THE
G SPOT
Amadeus
3R – Best of both worlds
Denmaur are a paper supplier to book, journal, magazine publishers and
large end user customers. In recent years, environment has risen almost
to the top of the list of the paper specifier's key purchasing priorities.
Familiar now, are environmental criteria such Chlorine content (TCF or
ECF), recycled fibre (pre or post consumer), forest certified paper products
(FSC or PEFC) and of course lately Carbon footprint. Views on paper and
the impact on environment are evolving, but Denmaur firmly believe that
the cornerstone to any initial decision making should be the concept of
appropriate use of fibre that is best suited to the publication’s
end use. It is best to seek environmental advice and establish a paper
supply solutions that make common-sense, rather than simply to tick the
green box
Denmaur have recently introduced a new hybrid coated quality to our 3R
range, which we know will satisfy a desire for the best of both worlds,
should a client be struggling with the environmental merits of choosing
a recycled versus a Forest certified paper. Why not have both with Amadeus
3R!
Amadeus 3R is manufactured from 50% recycled fibre and 50% forest certified
stock carrying the FSC logo. It is a double coated Silk and Gloss paper
with a grammage range 90 – 300 gsm
For more Details – contact www.denmaur.com
Sponsored
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Lithography
was invented at the end of the 18th century. It refers to the process
of printing multiple copies by drawing the image area with a grease pencil
onto a wet limestone slab. The grease attracted oil based ink, the wet
areas repelled it.
This was fine for a few hundred copies but after
that the quality of the image would deteriorate. It was then discovered
that by first transferring (or "offsetting") the image onto
an intermediary surface (now known as the blanket) the quality could be
preserved and many more copies produced. Offset litho is used to produce
anything from a few hundred to millions of copies, no other printing process
is as versatile. Modern presses use rubber blankets and aluminium plates
rather than limestone, but the principle remains the same.
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Sheetfed
litho refers to the press being fed with idividual sheets of paper rather
than a reel or web.
A
sheetfed press can print up to 12,000 sheets and hour, however this is
dependent on the age of the press, the weight and surface type of the
paper being used and the type of image. This does not include make-ready
time.
The
criteria for their use over a web press are essentially smaller runs (up
to 25,000 copies depending on the pagination is usually the economic crossover
point) and higher quality. Although the text on a magazine may well be
printed web, it is quite often the case that the cover will be produced
sheet.
Sheetfed
presses also vary in size according to the sheet being used. B2 (500x707mm
or 8 pages of A4) and B1 (707x1000mm or 16 pages of A4) being the most
common. The larger the press the longer the makeready. If you're after
1,000 A4 flyers it will be more economic to source a B2 or even B3 press
than a B1.
The
other deciding factor when it comes to press suitability for a given job
is the number
of units and whether or not the press perfects.
The
number of units can range from one on a single colour press to ten. If
the press has the facility to perfect (print both sides of the sheet in
one pass) this increases the possibilities. |
For example an eight unit perfecting press can print four colour, both
sides of a single sheet in one pass. A six unit press might be used to
print four colour process plus a fifth colour (say a metallic) and a varnish.
You could equally run this on the eight unit press but two units would
lie empty and it would not be possible to perfect so not making best use
of the press's capability.
As
I said, it comes down to horses for courses. To put it in a simple equation
for optimum economy:
Small
print run+
small pagination =
smaller, simpler press
Larger
print run+
larger pagination =
larger more complex press
Next
month: web litho,
how it works and when to use it |
