High Build Effect
High Build is achieved by a technique better known as Screen Printing. Screen Printing is the process whereby a mesh is used to transfer ink onto a substrate, except in areas made impermeable to the ink by a blocking stencil. A blade or squeegee is moved across the screen to fill the open mesh apertures with ink, and a reverse stroke then causes the screen to touch the substrate momentarily along a line of contact. This causes the ink to wet the substrate and be pulled out of the mesh apertures as the screen springs back after the blade has passed
High build is one of the ways in which screen printing is used. The screen adds height to areas of a label that unlike embossing can never be flattened during the bottling process. Screen printing is very effective when used as a super gloss highlight over a matte finish background. It is also a good means of applying a richness and depth in colour that is not always achievable with conventional inks.
Rotary screen printing is the printing answer for adding special effects to your labels. Because it can apply thick layers of ink or varnish in a single pass, rotary screen enables you to print unique effects which cannot be obtained by using techniques like flexo, offset or gravure printing. Rotary screen printing is used for labels in food, beverage, personal care, pharmaceuticals and healthcare.
Some examples of effects you can add to your labels with rotary screen printing:
- opaque white for clear on clear labelstock – non label look
- ultra-fine raised text and lines
- tactile, braille
- glitter
- 3D effects
- tactile spot varnish
- hot foil replacements (gold, silver, screen inks)
- scratch-off