UV Printing — Horse of a Different Color

"Designers like this option because they can create a pattern for the coating, and the pattern is not registered to any particular image on the printed sheet," says Murel. "It gives them another layer of creativity they didn't have before."

Although a UV press typically costs substantially more than a conventional one, it's less expensive to operate a UV press than it used to be, he contends, thanks to UV's instant curing properties and a high level of automation that keeps makereadies to a minimum. One thing that can't be rushed is operator training. "Your press operators have to be very skilled at handling substrates and UV inks. We were fortunate in that we asked for volunteers, and a couple of our pressmen stepped up to the plate."