ink & paper
There are a vast variety of papers and inks available today and part of the skill in producing an attractive piece of print is down to careful ink and paper selection. Here is a very brief overview.
>> INK RANGES
We use a high quality range of process inks and all Pantone mixes carry a guarantee for colour accuracy. Special mixes are no problem, and we can keep these on the shelf for repeat work.
>> PAPER STOCKS
Unless otherwise requested, we will use at the very least, a good standard high performance range in each case (as outlined on our on-line enquiry form). The majority of standard papers can be split into two groups, coated and uncoated, as follows:
coated papers
The vast majority of brochure and leaflet work will be printed on one of the three classic coated papers/board types, of which there are many quality grades.
:: GLOSS ART is a mainstream coated stock with a gloss finish and excellent drying qualities and is a popular leaflet choice.
:: SILK ART has a silky, smooth semi-matt finish, with medium drying qualities, and is a popular coated stock choice for brochure work.
:: MATT ART is the least popular of the three coated stocks and has a smooth matt finish, with the longest drying times.
When part of a coated paper or card’s function is to be written on, such as an invitation card or certificate, then either a matt or silk stock would need to be used. Gloss would be unsuitable, due to the repellant effect on handwriting due to the gloss coating.
Should a paper create a drying problem (with heavy solid coverage), for a small premium we can apply an in-line coating which will enhance and seal the stock.
uncoated papers
Uncoated stocks are generally used for single, or two colour documents or reports and include bonds and coloured stocks. Some higher quality uncoated papers can be used for full colour, but the colours will not be as vibrant as on a coated stock due to absorption of the ink.
Documents designed to be written on, ie. forms, will also perform well on most uncoated stocks.
It is a common request to print the financial pages of a report & accounts document on a bond to create a contrast with the front end of the report which may be on a coated silk or gloss. Most bonds have excellent drying qualities.
stationery papers
There is an endless choice here. We stock an excellent French stationery stock which is very smooth and very white, but also very competitively priced. It also comes in a cream. The Conqueror range is still popular, but there are many ranges to rival this nowadays.
When printing in full colour, it is important to choose a smooth stock to achieve the maximum vibrance of colour. A good quality smooth business card stock can be chosen to complement any range.
:: LASER GUARANTEED. We only use laser guaranteed stationery stocks, which means that they will overprint without problems on any standard quality laser printer.