New advances in digital print is meaning that for the industry more and more advanced techniques and technology is now readily available and is being used to produce new print that was never thought of or seemingly possible before now.

Security Applications on the XEROX Igen4 and DOCUCOLOR

New from Xerox are the new Igen4 and Docucolor, which is introducing a new revelation in security applications for press.

What Effects Can Be Created Using the iGen4?

On the Igen4 security watermarks can be created that will not need to use of UV or infrared light to be seen by the human eye. These watermarks can be added to any product using the Igen4. There can also be a remarkable glossy sheen added to any print afterwards which is unmatched by any other sheen created by any other press.

The manager at Xerox Kevin O’Donnell says:”it’s a visual differential when you catch it in the light” and he then further quotes - “It’s changing the way in which your eye looks at a printed image.”

The Igen4 is also capable of advanced security markings for print; the printing press is capable of creating fluorescent marking which can only be seen in UV light. Other possibilities include security text; this text can only be seen in infrared light. Microtext can also be created which to the naked eye will appear as a jagged line but when viewed with a magnifying glass will show up as text and can be authenticated.

But Who Exactly Uses These Applications?

These security measures are actually being used by many companies and organisations for their printing needs in order to remove the process of faking print.

To stop this from happening watermarking, fluorescent and infrared text has been used for many security applications this includes tickets for shows, gigs and flights as well as vouchers for larger amounts of money for shops and also certificates. This will mean that people will not be able to attempt to create fake pieces of print an attempt to use them. For these examples it is using a fluorescent or infrared text method that is used, a unique code is usually printed on the piece of printing and when the ticket or voucher is used this code can be entered and validated within the system. However using watermarks for any of these reasons is uncommon, good uses for watermarks could include certificates and also photographs. If you are a photographer and you wish to publish your work on line you run the risk of your work being plagiarised meaning other people may take your photograph and make it their own. This is why many photographers add watermarks to their images. Up until now watermarks have mainly been added on programs such as Photoshop before being printed, making use of the iGen4 watermarking abilities makes it easier for the photographer! Other uses of watermarking may include certificates; this is done when a certificate is very important and could possibly be needed in order to prove an achievement to either your work or the council. For example if you are applying for a job at a top restaurant you may need a certificate saying you have passed the specific training needed. Such certificate could be stolen and copied but if a watermark has been used this certificate cannot be copied and only an original will be of any use. This can also stop shops from using fake certificates for achievements such as food hygiene if you are running a take away restaurant.

How to Create a Watermark on Photoshop...

Follow the above link if you wish to learn how to create your very own watermark using Photoshop!

As for microtext this can be used for birth certificates so that nobody can forge a birth certificate in hope of creating a fake identity. This is the case for many other personal information documents because a unique number can be used on each document. This text can be seen using a microscope and may be done as a security measure when you need to show your personal documents for any reason for authentication. Microtext can be printed using the IGEN so that each number or text can be completely unique.

How are they applied?

The application of microtext is as small as 1/100^th of an inch so can only be seen through a magnifying glass; many forgers may not be able to see this text in order to copy it. Printing text this small has been facilitated by overall improvements in digital printing technology. Xerox says that they are constantly improving image quality of their printers.
However the gloss, UV and Infrared marks don’t require any extra inks instead it is created by using patented technology to lay down CYMK inks at different angles to the rest of the printed product. Xerox manager Kevin O’donnell quotes “So it is part of the printing process itself and all you require is an additional piece of software”. Because no more or different ink is used the machine is very efficient and can perform so many different uses using the same amount of resources.

But what are the advantages of performing these applications on a digital rather than a litho press?

The main advantage of using a digital process instead of the standard litho press is that each piece of print can be personalised with a wide range of various security markings. Whereas a standard litho printer may only be able to perform tasks such as security marks, holograms and florescent marks which will be the same on ever piece printing. Choosing a digital print such as the iGen4, means you can have a security mark number completely individual on each document. This comes in particularly useful when using microtext, a litho press can apply a word or a phrase such as “authorised signature” to personalised cheques to prevent fraud by relying on the fact that microscopic print text is extremely difficult to be counterfeited. Digital printers can also print other personal details unique to each document such as someone’s name and address to a signature line. Governments and company cheques can also make use of digital presses by authorising a specific amount paid being printing in microtext font. This can then be compared and checked against the normal sized information to safeguard against fraud.

The Xerox iGen4 is costing around £2000.

Unusual Ink Colours on the HP Indigo Range

HP launched a new white ink in 2010 which followed many new applications for digital presses. This white liquid toner has allowed a printer to either print on coloured substrated or printing double sided images on transparent substrates, this new white ‘ink’ is currently being used to separate each layer of coloured image.

A wider gamut of colours is now supported by the HP Indigo range than what was previously available on a digital press, with an IndiChrome system that uses an orange and violet toner. The Hp Digital Press allows digital printers to match the colours out of the gamut with CYMK. The HP printer is very versatile as it also allows digital printers to match shades that are not on the gamut, using special spot colours that can be created in a special ink mixing facilities for clients who are sensitive about colour matching.

Who Uses These Applications?

