Metallic Inks Add Fun and Interesting Effects

Author: Jim Hesch, Customer Service Leader

Gold and Silver

Since the earliest of times, Gold and Silver have been coveted for their brilliance, their eye catching sparkle and richness. We wear jewelry to enhance beauty. Our cars shimmer in the sun; we wash them and wax them to a brilliant luster.  The Automobile industry has long known that sparkly paint and shiny chrome attract the second look, the longing for a new vehicle, and how it speaks of being successful. Even black paint has a sparkle built into it.

Metallic Inks

If you are looking to catch your target market’s eye, to increase interest in your printed piece or just add some fun, consider adding a metallic spot color.

Depending on how you use the metallic ink, you can add eye catching luster to the image. The Metallic can also be incorporated into the print to add an interesting effect to black halftones or 4CP. Metallic inks can be blended with other colors to create some fun colors (about 280 standard metallic spot colors on top of the standard Silvers and Golds).  Metallic inks have become more affordable, easier to run and the version we use at Nahan is also Low VOC.  Foils can be much more expensive than Metallic inks, making metallic a more affordable substitute.  Here are a couple of helpful links on metallic ink usage from Eckart’s website:

• Shining Under the Spotlight
• Brilliant Looks

There are several levels of brilliance that can be used in your project, some that rival foil stamping.

Tips

Things to remember when using a Metallic:

• Always request a drawdown of your color
• Metallic inks are more brilliant on gloss coated paper
• If using a metallic on the cover or outside of a mailer you should protect the ink with a varnish or coating

Learn more about Nahan and our capabilities by contacting us today.

About the Blogger: Jim Hesch is a Department Leader at Nahan Printing and has been in the printing industry since 1973. He has held the positions of Press Operator, Operations Manager, and Customer Service Leader.  Jim loves visiting his grandchildren, teaching them to play guitar and reminding them that grades are more important than sports.