Touch the Cover, and See the Video
Digital print enters new dimensions in a process that raises surfaces, and eyebrows.
By Lisa Cross -- Graphic Arts Online, March 1, 2009
The tactile feel to this month’s cover represents a milestone in digital printing: Applying raised surfaces inline. The cover was printed by Kodak on its NexPress S2500 Digital Production Color press unit using Dimensional Clear Dry Ink in the press’s fifth imaging unit.
The process gives specified text and images a raised or 3D effect and a dimensional feel that, through artful use of Photoshop, mimics the surface of the items in the images. Go ahead, if you haven’t already—see how the rocky surfaces feel rocky, the arid mountains sandy, the wood feels grainy–you know you want to touch it.
The tactile effect is similar to relief printing, but the process offers a greater degree of control. The NexPress press can be set to apply the ink at variable heights, so it can more closely mimic the texture of a specific image. The effect can be applied to the entire page or to spot locations, and the user can control the height to achieve the desired effect. The technique can also be used in variable-data jobs.
In contrast to thermography, which can only be applied where wet ink lands, NexPress Dry Ink does not require ink or an image to adhere to the substrate. The process takes place inline, maintaining productivity. The 78,000 covers were printed on Mohawk 50/10 Matte Blue White 80-lb. cover. The 96 brightness, 15% PCW paper is E guaranteed by Mohawk for digital engines. The Dimensional Clear Dry Ink ran at rated press speed of 83 ppm.
File preparation is a critical component of the process. For GAM’s cover, each image element–post cards, wood grain background and text–was turned into a separate dimensional layer in PhotoShop. Each element was turned into a gray scale image and its contrast was manipulated to optimize highlights and lowlights. The logo was adjusted in Illustrator. Then the manipulated images were brought into Adobe InDesign and layered.
Beautiful effects, simple process
Kodak’s Rick Viavattine says he completed the file manipulations for the job in less than an hour. File naming convention is also important, so the press recognizes that the fifth unit needs to apply the ink. Its detailed in Kodak operator documents.
“Kodak’s Dimensional Ink really dials up the power of print; its tactile effect enhances forms and textures,” says GAM senior art director Anne LoCascio. “I’ve used the process for other print projects. When I show the work, the first reaction is always, 'Can I touch it?’ Then the piece gets turned to appreciate the play of light the sculpted imagery.”
The dry ink serves double duty, protecting the cover from abrasion in finishing and in the mail. It works with the wide range of substrates the NexPress press supports. Prints are fully recyclable. Raised text or graphics can be placed on materials such as photobooks, calendars, greeting cards, invitations, collateral, business cards, certificates or direct mail.
In addition to dimensional printing, the fifth imaging unit on the press delivers spot color, watermarking, MICR secure printing and protective coating. Kodak says it matches up to 82% of the Pantone spot color gamut without custom mixing.
See the video of how the cover was built and printed.
