Color UV Printing
UV Printing refers to process which uses ultraviolet curing technology. The UV Printing process involves special inks that have been formulated to dry quickly when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light.
As the product passes through the printer and receives wet ink, it is immediately exposed to UV light. Because the UV light dries the ink instantly, the ink does not have the opportunity to seep or spread. Hence, images and text print in sharper detail.
The advantages of UV Printing
- The ink is dry the second it comes off the press. No time is lost waiting for the ink to dry before performing other finishing operations.
- It works with a variety of materials and surfaces.
- UV-cured ink is less prone to scratches, scuffs, or ink transfer during handling and transportation. It also resists fading.
- The printing is sharper and more vibrant. Because the ink dries so rapidly, it does not have a chance to spread or absorb into the substrate. As a result, the printing stays vivid and crisp.
- The UV printing process is kinder to the environment. Because UV-cured inks are not solvent-based, there are no harmful substances to evaporate into the surrounding air.
Laser Engraving
Laser engraving is the process of using a powerful laser to engrave/cut items. The wood which is engraved by the laser will most likely have a contoured look, as the laser cuts to a somewhat uneven depth as it removes material of different densities/hardness. The Laser engraver works by directing a high powered laser beam very precisely at the chosen material to either mark or cut right through.
The advantages of Laser Engraving
- Cutting doesn’t take long and is extremely accurate.
- There is no direct contact of the work-piece with a cutting tool, lowering the risk of contaminating or marring the product.
- Laser cutting is amazingly versatile technology and can be used to cut or burn simple to more complex structures in one piece.
- Laser cutting process is easily controlled by computer programs, which makes it very precise.
- Laser cutting machine has high level of efficiency and required design replicas are exact copies of each other.
Embossing
Embossing refers to the creation of a design, logo, decoration, lettering or pattern on another surface. Embossing will give the design depth and lift it above the surrounding surface, adding a new dimension to the object.
Embossing is an elegant process that changes the nature of the material that has been embossed. More often than not it elevates the standard and quality of the product. Click the image to see a larger version which clearly shows the embossing.
Color Fill
Laser Engraving can help to finish a product and offers a classic look, but sometimes it is advantageous to make the laser engraved area stand out more and really pop. When this is the desired results, we can do color fill to really make the area stand out.
Color fill can be especially beneficial on high gloss/fine finished products. The high gloss vs. the raw wood look of the engraved area may not compliment each other well. With Color fill, the engraved areas look more finished and complete.
Branding Iron
You might think this sounds like something out of the old west. Well, yes it kinda is! We have a branding machine which does put a heated iron against the product to create a unique look and feel.
If you wish to have a branding iron imprint on your product, a one-time branding iron will need to be created for you, but you only need to create the brand once!
Textures
We can apply some texture with embossing and laser engraving, but we can do some really amazing things with our MinnMade product. MinnMade is a composite product consisting of a tempered hardboard substrate adhered to a premium paper layer. When you think paper, you really have to open your mind to the possibilities. It’s way more than your old resume stock, we can do fuzzy, leather, alligator design, cloth feel and much, much more!
Foil Stamping
There’s something wonderfully luxiurous about foil printing. Foil stamping
will add flair to any product.
Foil stamping involves a metallic material that can leave a print on a surface with the application of heat. The way foil printing works is pretty amazing. The thin strip of foil – which comes in a variety of colors is threaded through a foil press machine. Your product is placed underneath the foil. What’s different about foil stamping is that heat and pressure are applied to leave an indent on the paper (deboss), rather than ink. The heat allows the colour from the foil to ‘bleed’ onto the page, and voila. Pretty shiny products.
Some advantages of foil stamping
- It doesn’t use ink. If you’re printing on a dark coloured product, the product can affect inks and the colours can change. Foil will turn out exactly the same as the colour you choose. This makes it great for printing on dark surfaces.
- Metallic foils have a luxurious, shiny finish and the shine won’t fade. Metallic finishes in other types of printing tend to have a lesser impact and will not stand out as well.
- It’s the classiest finish!
Silk Screening
Screen printing is a printing technique whereby a mesh is used to transfer ink onto a substrate, except in areas made impermeable to the ink by a blocking stencil. A blade or squeegee is moved across the screen to fill the open mesh apertures with ink, and a reverse stroke then causes the screen to touch the substrate momentarily along a line of contact. This causes the ink to wet the substrate and be pulled out of the mesh apertures as the screen springs back after the blade has passed. One color is printed at a time, so several screens can be used to produce a multicoloured image or design.
That’s the official description. A basic synopsis is, screenprinting is not an exact science, works best for vibrant designs and can lead to amazing results!
Inserts
We don’t do inserts onsite, but we have many contacts and a thorough understanding of the structure and requirements involved in making our product do the job intended – hold your product!
Let us make your process as easy as possible!