Film & Foil
Faster, more cost-effective foil print effects i
-Sub Digital’s Andy Spreag discusses the use of metallic foiling effects in packaging,
printing, and labelling, and explains how digital technology makes the process faster and more cost-effective than traditional methods. Adding metallics to a product or
design give it an alluring and luxurious lustre, and reflected light helps it stand out amongst its competitors. The addition of metallic elements can complement food and product packaging, graphic design,
corporate branding, posters, wedding products, trophies, and countless other projects. It offers a style and substance that flat colours simply cannot match. But how can foiled products be proofed and agreed by the client without punitive costs and exhaustive timescales? Traditional methods of proofing can be both time and cash expensive. The traditional hot foiling method entails several stages. The first requires the creation of a vector file, which must then be converted into a film using graphic software such as Adobe Illustrator. The film is then placed on a polymer material or metal such as magnesium and exposed to UV light. Acid is added to etch out the design in relief, creating a plate (also called a die or stamp). There follows the delicate step of mounting the plate onto a hot foil machine. It must be fitted with precise accuracy and positioned exactly where the design should appear on the media. Metallic foil is then sandwiched between the hot plate and the substrate so that when the machine presses the layers together the design is left impressed on the media in foil. When it works, the results are certainly stunning, but the process can take anything up to two weeks from first design to signed-off prototype – and every step is fraught with potential pitfalls.
IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES Digital technology can enhance and improve on traditional methods. Digi-Foil from i-Sub Digital uses a Mimaki digital UV printer, such as the UJF-3042HG or UJF-6042, to lay down a printed design to which foil material can be applied, before being fixed with a heated applicator. It can also be combined with a small- format digital cutting and creasing unit, such as the Mimaki CFL-605RT, to create a full package prototype, using the same foil and substrate as the finished product. It takes just a few minutes from first design to finished prototype and this can then be altered and redesigned, dramatically if necessary, and quickly printed, cut, and folded again. Digi-Foil can be used to output just one or two foiled designs at a time, while outsourcing the work to a traditional litho printer would mean committing to a minimum run of hundreds and incurring the resultant minimum cost, one of the greatest drawbacks of traditional printing processes. The Mimaki printer can also be fitted with an optional attachment, called the ‘Kebab’, which enables the operator to print and apply Digi-Foil onto cylindrical items. Digi-Foil delivers a vibrant range
of digital foils that produce the highest quality finishes on virtually any substrate, such as presentation boxes, packaging (short run and
proofing/mock-ups), promotional items, gifts, trophies, and leather goods will benefit from the Digi-Foil touch, as will folders, control panels, phone cases and tablets or PCs. Almost every printable substrate can be given that luxurious foil effect quickly and easily. The range includes metallic colour, holographic, watermark, opaque and patterned effects and finishes. Able to produce a broad gamut of finishes such as stippled, gloss or matte, and with the option to over- varnish on the Digi-Foil areas − or the whole printed area – this opens an array of exciting, profitable, and productive opportunities.
www.i-subdigital.com
KM launchesnew skin films for PE trays and thermoformers A
s consumers become ever more discerning about the quality and on- shelf appeal of meat, fish and other fresh foods, a new solution is here: A new range of K Skin films from KM Packaging Services. The K Skin Top and Base films are versatile and compatible with all major sealing machines, including thermoformers and those that seal to pre-made trays. For form fill seal machines, KM supplies both top web skin film as well as the thermoforming base webs. These advanced films also reduce wastage throughout the supply chain due to impressive seal integrity; however, this does not impact on consumer convenience that is facilitated via smooth easy-peel opening. In addition, KM can supply a cost-saving option with films that will seal to mono-APET and mono-PP trays without a PE layer, thereby enabling the base webs or trays to be more easily recyclable. Currently available in two grades, 100 and 150 micron, with more in
development, K Skin not only seals very tightly to the product and tray corners to avoid ‘creep’ but also features high clarity, thus providing optimal visibility and stability for the contents. A high oxygen barrier helps to extend shelf life and, for packaging machinery manufacturers, K Skin brings machining capability with robustness and heat tolerance to a wide range of temperatures. KM Packaging’s commercial director, Graham Holding, explains: “K
Skin is the latest new range launched by KM Packaging and certainly boosts our reputation for packaging solutions that help to extend shelf life, prevent food leakage or spoilage, and provide the consumer with a positive shopping experience. The versatility of K Skin is complimented by its massive
32 December/January 2017
www.convertermag.co.uk
benefits including robust process tolerance, extended product shelf life, superb sealing capability and of course exceptional gloss and clarity of presentation.” KM Packaging also includes barrier shrink films, high performance anti-fog films and re-sealable film lidding, amongst other products, within its extensive ranges. The company has been operating in this area for over 25 years. Its experience means that it can meet demand for both high volume orders and also fast delivery on short-run seasonal products.
www.kmpackaging.com
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