Quick Material Guide
Press Board (Presspahn):
A cushioned material ideal for short run printing and good for large solid print images extensively used for business card printing.
Phenolic Board (Pertinax):
A hard and tough material suitable for fine detailed printing.
Fibreglass Board (Epoxy Glass Board / Laminate):
A very hard and tough material suitable for long runs producing clean sharp impressions.
Printers Blanket (Lablay, Print Base):
A tough cloth backed rubber material available with or without adhesive backing. Suitable for Multiple dies and or large print area.
SY Blanket:
A woven fabric suitable for long print runs on both Cylinder and platen presses.
Rubberised Cork:
A cork blended rubber sheet which compresses slightly and ideal when printing on rigid substrates.
HDP (High Density Polyurethane Sheet):
Excellent material for foiling large solid images and or area on a platen press.
LDP (Low Density Polyurethane Sheet):
LDP is softer than HDP so will compress more under high pressure thus in certain cases improving the print image.
Sustamid:
A soft Nylon sheet suitable for medium to large print area requiring even pressure. Good for use where fine details and or lines close to solid areas.
Toughened Press Blanket (Super Press Blanket, Black Rubber Cloth):
Tiny glass spheres incorporated into a rubber material, ideal for long runs and large solid print areas.
Acetate Film (SPZ, A190):
This milky white Acetate film is commonly used as an overlay sheet on cylinder machines to protect make-ready from damage and is suitable where foiling fine designs.
Mole skin:
A thick plastic coated fabric suitable for printing bold designs.
Rubber Pick-Up Sheet:
A tacky rubber coated material overlay that, when printing, prevents the printed substrates from lifting off and sticking to the foil.
Make Ready Tape (Spot Make-Ready Tape):
Apply behind (floating) make-ready on low spots as they appear in the printed image.
Float Sheet:
This material is placed behind the counterforce on the print platen to compensate for mechanical wear on the press. This allows the die and counterforce to align correctly when printing and or embossing.
Adhesive Overlay Film:
The protective film is applied over the counterforce to extend its life and reduce cutting through the substrate.
Embossing cover Film:
For embossing especially when using heat as it will conform to the engraving/etching on the die. This material is well suited for combination / fluted work.
Tough-tee Cover Film:
A high quality durable pre-treated film that lends itself to bonding on to counterforce resins. Ideal for combination work.
Cover Film:
This material is extensively used as a protective film to prevent, when curing, UV cure resins and other room temperature cure systems, from sticking to the surface around the die, e.g. glass or metal platen(s).
Manila Paper overlay:
This material is a high quality Kraft paper used as a make ready. A number of layers sometimes in different thicknesses to build the print platen to the required height.
Mould Release Film:
A material used in place of release spray when making counterforces. Suitable for some designs and counterforce production methods only. For other uses see mould release paper in the detailed section.
Mould Release Paper:
A material used in place of release spray when making counterforces. Suitable for very few applications as the film version is better.