design, more and more designers use the texture and texture of special paper to design many outstanding outstanding works. Specialty paper has better texture and texture than plain paper, providing inexhaustible material for design from both macro and micro world.

The application of specialty paper in printing design There are many kinds of specialty papers, and the design effects are not the same. This article only introduces the application of several common specialty papers. 1. Plant Parchment Paper (Sulfuric Acid Paper) Plant parchment paper is a type of modified paper that has been treated with sulphuric acid to change the nature of the plant fiber. Being translucent, the paper sheet has few pores, and the paper is tough and tight, and can be waxed, coated, embossed, or creped. Its appearance is easily confused with tracing paper. Because it is a translucent paper, sulfuric acid paper is often used as a ring lining or slip sheet for books in modern design, so that it can better highlight and contrast the theme and meet the modern trend. It is also used as a title page for books or albums. Gold, silver, or printed text on sulfuric acid paper is unique and generally used in high-end albums. as shown in picture 2. 2. Synthetic paper (polymer paper and plastic paper) Synthetic paper is synthetic resin (such as pp, pe, ps, etc.) as the main raw material, after a certain process to melt the resin, made by extrusion, extended film, and then paper It is a material obtained by imparting whiteness, opacity, and printability to natural plant fibers. General synthetic paper is divided into two major categories: one is fiber synthetic paper, and the other is film-based synthetic paper. Synthetic paper is no different from ordinary natural vegetable fiber paper in appearance, and thin film synthetic paper has already entered the market of high-grade printing paper and can adapt to various printing machines. Synthetic paper used on the market today only refers to thin film synthetic paper. If the books, advertisements, and manuals printed on synthetic paper are not marked, the average consumer cannot see any difference between it and plain paper. Synthetic paper has excellent printing performance, and no “breaking” phenomenon occurs during printing; the surface of the synthetic paper presents a small uneven shape, which greatly helps to improve the opacity and printability; the synthetic paper image is reproduced well. The dots are clear, the colors are soft, the dimensions are stable, and they are not easy to age. Synthetic paper printing effect shown in Figure 3. It is worth noting that when using offset printing, professional synthetic offset printing inks should be used.

3. Embossed paper (1) The characteristics of embossed paper The embossed paper is formed on the surface of paper or paperboard by mechanical embossing or crumpling. Embossed paper enhances its decorative effect through embossing, making the paper more textured. In recent years, the embossing on the surface of printing paper has become more and more common. Color-stained papers such as offset paper, coated paper, whiteboard, and white cardboard are embossed (printed) before printing, and can be used as “embossed printing paper”. Raising the grade of paper also brings higher added value to the sales of paper. Many papers used for flexible packaging often use the method of embossing before or after printing to improve the visual effect of packaging and decoration and increase the value of goods. Embossing has become an important method of paper processing. (2) Processing method of embossed paper There are two methods of processing embossed paper. After the paper is produced, the pattern is added mechanically to become embossed paper. After the flat sheet is dry, it is put into the embossing machine for further processing, and then pressed by two rollers. One of the rollers is engraved. Embossed pattern, the paper will be imprinted after the pattern. Due to the deeper texture of embossed paper, only one side of the paper is usually imprinted. (3) Embossed type embossing can be divided into two types: overprint embossing and non-engraving embossing. The so-called stencil embossing is based on the printed flower shape, the printed flower shape is pressed into a concave and convex shape, so that the pattern bulges up, can play a beautiful decorative effect. Not embossed, that is, the pressed pattern is not directly related to the printed pattern. There are many types of embossed patterns. Such as cloth pattern, diagonal cloth pattern, straight stripe, Yalian net, orange peel, straight net pattern, needle net pattern, egg skin pattern, sack pattern, lattice pattern, leather pattern, scalp pattern, linen pattern, gear stripes and so on. This type of embossing without embossing is widely used in embossed printing paper, coated cover paper, patent leather paper, plastic synthetic paper, plant parchment paper and other decorative materials. Most of the domestic embossed paper is made from offset paper and whiteboard paper. The surface is rough, texture, strong performance, variety. Many art designers prefer to use this kind of paper, and use it to make books or album covers, title pages, etc. to express different personalities.

