Sounding Boards
June 1999
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Tag/paperboard suppliers and converters air game plans for managing printing differences among surfaces, calipers and chemistries.
By Susan Friedman
Put the same tag or paperboard substrate through several different print processes, and the only thing that's likely to change is image quality. The most pronounced differences in the performance of these substrates on-press arise across the categories of surface, thickness and formulation.
Coatings, synthetics lead tag issues
A high degree of performance diversity can be found between coated anduncoated tag stocks, explains Glen Payton, Product Manager, Fraser Papers. "Coated tag stocks are best used for very high quality four-color process printing with line screens over 175," he says. "Conversely, uncoated papers come in a much wider variety of finishes, visual textures and colors, which provide a unique interaction of ink and paper that can't necessarily be duplicated with slick, white coated paper. In many cases, an ink station can be eliminated from the press run by proper use of colored uncoated paper. On the whole, uncoated papers can help the print budget in paper and press costs."
A critical difference Payton identifies for offset printing of coated vs. uncoated tags is dot gain, as ink absorption is higher on uncoated stocks. "Dot gain of 10 percent to 15 percent typically limits line screens to 175," he notes, "though proper design and press operation can yield excellent, on-budget results."
According to Daryl Evans, GM at Mafcote-Wabash Paper Coatings, a separate set of printing disparities may present themselves in the movement away from traditional paper tags toward synthetic materials that offer increased strength and resistance. Synthetic substrates tend to stretch, inhibiting clean cutting and punching operations. Other potential problem areas include tracking and registration.
Mafcote-Wabash addresses further synthetic needs with Typar Tag, a 100 percent spunbonded, polypropylene stock Evans describes as comparable to DuPont Tyvek in strength and moisture resistance, but more economical. Corona treated for enhanced printability, 10 pt. Typar Tag is available in coated or uncoated white.
Smoothing board's rough spots
On the paperboard side, converters emphasize their energies are primarily devoted to banishing board thickness issues, ensuring consistent converted results, and squeezing more mileage out of uncoated board stocks.
According to Marketing Manager Pat McGee, Graphic Packaging leaps the thickness barrier with Composipac, a patented process in which the company reverse-prints on film, vacuum metallizes behind the inks, and then laminates the film to paperboard. Lamination eliminates board thickness issues, and has led to successful replacement of preprinted corrugated material. Composipac allows less expensive base material to be used, while still achieving superior graphics. The process can also integrate more packaging functionality, such as moisture and vapor barriers.
By Susan Friedman
Put the same tag or paperboard substrate through several different print processes, and the only thing that's likely to change is image quality. The most pronounced differences in the performance of these substrates on-press arise across the categories of surface, thickness and formulation.
Coatings, synthetics lead tag issues
A high degree of performance diversity can be found between coated anduncoated tag stocks, explains Glen Payton, Product Manager, Fraser Papers. "Coated tag stocks are best used for very high quality four-color process printing with line screens over 175," he says. "Conversely, uncoated papers come in a much wider variety of finishes, visual textures and colors, which provide a unique interaction of ink and paper that can't necessarily be duplicated with slick, white coated paper. In many cases, an ink station can be eliminated from the press run by proper use of colored uncoated paper. On the whole, uncoated papers can help the print budget in paper and press costs."
A critical difference Payton identifies for offset printing of coated vs. uncoated tags is dot gain, as ink absorption is higher on uncoated stocks. "Dot gain of 10 percent to 15 percent typically limits line screens to 175," he notes, "though proper design and press operation can yield excellent, on-budget results."
According to Daryl Evans, GM at Mafcote-Wabash Paper Coatings, a separate set of printing disparities may present themselves in the movement away from traditional paper tags toward synthetic materials that offer increased strength and resistance. Synthetic substrates tend to stretch, inhibiting clean cutting and punching operations. Other potential problem areas include tracking and registration.
Mafcote-Wabash addresses further synthetic needs with Typar Tag, a 100 percent spunbonded, polypropylene stock Evans describes as comparable to DuPont Tyvek in strength and moisture resistance, but more economical. Corona treated for enhanced printability, 10 pt. Typar Tag is available in coated or uncoated white.
Smoothing board's rough spots
On the paperboard side, converters emphasize their energies are primarily devoted to banishing board thickness issues, ensuring consistent converted results, and squeezing more mileage out of uncoated board stocks.
According to Marketing Manager Pat McGee, Graphic Packaging leaps the thickness barrier with Composipac, a patented process in which the company reverse-prints on film, vacuum metallizes behind the inks, and then laminates the film to paperboard. Lamination eliminates board thickness issues, and has led to successful replacement of preprinted corrugated material. Composipac allows less expensive base material to be used, while still achieving superior graphics. The process can also integrate more packaging functionality, such as moisture and vapor barriers.
Companies Mentioned:
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Chemistry for the Graphic Arts
What the Printer Should Know About Paper