Allkotes is offering digital printers the ability to achieve a metallic effect with a matte metallised film, Soft Metal, which it says will allow them to print on the top surface with ‘some real eye catching results.’ Soft Metal, found in its Mirra Products range, has a matte silver look with the velvety feel of TouchMatte. Allkotes says it provides a pearlescent look through the sheet when printed on top.
Soft Metal: metallic silver, matte feel
The film is opaque and can be applied to the whole sheet, then over printed. Allkotes recommends stock weights of 170gsm or higher, and preferably coated one side only, to avoid issues with static. The company describes the film as a matte version of its gloss metallised ReflectaKote film, except, it says, it is a ‘feel good’ matte. Printers do not need a white ink option to print on Soft Metal; Allkotes says four-colour CMYK will deliver results, having experimented with the substrate on an HP Indigo digital press. Darren Delaney, business development director with Allkotes, says, “The vibrant and amazing colour result that is produced when printing on top of Soft Metal has never been seen before. “White ink is not a prerequisite – why not try reversing your text out of the surrounding colour and watch in awe at the result.” He says there are also glossy options for the digital printer; “If it is gloss metal film you are looking for digital ask for our DigiKote Gloss Metal which again has seen some clever results using the power of digital printing.”
Applications include menus, book covers, dust jackets, DM pieces, magazine covers, packaging, presentation folders, greeting cards and point-of-sale
Phil Rennell, sales and marketing director with Currie Group, has also seen the results of printing on Soft Metal, and says, “Combined with the HP Indigo ElectroInk the results are fantastic, when you include white ink the opportunities are greatly expanded.” The film is also suitable for traditional offset printing equipment, and when combined with UV, foil or vinyl inks can produce some interesting effects. Applications include pieces that need an extra impact, from book covers, dust jackets, DM pieces, magazine covers, packaging, presentation folders, greeting cards and point-of-sale.
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