Daily Archives: June 10, 2015

Detailed Information on Materials

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Detailed Information on Materials

Magnesium Dies

Magnesium is an excellent general purpose Die making material, recommended for short to medium runs. Magnesium Die’s will produce good quality 2D, 2½D printing and Embossing on laid, woven or textured products. Normal working thickness is 16gauge (¹∕16” -1.63mm), 8 gauge (⅛”- 3.18mm), and 3 gauge (¼” – 6.35mm) [7mm in Mainland Europe]. Magnesium is more commonly available from plate makers as it is considered to be a better product, and is tougher than Zinc.

Embossing

Magnesium Dies are a fast, cost-effective, versatile option for Foil Stamping and Embossing applications. Magnesium is an excellent heat conductor, which is why Magnesium Dies are primarily used for Hot Foil Stamping applications. These Dies are suitable for short to medium runs, up to 100,000 to 150,000 impressions depending on the size of the image and the type, texture and thickness of the substrate. Magnesium is a soft metal, and as a result, its life span is shorter than alternative materials. Print runs of up to 250,000 are achievable but are very dependent on the substrate, machine, machine setup etc. The sharp print impression of the first print may not be achievable towards the end of a long print run as the printing / Embossing face of the Die is worn out. If embossing, there will be a slight rounded appearance. Magnesium Dies are usually acid etched, using nitric acid to create the image. Magnesium Dies are a lower cost product when compared to the other metals. Because Copper and Magnesium are normally etched, the bevels on them cannot be controlled as well as engraved Die’s made from for example, Brass. Magnesium is a clean etching technology when compared to other technologies and is quick and easy to etch unlike Copper or zinc. Magnesium can be hand and CNC machine engraved but because Magnesium powder is very flammable special care and extraction is recommended. Artwork with fine detail designs can be easily made in Magnesium. When Foil Stamping with Magnesium, and when possible, the paper stock should be smooth or coated. As stated earlier, when using Magnesium Dies for printing onto recycled or textured substrates, the Dies can be easily damaged during the print run and the print setup will be much more difficult than with other harder materials.

When engraving sculptured Embossing Dies, some engravers prefer using Magnesium because of the softness of the metal. Magnesium will however wear out pretty quickly and so, when used for this purpose, it is recommended that duplicates of the sculptured Die be made for use in a production run. The Magnesium Die is retained as the master that can be used to make additional duplicates in the future. Making duplicates for multiple Embossing of the same image on the same sheet are an economical cost effective solution.

If the job requires a “one-up” sculptured Embossing Die, Brass is the best choice of Die material because of its strength. When cost and or speed are an issue, Magnesium is overall the least expensive material and the fastest to produce. When producing 2D and or 2½D Magnesium Die(s), the “etch rate” of Magnesium plate is approximately 0.18mm or 0.007″ per minute, so an image can be chemically etched to 2.54mm or 0.100” in depth, in less than 15 minutes. This fast, deep etch capability eliminates the need for hand or machine routing of background open areas. Due to the speed of processing Magnesium, it is possible to have Dies produced for same-day or next-day turnarounds.

Hot Foiling

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Copper Dies

Embossing

Copper is an excellent material for Embossing and or Hot Foiling fine intricate work like crests, logo’s on cigarette boxes, packaging and labels for alcoholic beverages, perfumes etc. Fluted foil Die’s also known as foil Embossers are etched and then hand engraved to produce a high quality Die.

Hot Foiling

Copper is an excellent special purpose material for flat stamping and single level Embossing Dies. It is an extremely hard metal with good etching characteristics, which makes it an excellent choice for medium to long Foil Stamping runs. Copper Dies are commonly produced on 16 gauge (.064″- 1.6mm) or ¼ inch (.250″ – 6.35mm) however other thicknesses are available. Copper Dies are ideal for Foil Stamping, Embossing, halftone, line etchings, and intaglio printing.

Copper and Magnesium Dies are mostly used for the same applications, but Copper is usually preferable for longer runs or when more durability is required. Copper Dies are preferred over Magnesium for printing onto heavily textured and or recycled papers. Copper is an excellent heat conductor and retains heat longer than Magnesium. This means that when printing, the heat expansion factor on Copper Dies is less than Magnesium Dies

Copper Dies are tough and have sufficient strength and heat conductivity for both Foil Stamping and Embossing applications. Although Copper Dies are usually used for single-level Embossing, they are able to be double-etched for multiple levels. Dies made from Magnesium are etched with Nitric Acid while Copper is etched with Ferric Chloride. With a correct make-ready, and machine setup, Copper Dies will yield tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of impressions, making Copper the ideal choice.

