PMS Metallic inks & Uncoated papers

[vxhorusxv]

Hey guys,

I have a quick question: I'm doing the holiday card for my company [way early this year, woohoo!] and wanted to use the silver mettalic PMS 877. I wanted this on uncoated paper - I think it is nicer and the recylced content is higher - but my print vendor is telling me that it will become a flat grey on UC paper because the fibers will drink so much more of ink.

Is there any way you can think of around this problem while still using the UC paper?

Thanks!

V

[SpugNothuson]

You can ask them to underprint the Silver with Yellow. Its a trick we use here on occasion. Still doesn't create the shine you'd get on Silk or Gloss but its better than not doing it.

Other than that you may want to consider having the sheet varnished. There are environmentally safe varnishes out there as well. Be prepared to pay quite a bit extra for it though.

[jimking]

Depending on the image that is metallic they could double hit it with a solid and a screen of the metallic. All depending on the job as your printer stated, the ink spreading. Also uncoated recycled paper is even more of a problem with ink spreading. If there are trapping issues with this metallic image, do not apply trap.

[WannaBrie]

Here's a little something I learned from finch paper at a seminar, its from their book "INK" (a great book, also! -lots of tips!) "When printing metallic ink on uncoated paper, the sheen reflected on a coated PMS swatchbook is not accurate. The actual yielded results will lack in pearlescence on any uncoated surface. Metalllic inks use alloys like aluminum and bronze powders mixed with a varnish tint base to create a metallic or pearlescent sheen. The best look obtainable on an uncoated paper comes from sheets which have the smoothest surface. You will often get a more metallized look when printing a color with 2 off-line passes of a metallic color. Metallic Inks have a tendency to fleck off t he surface of the paper, so a varnish or aqueous coating could be used for protection. Note: Any time you use a protective varnish or coating, the metallic properties in the ink tend to be reduced visually."

Hope that helps! And Finch has some really nice smooth uncoated papers. You could even call them for advice, they are very helpful and nice. (especially if you buy thier paper!)

[vxhorusxv]

You guys are awesome, thanks so much!

[budafist]

Is silver foil an option? Can look lovely on a recycled matt stock. Definately the shiniest metallic you can get on paper.