Film Allows Pattern Visibility Through Varnish

OFT Technology a UK supplier of one-pass print enhancement processes has developed and patented Filmtone to allow patterned images to be visible in a clear varnish coating.

OFT Technology a UK supplier of one-pass print enhancement processes has developed and patented Filmtone to allow patterned images to be visible in a clear varnish coating.

The company, which also manufacturers the Foiltone litho cold foil application system, said that Filmtone can be applied to any lithographically printed surface.

The pattern can be text, wallpaper, or a specific image and can be applied across the whole surface of the sheet or in dedicated areas.

The pattern produced has an inherent holographic effect, which changes with the angle of view, it is claimed.

This Filmtone system has a number of applications from corporate brand identification to security marking, added the company.

Using the technology previously developed by OFT, the Filmtone unit utilises two units of a press, one of which must be a litho unit, the other can be a coating unit, or a litho unit.

The film unwind and rewind mechanism developed for the Foiltone unit is used for Filmtone allowing a clear etched film to run between the blanket cylinder and the impression cylinder of a litho or coating unit.

A litho duct UV varnish is applied on the first litho unit in the position required and comes in to contact with the film on the second unit.

The etch on the film is pressed in to the surface of the varnish by the blanket cylinder and both are held together around the first quadrant of the impression cylinder where the varnish is dried by a UV source.

The film is then peeled off the varnish and rewound.

The pattern on the film is translated to an image in the varnish.

Where a plain smooth film is used a high degree of gloss (lux) can be achieved with a fraction of the coating weight necessary on a conventional coating station with a cost saving, claimed OFT Technology.

The film is re-usable several times.

Positioned on the last print unit and first coating unit of a press the system can be run in-line with the print achieving OFT's philosophy of one-pass processing.

Run in-line with Foiltone it is possible to give a holographic effect on coloured foil utilising low cost plain silver cold foil, added the company.

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