4. Patterned paper designers and printers continue to seek unique design styles to make the work stand out. Many patterns can make them icing on the cake. This kind of high-quality paper product has a soft touch, a beautiful appearance, and a more refined and noble temperament, which is pleasing to the eye. There are many types of pattern papers, each with its own characteristics, and a higher level than ordinary paper. Patterned paper can be divided into the following categories: (1) Papermaking Paper Making paper is the most traditional and commonly used method to make paper texture texture. This process is generally inserted in the papermaking process. The wet paper is placed between two absorbent flannelettes, and the texture of the fleece line is printed on the paper. This process is divided into single or double-sided imprints. Such as the ancient stripe paper and other paper nets, the line patterns are looming, texture is soft, some of the imported copy paper contains cotton, so the texture is softer and more natural and tenacity, suitable for packaging and printing. (2) Antique Effect Papers Many customers and graphic designers have a soft spot for high-quality, plain, non-coated paper, and love the warm and rich feel of these papers. In addition, book publishers also require more durable paper, preferring fresh and stiff paper to ensure consistent and consistent printing results. The products designed with antique effect paper are quaint, beautiful and elegant. As shown in Figure 7. (3) Adulterants and special effects papers Environmental trends have come into being. Spotted paper came into being. In order to achieve the effect of natural recycling, pulp has been added to a variety of debris. The amount, size, etc. of the doped substance should be controlled properly. If the number of noise spots on the paper is too much, it will destroy the graphic effect. Too little will give people a dirty feeling. Nowadays, there are various kinds of doped papers on the market for users to choose from. Some recycled papers contain impurities such as ore, snow, and petals. The craftsmanship of the papermaking process includes the addition of dyes during the sizing process to cause the paper to form spots or create a parchment effect. This kind of paper is very popular among consumers and it is the first choice for various certificates, book covers, restaurant recipes and wine lists. Due to the appearance of paper with special effects, designers are often used for simple prints and preferred papers for boring typeless manuscript printing, such as various financial statements for annual reports of listed companies, etc. It can make the pages active and eye-catching. (4) Non-coated paper printers and designers are unanimously admiring unappealing papers that are beautiful and feel good. In order to achieve good visual effects for prints, they have a high-end and gorgeous feel. The natural texture of the non-coated serigraphy paper and the printability of the coated paper are combined. Both sides of the paper are specially treated to reduce the water absorption rate of the paper so that the ink remains on the surface of the paper and the texture of the ink is better. The metallic pearl finish series paper can change with the viewing angle of the human eye, and the effect after printing is better. (5) The ancient paper of the ancient brand of special paper, founded in 1888 AD, was originally used conqueror London castle watermark, until the early 90s of the 20th century was changed to knight and English watermark. This unique watermark is world-famous. It has become a symbol and code for high-quality commercial, writing, and printing paper. It is marketed in more than 80 countries and regions and is loved by hotels, banks, companies and even government agencies throughout the world. Gangu paper is divided into several categories: nobility, sliding surface, grain, concept, and digital. (6) "Coaling" pearl pattern paper The hue of the paper can produce different colors depending on the viewing angle. Its luster is formed by the dispersion of light scattered on the surface of the paper and has a "silver flash" effect, so printing patterns with metallic qualities will be excellent. It is suitable for making all kinds of high-grade and exquisite modern prints. High-grade book cover or hardcover book cover. Paper smooth and smooth, suitable for all kinds of printing processes and processing methods, such as four-color offset printing, rolling, hot stamping and so on. It is recommended to use an oxidized conjunctiva dry ink. The gloss of the ink may not be as good as the gloss of the paper itself. (7) "Star mining" metal pattern paper metal "Star mining" pattern paper is a breakthrough in the traditional, new concept of art paper. It not only maintains the classics and beauty inherent in high-grade paper, but also creatively possesses both positive and negative double-faced metal tones, which are luxurious and cheesy, stable and unobtrusive, making it show a strong temperament that is different from ordinary art paper. Because of the adoption of a new process, the metal “star mining” will never come off, and the paper surface will be smooth, but it will add infinite force to the printing effect. It is applicable to all kinds of printing technologies and special processes, especially the hot stamping process. which performed. When printing, it is recommended that the cable be 130 to 150 lines/inch. When printing on dark metallic pattern paper, the color of the ink should be increased. Metal "Star" can produce a variety of high-grade prints, such as paper, annual reports and book covers used for product samples and for use in various packaging boxes.

