Graphic Design & Printing Technology

Graphic Design & Printing Technology

In die cutting process pressure is used to force a sharp metal die through the
stock.

A die has a metal cutting edge that matches the outline shape of the design
used. A die used in the process consist of a base, called die board, with steel
rules shaped and inserted in a saw kerf. The saw kerf is the open area left after
sawing the base material. Pieces of sponge rubber are glued to the die board on
either side of the rules to release substrate material after cutting.
Die cutting presses are similar to letterpress printing presses. Sometimes
letterpresses are used for die cutting. Example for die-cut products include
boxes, cartons, tags, labels, cards, children’s pop-up books, etc.

Foil Stamping

It is a letterpress process that transfers a thin layer of metalic tone or colour to
a substrate using heat and pressure.
In foil stamping process a heated die containing the relief image presses down
on a roll of foil passing betweeen the product to be stamped and the heated die.
The relief image presses aganist the foil and the combination of heat and
pressure transfers the metalic coating on the foil film to the substrate. The film
or foil used for foil stamping is very thin and made entirely of metal or a tissue
like material coated with metal. In most case the metals used to create silver
and gold appearance are aluminium and brass. Hand operated to web rotary
presses are used for foil stamping.

Embossing

The processes that create a three dimensional raised image on a substrate by
pressing it between two dies is called embossing. Embossing is done by a
male die and a female die. One die is relief (male die), while the other is
recessed (female die). When they are
brought together with the stock
between them, the clamping force
creates a raised image on the stock.
Normally the image is printed and the
stock is then embossed. Sometimes
ink is not used and the stock itself
creates the raised image after
embossing. This technique is calledblind embossing. If an image is sunken
into the substrate using embossing processing, it is calleddebossing. The dies
are three dimensional moulds that press their image into the paper under great
pressure to make the raised design.