Copper is recommended for print runs of 100,000 to 500,000 impressions but the run length is dependent on other factors such as image size, substrate, machine, machine setup etc. Where medium to large repeat print runs will take place in the future, it is worth considering having Copper Dies made. This will help reduce the need to re-order Dies each time you run the job. Copper as a material is an excellent heat conductor and maintain heat very well. This is especially important when Foil Stamping on high speed equipment where the speed and action of the press is more likely to cool the Die temperature. Copper is recommended over Magnesium Dies for designs with fine detail and or lines. Copper is also good for Embossing with a shallow, somewhat rounded appearance. When printing long runs, the edges of the image and or text tend to wear out. Copper can be hand and CNC machine engraveable but as the cost difference between raw Brass and Copper is not a huge and Brass lasting twice as long as Copper, customers and engravers tend to use Brass as the material of choice.

The surface area and design of the image will determine if Copper is the best material for the foiling Die. When printing on textured or recycled substrates and or the image has a medium to large area requiring solid foil printing, then much more pressure would be required than a smaller image area and or text. Copper is a hard and durable material and is recommended for use for these types of applications to ensure the Die does not begin to collapse under the pressures exerted by Hot Foil printing machines. Copper is the material of choice if very fine detail images need to be printed because etched Copper Dies produce crisp sharp edges around the image. Copper is usually substantially more expensive than Magnesium, but is less expensive than Brass or steel engravings. Copper takes somewhat longer to etch than Magnesium, although turnaround times are still relatively quick. The price differential between premium quality Copper and Magnesium can be anything between 1:4 up to 1:8, so when selecting materials, using Copper is expensive and may need to be justified.

Brass Dies Embossing

Dies made out of Brass are considered to be the best and most versatile general purpose Die’s for Hot Foil Stamping and Embossing available. Brass is generally used when the highest quality Die is required, delivering the best in durability, quality and versatility. Although Brass can be acid etched, it is rare for that to happen, Brass Dies are usually CNC and or hand engraved to create multi-level, sculptured or even (long-run) 2D, 2½D flat Foil Stamping Die’s. When hand sculpting, Brass is a very good and popular all round material. The Die maker can carve the Die to exacting detail including fine and intricate designs using engravers chisels and other tools. Hand engraving is often the preferred method of carving multi-level Dies. Brass is an excellent conductor of heat, and is very hard and durable. With the correct make-ready, these Dies can be used regularly for many years.

Perhaps the only downside to a Brass Die is its cost. Although they are very durable, they are expensive to manufacture. Because of the high cost, duplicates created from Brass masters are commonly used. Duplicates are particularly useful for regularly repeating jobs, or those that are printed multiple up.

As Brass Dies are normally engraved they are more expensive then photopolymer, zinc, Magnesium or Copper Dies, but are capable of print runs in excess of 1,000,000 impressions. Brass Dies provide sharp, clean bevels, and as they are CNC and or hand engraved, sculpturing is possible creating a number of different edges and angle. Sculptured Dies have smooth transition between the various depths, while multi-level Dies have any number of distinct levels separated by bevels. Because Brass is easily to “work” with, it is an ideal material of choice when an image needs to be “opened” up so that the foil stamps clean without the image filling in. When manufacturing a combination Die (an image can be Hot Foil stamped and Embossed in one pass), Brass is the best choice because it can be easily machined to create the necessary reliefs to imprint foil and Emboss the image simultaneously. Brass is the most expensive material for Embossing, and Hot Foil Stamping Die manufacture. The cost of using Brass has to be justified depending on the type of Die required, the print run, the intricacies of the image etc.

Hot Foiling

The types of Dies made from Brass, used for Embossing and Foil Stamping, range from simple 2D, 2½D, flat stamping foil images to multi-level and sculptured designs. Brass is a superior material for both machine engraving and hand sculpting. Whenever multilevel, realistically sculpted or special effects are required Brass is the preferred option. Brass Dies are very hard-wearing and added to that, they Dies can be repaired, and that hugely increases the life of the Die.

Zinc Dies

Zinc Dies are recommended for runs of up to 250,000 impressions and, is a good cheaper substitute for Copper. Zinc is not widely used in the industrialised countries but is very popular in the developing nations. Though the quality of zinc available is poor, it is widely used as it is readily available in these countries. The quality of zinc available in the developed 1st world countries is extremely good; however the process of etching zinc is dirty, slow and expensive.

