Inside Secret Commercial Printing Techniques

Press Varnish Behaviors?

Although the running characteristics in the commercial printing system of varnish are almost identical with those of ink, a few exceptions should be kept in mind.

An average thickness is usually sufficient to achieve desired effects. With more varnish, effects can be enhanced; however, too thick a film, particularly at high press speeds, can cause "misting" or blocking. To apply Extra varnish a 2nd pass (double hit) is recommended. Conversely, if a film is too thin, varnish drains into the paper and its effect is lost. Thin films also have higher tack, because of fast drainage, that may become contaminated by the underlying wet inks.

Allow for Drying Time

In the commercial printing industry drying time for varnish is about the same as for ink and is influenced by a combination of factors: type of varnish, type of ink overprinted, percentage of ink coverage, paper characteristics, fountain solution, humidity, and temperature.


Varnishes can be formulated for a variety of uses in commercial printing services. For sheet-fed offset, there are both gloss and dull varnishes, some applied in-line, others off-line. The in-line varnishes have low tack for good trap and are fast setting to minimize absorption. Off-line varnishing (trapping over a dry ink film) produces higher gloss because a thicker film can be applied.

Gloss and dull varnish commercial printing techniques are available for web offset, too. The major difference between these and sheet-fed varnishes is in their drying systems. All varnishes formulated for web are designed to release solvents by the heatset (or oven drying) process.

A Colorful Base Printing for Varnish

CMYK in Commercial Printing

CMYK mode can be utilized to print a sample color brochures on your inkjet or laser printer in the same colour language. A Color printer can sometimes produce a variation from the color you saw on your screen similar to the commercial printing techniques of offset presses. Offset printing often does not present the same outcomes in you print a file in RGB. Most commercial printing companies have an auto conversion to CMYK that can result in undesirable outcomes. This is why you need to convert to CMYK in your own workspace. Much of Process printing is dependant on image management, color quality and color resolution of the original images used.

Strathmore Papers for your Digital Printing Sealed with Varnish

Envelopes Available

Electronic printing guarantee (see resources for details) these presses use one imaging drum and electronic- a liquid toner-to print. Both drum and ink are charged; electronic adheres to the image area on the drum; and a blanket transfers the image to paper. No ink is left on the blanket. The plate charge is cleared and the process is repeated for subsequent colors. This process supports fully variable data and very high resolution images. The hp indigo press indigo press can print on a wide range of substrates, but most papers must be pre-treated to improve toner adhesion. Please contact your indigo printer for more information.

Trusted for decades as the premier text and cover paper, strathmore now offers the best solution for the digital printing market. Now made with mohawk's i-tone surface treatment, strathmore digital offers consistent, brilliant image quality without the shelf life issues of treated papers. New mohawk strathmore digital is available in the preferred 18 x 12 sheet size for hp indigo presses.

Hp Indigo Presses Digital Commercial Printing Techniques

Strathmore script writing smooth watermarked
Strathmore script writing pinstripe

Runs Best With...

• Strathmore script cover smooth
• Strathmore script cover pinstripe
• Strathmore writing wove watermarked
• Strathmore writing cover bristol
  

Digital Printing Guarantee

Strathmore writing and script cut size papers are denoted by an e symbol, are guaranteed to run in office copiers, laser, and ink jet printers or digital color production presses within the limits determined by the equipment manufacturer. These same papers are perfectly suited for small format offset and dl presses.

Because machine specifications for paper thickness, surface texture and sheet sizes vary widely between equipment brands, mohawk encourages testing paper on your particular printer before committing to a large program. Samples are readily available from the mill.

The mohawk fine papers portfolio is the industry's broadest offering of writing, text, and cover papers guaranteed for electronic printing. From the corporate office to the digital press room, mohawk papers guarantee value and performance for all the ways you print.

*For commercial printing services cut size is a classification which encompasses any sheeted paper under 19 x 25 inches