This new white ink has become widely popular for those printers who are catering for clients creating high impact products. HP supplies business manager Neil Tilling says “Greeting cards, postcards and signage are often created using coloured substrates” he says and then further quotes “and direct mail has moved towards more personalised, high impact stuff with more unusual colours and substrates becoming more of a focus.”

The white ink is even occasionally printed on white substrate as another way of creating high impact direct mail pieces, a metallic effect can also be created in this way if desired by the client. This cannot be done in any other way as you cannot put magnetic or metallic ink though a digital press, but you can use a metallic substrate or foil and use the white to block out the background areas.

For customers who are very strict about colour matching spot colours and Indichrome is the perfect application but is also used for catering for the fine art market. This is because you can make good use out of mid and quarter tone greys meaning high impact black and white images can be printed and will certainly stand out.

How Are They Applied?
The white inks and spot inks can be applied in the same ways as a CYMK printer. The HP Indigo range makes use of liquid toner technology instead of a dry toner.

But what are the advantages of doing this on a digital rather than a litho press?

Neil Tilling from HP says “If you’re running a short campaign, as you would for personalised mailer, you can’t run this cost effectively on Litho”, and then further quotes “So if you want to mix whit ink or brand matching with short run or bespoke campaigns, digital is the best option – especially when the indigos quality is similar to litho press.” For white ink and spot colours, there is no additional or hidden cost when using HP Indigo label and packaging industrial presses, whereas on HP Indigo commercial presses there is a small premium to pay to top of standard CMYK printing.

Three Dimensional Ink, Glossing and Security Applications on the Kodak Nexpress

What effects can be created with Nexpress?

One of the uses of Nexpress three dimensional ink is for tactile value, such as a reptile skin effect. The Nexpress is also capable of applying beautiful gloss coatings (this is a fluorescent red security coating only visible when UV light is shone on it) and also MICR which is magnetic in character recognition, this is commonly used for banking documents and cheques where there is need for ink that can be recognised by banking machines.

Who Uses These Applications?

The Nexpress’s three dimensional inks have become very popular amongst clients. The three dimensional ink can add impact to marketing material or direct mail pieces for added effect you can add more dimensions and textures. Phil Walsh the strategic manager from Kodak says “At any point throughout the past 20 years, if you went to a printer and showed them a sample, you might think that it was sharp and of high quality, but you would have seen the same think 100times” Phil Walsh then further quotes “With three dimensional ink, you put that in front of them and you are looking at something totally new, different and exciting.” The beautiful gloss finish can be used for many different forms of media including posters, flyer printing and paperback book covers for a more professional and lustrous look.

But How Are They Applied?

The 3d effects of Kodak start in programs on the computer such as Adobe illustrator, Photoshop or InDesign from within these programs you are able to select the colours that have the most tonal separation that can be used as an extra layer. Now this layer of colour would be printed as a fifth unit on the Nexpress in a clear ink over the top of the colour. Due to the larger particle sizes of the dimensional ink the inks can expand when run through the fuser in the normal course of printing. The colour gamut for the Nexpress fifth unit can also be expanded to apply the gloss coating or MICR ink.

But what are the advantages of doing this digitally rather than on a litho press?

Thermography was previously the only way a 3D effect could be created; this was a process that was separate to the printing process. Phil Walsh says “you would put down a special ink and heat it up in a oven like machine, so it rose off the card,” he then further quotes “This was popular for business cards in the 70’s and 80’s, but tended to only be used for stationary because this special ink was expensive. Because it’s a separate process, it is also more time consuming.”

As for using Nexpress to coat books, this is becoming an increasingly desirable option this is due to the shorter run lengths. It is much cheaper now-a-days to use a digital printer because the book market today can go from 5,000 to one so there really is no competition. A red fluorescent dry ink kit can cost around £4,000 and for this cost you will receive all of the hardware and the software you need to produce the effect you need.

Gloss Finishing On The Scodix Digital Embossing Press

What Effects Can Be Created With The Embossing Press?

The Scodix UK digital embossing press is a standalone system that applies a clear gloss finish to many printed products this is after going through either a digital or litho press. This method does give a fantastic finish and really enhances the product. The gloss can be built up and this will create a emboss effect which almost looks 3D this is similar to the Kodak Nexpress.

How The Embossing Is Applied?

A clear ink gloss is applied that can be laid down in any font or pattern. This method is chosen because it is a much cheaper and simpler way, the process through which would previously have been created in a way where the pieces of print would be sent to a trade finisher for the coating and masking process.

This press can open up man creative possibilities because you can now have different levels of gloss ink on the same page. This type of effect is readily available and is having an increased awareness to designers and creative people, these people are starting to have different ideas when it comes to designing.

But what are the advantages of doing this digitally rather than on a litho press?

This finish can be applied using a litho printer but a digital process is far more professional as it really comes into its own in a large amount of promotional work because you have far more opportunities for personalisation. The reason it works so much better is because you can apply the gloss to be in keeping with any variable data printing on the digital press. However there is a extra cost involved to upgrade your gloss and embossing as each unit costs around £200,000 to £250,000.

Posted By Victoria Blackwell