Metallic Inks
Definition: Printing Inks which look metallic, often gold or silver, but many different shades are possible by mixing metallic inks with conventional inks. Metallic Inks have small flakes of metal in them to create the metallic effect
What is it used for? To create a visually stunning effect and differentiate you print from other items. Commonly used for Wallet Folders, Brochures, Annual Reports and leaflets.
At What Point do we do it? Printing with metallic inks is a printing process.
How do we do it? Metallic inks are used in much the same way as conventional inks. It is simply the metallic flakes in the that make the difference.
More about... It's worth noting that metallic inks aren't glossy like foil blocking, they just have a metallic effect. metallic inks work best on silk or gloss paper or board (see our blog). The silk or gloss will aloow the ink to show its metallic effect and give good lustre. If metallic inks are used on uncoated paper or board then they will often just look as if they are printed with conventional ink and not metallic. .
Metallic inks are opaque - conventional inks let light pass through them - metallic ones don't. It's important to consider how metallic inks will work with conventional inks at the design stage as trapping can otherwise cause problems - call us for advice if you need to.