Equipment Specs
Pre-Press
Press/Bindery
File Guidelines
UV Coating
Graphics
Film (50" / 55" / 64")
Film (40")
UV Coating Guidelines
1. Paper: 10 Pt. Or Above
Coverage: Overall with some Strip Capability
Corrugated: B, C, D, E Flute
Curing Size: 44"(W) x 64" + (L)
2. U.V. Coating should be applied to a smooth stock with a clay or enamel coated surface. Uncoated stock acts as a blotter and lacks the glossy finish. Sheets should be dusted and/or polished to provide the best possible finish. In addition, we will not accept responsibility for coating uncoated stock as it is not recommended by our supplier.
3. Inks should be free of waxes (unless approved for U. V. coating), silicones, or other slip additives. Also avoid inks with alkaline pigments, such as those found in Reflex Blue, Rhodomine Red, tint colors, and PMS Purple. The coating may cause their color to change significantly. Contact your ink supplier for inks specifically made to be U.V. Coated. If overprint varnish or aqueous is used, it must be wax free and fountain solutions must contain minimal glycols for best results. If you ever need a test run on sample sheets to see the effect of the coating with your inks, substrate, ribbing, surface etc., please give us a call. NOTE: We cannot be held responsible for ink discoloration or non-adherence of coating.
4. Inks must be completely dry before coating, normally 24 to 48 hours. Note: U. V. will dry a sheet out, therefore on heavy ink coverage jobs we can't be held responsible for cracking. The graphics must be reviewed with your converter to determine if it meets their specifications and to make the proper die.
5. Scoring and folding should be done after the sheets have been coated, not before. If gluing is required on your job, you must consider Spot U. V. We do not Spot U. V. in-house, but these services are available. We can, however, strip U. V. coat on some sheet sizes, therefore, fax an 8 1/2 x 11 representation of your die line for review.
6. If your job requires Foil Stamping or Embossing, you must get this done before you have it U. V. Coated. U. V. Coating must be the final step to completing your job, except for scoring and folding.
7. The sheet you are having coated must be at least .010 thickness minimum. (ie. 10 Pt.) Anything thinner than this will curl and not pass through the rollers. The smallest sheet size that we can coat is 8 1/2 x 11. The largest we can cure is 44" x 64+" or 44+" x 64+" with a strip coat or no U. V. on 3". Our machine operates with rollers and does not use grippers to pull the sheets through.
8. Because of the "deep gloss mirror finish" that U. V. Coating gives, it has a tendency to reflect fingerprints on the finished piece when dark, solid colors, have been used. Be aware of this if fingerprints are a problem for you.
9. If "E" or "B" flute has significant ribbing and/or corrugated sheet is bowed, U. V. may not be able to be applied. Flute directions as a length is better for smoother finish, excess flute and curl can create additional processing time and upcharges. Corrugated sheets should be reversed stacked to prevent bowing. Excess bowed sheets will incur an upcharge for processing. Also, all sheets must have a wax-free varnish on inks and minimal glycols for U. V. to set properly.
10. Roller widths for strip coating 23 1/2", 29", 30", 51" (overall), therefore glue tabs must be on width.