An ancient craft fuelled with new digital possibilities

The union of old craft and modern production is perfectly exemplified by Keaykolour's new range tool, which offers creatives a way of learning about colour interaction and creative exploration. The Keaykolour tool itself showcases several cutting-edge processes that represent the current state of print innovation. Many cards inside the Keaykolour inspiration tool show intricately produced works of craftsmanship, that have utilised digital design and pre-production processes to achieve results that wouldn’t have been possible only a few decades ago. We will outline some key processes that benefit designers today – starting and experienced designers alike – allowing them to create truly groundbreaking print designs. 

Micro-embossed hot foiling represents a convergence of traditional hot stamping with digital precision engineering, creating metallic effects with extraordinary detail and texture. This technique applies a very fine, almost microscopic texture to a metallic foil using a custom-designed engraved die that presses incredibly intricate patterns and fine details into the foil. These etched patterns create diffraction-like effects, as light reflects off the foil, resulting in an animated, three-dimensional appearance that changes with the viewing angle. Mico-embossed patterns can be used both subtly as well as in very outspoken ways, adding a unique tactility that can be used from unique embellishments for luxury packaging to enhanced security features on official documents. In the Keaykolour inspiration tool there is a card with an Yves Klein blue metallic foil, printed on Grey Fog, that showcases the impact of different micro-embossed patterns to create an illustration.

‍Three-dimensional sculpted blind embossing, also known as Multi-level sculpted embossing, is a technique that has seen an enormous rise in use, especially in projects for high-end and luxury brands, such as invitations, high-end packaging and branded stationery. It creates intricate three-dimensional raised images in paper, visible by the light creating highlights and shadows. It emphasises the texture of its substrate, making it ideal for use on high-quality premium paper. The process uses a custom-milled brass die, programmed using 3D CAD software, to press the multi-dimensional image onto a heavy paper or card. Most printer can work with designers or brands to turn a 2D design into a sculpted emboss. To experience the intricate yet bold effect of this technique, request the Keaykolour inspiration tool and look for the the card Snow White.

‍Layered hot foiling is technically not a technique in itself, but rather an interesting use of standard hot foiling to achieve new results. In the Keaykolour inspiration tool, a stunning effect was created to demonstrate the interaction of colour, and – in this case – the interaction of material. Printed on Biscuit, this card features two passes of hot foil. The first layer is a non-metallic pigment foil, creating a satin-glossy colour block, pressed into the paper. The second layer features a semi-transparent iridescent foil that lets through some of the colour of the pigment foil, while subtly changing its colour depending on the viewing angle. This card serves as excellent proof that Keaykolour supports the most demanding and challenging print techniques.

‍UV LED offset printing offers unique opportunities, especially in combination with coloured and uncoated stock. Since the inks are dried instantly by UV light exposure within the press, inks stay more on the surface of the paper. This creates sharper images and more intense colours, especially on uncoated papers. On darker papers, such as Keaykolour’s black and other darkers shades, printing with UV inks means that a printer can ‘close’ the paper with the first ink, providing a foundation for the next ink to be printed over. This allows designers a lot more freedom to come up with interesting designs, using offset on darker stocks. Sometimes the uniqueness is not even in the print, but in the substrate itself. The incorporation of new paper textures, including Keaykolour Extra-Rough finish in black and white, and the embossing textures in black and white, demonstrates how texture itself can become a design element. These papers carry a unique tactile quality even before printing anything, creating opportunities to create a luxury finish using more standard processes, such as offset printing or digital printing.