Packaging with dimension that your customers can both see and “feel”, has proven to be a great way to set your product apart in a crowded marketplace. When your package says “pick me up”, and touch the uniqueness of our brand, you are engaging your customer on a whole new level.
There are many ways to achieve textured and pattern areas in your packaging through paper selection or embossing; butdid you know that you can create raised patterns through the use of varnish and coatings?
Through a process called reticulating coating or “chemical embossing” Thoro can make your graphic images jump off your cartons. Much like the strike-through technique, also known as contrast varnish, a perfect pattern image trap can be achieved by the spot/pattern application of a special matte or dull varnish followed by an overall application of a gloss coating. A chemical reaction occurs that neutralizes the gloss in the areas previously varnished with the matte/dull varnish. To achieve a raised, reticulating effect, the same application of contrasting dull/glossy varnish is used to define the pattern; but with increased viscosity of the coatings, the chemical reaction causes the varnish to bead and leave a perfectly registered, visible pattern with true dimension.
This contrasting raised, precise coating effect creates a visual and textured feel special effect that is perfectly suited for emphasizing images of products with their own natural texture and dimension. For instance, an image of leather, fabric, fruits and vegetables, patterns on intricate technology and medical devices can all come to life on your package by adding a reticulating coating effect.
Reticulating coating can be applied to any process or spot color print area, but because of the dramatic gloss/dull contrast, application on a darker, or solid-color background is often more dramatic. Using a reticulating coating as opposed to a pattern emboss or textured paper is a style choice that should be made based on the desired end look, job quantities and budget. For some packaging jobs the reticulating coating can be more cost effective because it can be done as part of the inline printing process, applied as an additional color. And because the texture can be applied to a smooth, white coated paperboard, there is no loss to image quality or color, as there can be when choosing to print on a textured stock.
When designing your packaging graphics, and looking for that added special effect, ask Thoro for some samples and instruction on reticulating coating. It could be the WOW factor that makes your package the main attraction.
