December 2004: Coatings and Protection

This UV coated book allows the cover colors to ‘pop’ at the reader while providing protection protection to the coverstock.

Rich printing and crisp binding and finishing work are a great way to draw interest in printed pieces. Scratches, scuffs and other abrasions, however, can mar an otherwise beautiful project and may prevent users from enjoying or even using the piece. At The Riverside group, we offer several coating options that pull double duty by protecting and enhancing the design of your pieces.

UV Coating
UV coating applied offline at The Riverside Group allows inks to cure before the coating is applied, and is much harder than either aqueous coating or varnish. There are several available UV coating finishes, including matte and gloss varieties. Gloss UV coatings give pieces a "wet" look that makes colors appear to leap from the page, while matte UV coatings offer a more subdued appearance.

For projects that call for a more distinctive finish, additional ingredients can be mixed into the UV coating to alter the surface of the coated piece. At The Riverside Group, we recently added glitter to a UV-coated piece to add visual appeal and dimension. Tinted UV coating is another option in which a small amount of ink is added to the coating. We can even perform dimensional UV coating, which gives pieces the look and feel of embossing without the depressions on the reverse side of the sheet.

Film Lamination
Film laminating offers the ultimate in protection, durability and weather-resistance, making it the coating of choice for projects that will withstand heavy use or must have a long shelf life. Laminating films are available in a variety of finishes, including matte, gloss and textures such as linen.

Turned-edge case-bound book covers, pocket folders, cover wraps and soft-cover books are ideal candidates for film laminating. While laminating projects should be produced on paper stocks of at least 80 lb. text weight, we may be able to work with thinner stocks for some applications.

Planning Tip
Prepare sheets properly - There are a few considerations to keep in mind when printing projects that will be film laminated or UV coated. Only wax-free varnishes and inks should be used, and metallic inks should be avoided. Both film laminate and UV coatings should be applied only to dry sheets. Avoid uncoated stocks for UV coating applications, as the coating will seep into uncoated sheets. All of these measures will help ensure a faster, stronger bond of the film or coating to the sheet and improve overall quality.

The Riverside Edge
At The Riverside Group, we take protection as seriously as we do all of our other post press processes. In addition to film laminating and UV coating, we also offer shrink wrapping, slip sheeting and careful packing measures to ensure your finished products reach end users in the same condition as they left our facility. Give us a call and let us help you begin planning your next high-quality project today.

In August 2004, The Riverside Group began selecting one lucky graphic arts company every month to win a hand-delivered six-foot Subway sandwich - perfect for feeding the entire office!

Qualifying for our monthly drawing is easy - simply go to our website and register to receive these great tips each month! We'll never misuse your email and you can opt out at any time. Existing customers who have already signed up for our monthly tips will be automatically entered.