Business Card Design and Printing

Bookmark This Page

THE CHARACTERISTICS AND ABSORBTIVITY OF THE PAPER SURFACE

Besides whiteness and brightness, the degree of smoothness of the printing surface influences the appearance of ink placed on it. A rough fibrous paper surface is composed of a multitude of non-uniform reflecting surfaces. When light strikes them, they scatter it randomly and, thus, adulterate the print with white light. A black solid or halftone for example, is grayed because of this addition of uncontrolled and unwanted white light. A colored solid or halftone is not only grayed but also tends to change its hue.

Smooth coated surfaces with fibers buried under layers of pigment minimize light interference by allowing uniform directional reflection of light.
As a rough surface contributes to color degradation, so does an excessively absorbent- or "open"-surface. An open surface may absorb the ink vehicle and pigment, but leave dull pigment particles on the surface. (Figure 20)
A surface with good ink holdup-a "tight" surface- retains both vehicle and pigment on the surface with the pigment "buried" in the glossy vehicle.
Only enough vehicle penetrates the surface to provide good bond of ink to paper. Ink gloss contributes to purity of printed ink color. Paper smoothness contributes to ink gloss. (Figure 21)

Accurate glossy color results may be obtained on some dull coated and embossed coated papers. Even though the papers are not glossy their surfaces are so refined that- even over the surfaces of the relatively large hills and valleys of embossed finishes- a gloss layer of ink may be supported. Sufficient vehicle is supported as a smooth film to maintain the color purity of the pigments immersed in it.

Color and Paper
	CHAPTER 1:	CHAPTER 2:
	What is color? Reflection & Transmission Additive & Subtractive DimensionsSummary	What things influence the appearance of color? Influence of the proximity of colors Influence of Texture on perception of color Summary
	CHAPTER 3:	CHAPTER 4:
	How do printing inks work? Summary	Influence of paper whiteness and brightness Charactertics and absorbtivity of the paper surface Summary
Relevant Links
Specks in Printing Catalog Design Back Printing Ideas Gang Printing

Breathing Color Print
	Graphic Technique	Printing Concepts	Images
	Wood vessel segments	Appointment Notice	Copenhagen
	Dimensions Of Color	Charette Bcards	Computer
	Business Bar Tav	Business Construction	Florists
	Pantone Rgb Html Conversion Chart	Map on the back	Business images for print- Canada
	The Opposite Side of your card	Corporate	Add business image- Automotive
	Business Sports	Business Concepts	Copenhagen Business image