Photopolymer Dies

There are a large number of different types of photopolymer plates and only a few specific type is suitable for Hot Foil printing. Hot Foiling photopolymer plates will normally be able to work at up to 180°C / 356°F. They need to work at about 30°C / 86°F above the temperature required if using Magnesium plates. Hot Foil polymer plates tend to be used on manual hand machines as the plate needs a few seconds to regain its lost heat when an impression is made. New low temperature foils have been introduced into the market in recent years has helped photopolymer plates make inroads into semi-automatic machines. The main advantage of Photopolymer plates is the fact that you can make then in-house with minimal investment.

Aluminium Dies

When Hot Foil printing, Aluminium is a very good low cost raw material with excellent heat absorption, and dissipation characteristics. However it is a difficult material to engrave because it has a tendency to clog and snarl cutting tips / bits very quickly on a CNC engraver. This results in expensive cutters needing cleaning or replacing very frequently. The problem is solved by using specific types of cutters and spray jetting good quality lubricants on the cutting tools and the cutting surface. Aluminium is not a good material for hand engraving as the chiselling tools tend to stick on the material making it difficult to cut intricate designs. As you cannot force feed lubricants as on a CNC system, it is not a material of choice for hand engraving. There are special grades of Aluminium with high Magnesium content that are used to make Hot Foil printing Dies. These Dies can develop “flat spots” particularly there bold solid are within the image resulting in poor foil transfer in those areas. Aluminium is better suited for cold Embossing as a lower cost alternative to Brass.

Steel / Stainless Steel

Steel Die’s for Foil Stamping and Embossing applications are not generally used, but are recommended for very specific applications. Steel Dies are mainly used for very long run (one million impressions +) 2D Hot Foil Stamping on thick card. A steel Die would be used to foil stamp cartons for high volume consumer products such as frozen meal boxes, cereal boxes or toothpaste boxes, especially if the print run is likely to be repeated regularly. Steel Dies are also recommended for thick, hard to foil stamp materials such as leather and vinyl.

Steel is difficult and slow to engrave and is the most expensive type of Die to manufacture. Unless Foil Stamping very long runs on difficult substrates, steel Dies are not an option commonly chosen.

Steel and stainless steel Dies are expensive to manufacture and more difficult to achieve a constant steady temperature on the Die face when Hot Foil Stamping. Both steel and stainless steel can be etched but it would be fairly shallow and is not an option normally taken for Embossing or hot stamping. Etched stainless steel sheets are commonly used to make rotary Die cutting forme.

Other Die Materials

Dies can be made from certain plastics and more exotic materials.

Duplicates

 Many, but not all, engravers make duplicates for use on multiple-up Embossing jobs. An original Embossing engraving, usually made from Brass or Magnesium, is then used to mould duplicates which are exact copies of the original in depth and detail. Duplicates are normally made of one of three different materials, Bakelite, Fibreglass resin or Nickel. Bakelite is a hard phenolic material that’s low-priced and easy to process. However, the heating and cooling associated with Embossing limit its durability. Fibreglass resin is more expensive than Bakelite, but will last longer. Nickel is a little more expensive than Bakelite and Fibreglass resin, but is more durable and all are suitable for multi-level Embossing or combination Dies. Duplicates are the most cost effective way to Emboss multi-level or sculptured images that are more than one-up on a sheet.

When using duplicates, it is recommended that you do not mix dups. and metal Dies on the same Embossing run, especially if you are Embossing with heat. This is because metal Dies and duplicates have substantially different heat transmission rates. By keeping to the same material, either metal or duplicate, will help prevent running the job at a higher or lower temperature. If mixed then at a higher temperature the Embossing with duplicates will be fine but the Embossing with metal will be scorched or burned. Similarly if the temperature is low the metal Dies will Emboss fine but the Embossing quality using the duplicates will be poor.

Materials for Die Making

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Materials for Die Making

Common types of Metal Embossing Dies:

There is a good selection of Die manufacturing materials available, including Magnesium, Brass, Copper, Zinc, Photopolymer and specialist plastics. Plastics are starting to slowly make in-roads but are a long way off from becoming widely accepted. A number of factors need to be taken into consideration when selecting the Die material; these include the complexity of the design, the length of the print / Embossing run and the required durability of the Die. Etching is usually the favoured option if the Die incorporates complex textures and halftone. Therefore, Magnesium, Copper or zinc would normally be the preferred Die manufacturing material however if the Die is a 2D / 2½D, water washed photopolymer can be a cheaper and quicker option.

There are three types of metals that are most commonly used for Embossing Dies. Selecting the correct metal is dependent on the shape of the image, the texture to be created on the substrate and the run length.