(8) There is a qualitative difference between gold paper and traditional gold foil. Traditional gold foil can only be printed with the help of transparent materials, and cannot be printed directly. With 24k yellow gold as the material, the use of nano-high-tech developed gold paper can not only enable color images to be directly printed on gold, but also retain the style and performance of gold, with the characteristics of anti-oxidation, anti-discoloration, moisture-proof and anti-smashing. Avoid the disadvantages of traditional paper books such as mildew and insects, which can theoretically be stored for thousands of years. The gold paper used in the "Chinese Golden Age" is a new generation of products newly developed with higher technological content and cultural content. Its appearance is more similar to ancient rice paper and news newspapers, and its flame retardancy has achieved a major breakthrough for the first time. The 20 gold editions of the text are printed in four-color editions of the “Economic Daily” and are illustrated with a total of nearly 160,000 words, 300 gold figures, scenery, and other gold edition images. The gold paper usage and layout are unprecedented. This is an unprecedented scale in the history of gold printing. In addition, in addition to different paper types, specialty papers are also dyed in a variety of different colors, and the decorative effect is very strong. There are many advantages of specialty papers, but specialty papers also have a fly in the ointment.

First, the price is more expensive. Ordinary embossed paper is much more expensive than the same amount of the same type of paper, so the large quantities of pictures printed with embossed paper cannot be afforded by customers because of price factors, so it is generally only used for the design and printing of front cover or important data. Secondly, most specialty papers have good absorptivity and penetration, but due to uneven lines, the ink penetrates into crevices during printing. Especially for large-scale field printing, it is difficult to dry and is prone to sticking. When printing a four-color overprinted character image, the tone is more boring. When consumers who do not like soft tone do not understand why the color of the products printed with special paper is not bright enough, when printing with special paper, the printing effect must be communicated with the customer to avoid unnecessary losses. Third, in the printing of colored specialty papers, it is important to note that dark special paper surfaces cannot print four-color images. Can only print metal luster or special tone ink, such as gold, silver, spot colors and so on. For example, when printing four-color halftone images on the surface of light-colored, light green, light blue, light pink, and other light-colored specialty papers, color cast occurs, and in general, the tone shifts toward the surface of the paper. Therefore, it is best not to use color paper to print halftone images when designing. But if you can correctly use works of different styles and different colors of special paper design, there will be unexpected special effects, will add to your work, add a lot of color. Fourth, the use of various post-printing methods on specialty paper surfaces will also produce different styles. For example, hot stamping and embossing on specialty paper surfaces are all very good. Concluding remarks There are many kinds of special papers, which are collectively referred to as various special-purpose papers or art papers. Nowadays, sellers collectively refer to embossed papers and other art papers as specialty papers, mainly to simplify noun confusion caused by a wide variety of products. Designers and printers should pay special attention when selecting them. Sometimes the varieties are a little different, and the price difference is very large. No matter ordinary paper or special paper, the surface has different textures. People are smooth and rough. The delicate and white feeling is different. We can make different choices according to the surface properties of the substrate and design works that are trend-compliant, personalized, and with different styles to show the theme of the design so that the printed product can have Practicality and aesthetics.