Gloss issue

[bejamshi]

I have noticed that a current job I had done with my printers has a less of a gloss compared to that of another printer that I worked with before.

Is there such thing as extra gloss if I ask for? I would like my printed material to have more of a gloss than what I have been getting.

Is there something called a high gloss? is that something I should ask for? Also is putting gloss expensive, is that why the put less of it on the printed material.

Thanks.

[garricks]

I'm sure one of the printer or EPP folks can give a better explanation, and one will be along shortly. In the meantime:

The paper stock can be gloss, matte or dull. Different mills will produce different levels of gloss, so you have to look at paper spec books and choose the one you like, then tell the printer to use it.

You also can put a coating over the ink. Aqueous coating is kind of dull, but provides good protection against scuffing the ink. You can also put a varnish over the ink. This provides the highest amount of sheen. You can use a spot varnish or flood varnish the piece. I really like the look of spot varnish over color photos, leaving the rest of the page dull. It's really snappy! :)

[PrintDriver]

It all depends on what your printer is using for paper. You can't expect two different printers to be using the same paper unless you specified the same to both. And even if you did specify same, if it's been some time between print runs, the paper company could have changed the finish. Been known to happen.

Coatings and varnishes cost extra.

[budafist]

Ahuh. Different printers will buy their "standard gloss" from different suppliers. What a printer decides as their standard gloss will depend on things like: price, quality, suitability for their press/inks etc.

If it's important to you, you should give your new printer a sample of the stock you used last time so they can match better for next time.

[Ned]

When I have time to, I use 40 coats of varnish, and sand to a shine after each coat.

For a quick-turnover job, I just use a standard household Polyurethane clear-coat. Preferably oil-based, as water-based will run if it gets wet.

[budafist]

But oil base is so messy (and smelly).

[Ned]

Yeah, but water-based is messier when your finished, dry piece gets damp, and turns into a bluish goo. Ewwww!!

[budafist]

True!

We want to paint a mural on our wardrobe but it's just made out of particle board and would soak up spray paint too much. So we went to the local paint shop and the lady there seemed very knowledgeable. We put the decision making in here hands.

She showed us the mistints (since we only needed it as a base coat, not for actual colour) and she recommended a gloss water based paint for us.

$14 dollars for 2 litres of paint later, we're painting the thing thinking, damn, this smells really strong for water based. Turns out it wasn't water based at all. We were painting in the garage and it was really lucky we used a drop cloth because we were considering not using one. We had to chuck out the brushes since we weren't prepared for washing up.

We had a little acetone to use on our hands, but that stuff really made my skin feel horrible. Kind itchy and tender at the same time.

Anyone need about 1.7 litres of oil based paint?

[Ned]

Haha... I feel your pain, Buda!

I do actually prefer water-based for paint paint, for any interior. But I prefer oil-based for clear-coats and for exteriors. Except shellac. I find oil-based shellacs to make a hellacious mess, and doesn't coat any better than water-based.

[budafist]

I used to use shellac for painting (artwork). It was cool fun. Then one time my bf borrowed it to use on top of gouache I think it was and it turned his lovely painting into a horrible mess.

[Ned]

Awww... Shellac has weird effects on different mediums If you're shallacing a deck, be very sure it doesn't get on anything else, like say siding or what have you.

[budafist]

Just a thought, I've always had shellac as flakes and I mix it myself. Can you buy it premade?

[Ned]

Yup, absolutely. :D The hardware store should have it in cans like your paint and varnish. Usually larger cans though, because of watery nature of shellac.

[bejamshi]

Thank you guys. :)