  • Magnesium Dies are used for simple Embossing projects that have short runs. The designs are large and uncomplicated. Magnesium is suitable for hand carving and finishing. Magnesium can be acid etched, CNC and machine Engraved and or hand Engraved or a mixture of processes.
  • Brass Dies are the most popular for manufacturing Embossing Dies. The characteristics of Brass allows for greater latitude to create fine lines, sculptured images, combo Foil Stamping and Embossing. Brass Dies are normally CNC or manually machine engraved. Brass is an excellent material for images requiring extensive hand carving and finishing.
  • Copper Dies are used as an in between to Magnesium and Brass. However Copper Dies are not suitable for hand engraving or finishing. Copper can be etched, machine engraved or a mixture of both technologies’.

 

As the durability of your Embossing Dies varies dependent on the artwork, the substrate, the run length and the pressure applied, careful consideration should be given in selecting the right material for the Job. Lower cost Magnesium is a suitable Die material for fine detail and irregularly positioned artwork designs, as these types of designs require less pressure to Emboss and is the recommend material of choice for short print and Embossing runs. On the other hand, Copper is a much better Die material if embossing, bold and evenly spaced artwork and is the recommend material of choice for very long print and embossing runs.

Metal Dies are always recommended for long runs and on surfaces that are not smooth. Metal plate manufacturers also known as Platemakers, Plate Trade House, Die makers, and Block makers, usually have a minimum charge for each order they process. It is therefore not always economical to have a small single plate manufactured. If you are having metal plates made, it is recommended you group together as many jobs (artwork) together and then send out for the plates to be made. The thinner the metal plate the lower the cost but greater the risk of damage especially when removing the plates from the machine. However even a novice should find no difficulty in using 16 gauge plates over the thicker 8 and 3 gauge plates.

When printing and or embossing the thickness of the substrate, the type of substrate, and the texture of the surface, dictates the print and or Embossing life of the Die. The thickness of the substrate is more an issue with Embossing than printing. The rougher the texture of the substrate the more friction is created, causing wear and shortening the usable life of the Die.

General information – Embossing

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General information – Embossing

Embossing is a print finishing technique that creates a relief impression of a design, decoration, lettering or pattern onto the surface of a substrate such as paper, cloth, metal, leather, plastic etc. Embossing alters the surface of the substrate, changing it from a flat and in many cases, dull surface, to a visually enhanced, appealing and exciting appearance. Embossing adds sculptural and dimensional qualities to the finished appearance and hence adds the perception of quality and greater value.

There are a number of Embossing techniques using different types of Dies and or Counterforces. Embossing methods include Multi level, Embossing, De-bossing, Blind, Holographic, Glazing etc. all produce differing results and similarly, different substrates produce varied Embossed effects. Embossing is comparatively inexpensive and therefore widely used. Embossing is widely used in packaging, labelling, greeting cards, office and personal stationery, crafting, book covers, point of sale (POS) merchandising, etc.

Developing a product where Embossing is an element within the design not only adds to the aesthetics but can be functional as well. There are a wide range of applications and uses for Embossing. Embossing data on credit cards to Embossed Braille books for the blind are examples of functional applications, while Embossing Greeting Cards to packaging are examples of aesthetic applications. In effect Embossing adds functionality, elegance, sensuality, luxury and enhances the value of the product and in many cases the brand.

An Embossed label and or box automatically convey’s quality and increases the perceived value for the content. Similarly, an Embossed Wedding Invitation card immediately enhances the entire meaning conveyed by it. Embossing adds elegance and enhances the profile of the event. It brings a different and more regal dimension to the message and or information you wish to get across to the recipient. Embossing in general, enhances the original printed image

and or designs, making it appear richer, more expensive, more eye catching, more appealing and so forth. Embossing and good design can make even the most basic product become a piece of art. However the appearance of the Embossed image is very dependent on the quality of printing and embossing. Poor quality Embossing can completely destroy the appeal of the product, however, good quality Embossing can make product positively breathtaking.

Most materials that are thin, flat, and malleable can be embossed.  This includes paper, plastic film, metal foil, nonwoven cloth, leather, vinyl, and much more.  The materials for Embossing can be in continuous reels or individual sheets.

At times Embossing is done for purely decorative purposes however, in most cases, the reason of Embossing is to enhance and transform the physical characteristics of the material being used. Embossing on different types of substrates can change the characteristics of the materials. The absorbency and flexibility of tissue paper improves when embossed however, in most cases, it weakens the paper.  Embossing metal foil with a textured design makes it stiffer, so making it easier for packing machines to handle and apply the top sealing foil. Embossing thin plastic sheets dramatically changes its elastic properties and as with all substrates that are embossed, also increases the overall height of the material.

When considering an Embossed design without adding coloured foil, you may want to look into glazing, gloss embossing, textured Embossing or tint Embossing.

When determining the most suitable method of Embossing, you have to look at the properties of the material, and how it is provided.  The material may be in either in roll or sheet form and be pliable, fluid, or somewhere between.

  • If the Embossing material is pliable, a permanent shape change can be made by simply applying force to it. This usually has a very considerable effect upon the mechanical properties of the pliable material. The material to be embossed is placed between a female Embossing Die and a corresponding male Counterforce. A large force is applied on it causing the material to distort and form to the shape on the Embossing Die. Most tissue paper, greetings cards, packaging etc. are embossed this way, with the paper completely dry.
  • When Embossing materials, which are fluid, to start with, such as paper pulp, the Embossing step starts out more like casting onto a mould, and then the material is changed from fluid to solid.  This reduces any damaging effects of Embossing on the strength and elasticity of the material.  In the case of tissue paper, the fluid state is the suspension of paper fibres in water, the mould is the forming wire mesh, and the material becomes more solid as the water is removed by compression.
  • Some materials are somewhere between pliable and fluid.  For instance, tissue paper can be shaped after it is formed, but still be very wet.  The results achieved are very different from traditional “Dry Embossing”.
  • When the material to be embossed has been cut into sheets, it is usually necessary to employ a dis-continuous method off Embossing like Stamp Embossing, where one sheet at a time is pressed between two plates, an Embossing Die and a matching Embossing Counterforce.

When the material to be embossed is in rolls then the preferred method is Rotary Embossing. This is a method of Embossing where the material is passed between Embossing rollers. Rotary Embossing is the fastest method of Embossing.

Basic Embossing Process

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Basic Embossing Process

An Embossing is created by pressing a female Die into a male Counterforce with the substrate to be Embossed between the two. The Die and its matching Counterforce are aligned in registration and the substrate positioned so that it is located in registration (the correct position). Then the Die and its Counterforce are brought together under huge pressure, distorting the substrate and forcing it to conform to the contours of the Die. The resulting sculptured effect on the substrate adds a new dimension to it.

Examples of machines used to emboss and or Foil Print

Embossing is the procedure by which the surface of the substrate is pushed forward using an Embossing Die to cause a raised image. Embossing is a simple and cost effective process of

 

 

 

 

 

finishing. It is one of the most economical ways to enhance the look and feel of any Embossable substrate whether it’s paper, plastics, cloth, metal etc. There are a number of factors that need to be looked at in an Embossing project. Selecting the type of metal Dies to be used, the surface finish required, the substrate to be Embossed, artwork creation and the Embossing image and details are all important issues that need to be addressed.

Machine made papers, mould made papers and handmade papers are all suitable for Embossing. Create incredible Embossing effects using a fairly simple process that takes chic to new levels.

There are a number of different types of Embossing processes that are available to use.

Embossing can be created in 3 ways, “Wet”, “Wet and Dry” and the most common “Dry”.

The Wet method is used during the paper manufacturing process. The Embossing Dies come into contact with the wet pulp or damp paper under high pressure. This creates a raised surface. Another way to Embossing paper is to place the selected Die directly onto a freshly pulled sheet of paper and let the sheet dry on the mould. The Wet – Dry method of Embossing is extensively used in the manufacture of huge quantities of “off the self” Embossed paper and card stock for general and specialist commercial printing. The paper is dampened and pressed against an Embossing block or plate to Emboss. However, the most common and effective method of Embossing is to impress a Die and Counterforce, in registration, into the sheet under pressure.

When Embossing certain plastics the substrate is heated to soften the material before Embossing. This is to improve their Embossing characteristics and help retain the Embossing. These types of substrates are memory materials and gradually loose some detail as it tries to go back to its original form.

Embossing

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Introduction to Embossing

Embossing quite simply means to change a surface from flat to sculptured, so that there are regions that are raised up from a background. In other words it is to imprint a surface with a slightly raised (relief) image. Embossing is achieved you using suitable tooling such as a Die and a matching Counterforce and applying pressure and, in some cases, heat as well, to form the image.

Examples of Embossing

Embossing Sample 1

Embossing has numerous applications in many varying products, and it’s only limitation is one’s imagination and market trends. Embossing is a technology that simply requires a pliable surface. You don’t need a reason to Emboss, just do it to make it look trendier.

Embossing creates a raised image on the paper. When the same process creates an indented image, it is called De-bossing.

You can achieve numerous stylish Embossed effects whether it is a single level that renders a flat image with either a bevelled or rounded edge, or a sculpted look with many levels.

Clearly the more elaborate the design, the greater the cost of Die making.

There are various shapes used in Die making and below are some popular shapes used in Embossing and De-bossing.