Inapa Clear Printing Hints

Inapa Clear
Printing Hints
Following these simple hints should ensure success every time:
Pre-testing
• We strongly recommend pre-testing whenever you do something new.
Storage & Use
• Store unopened in the original packaging for at least 24 hours until paper
reaches press room temperature and the paper is ready to go on press.
• Avoid exposure to uncontrolled humidity or excessive heat or cold.
• Natural Translucent is a dense product with a low bulk.
• Print room conditions are critical. Aim for a consistent RH of 45 - 55% and a
temperature of 17 - 23°C (63 - 73°F).
• After each operation protect stacks with waterproof wrapping
Design & Pre-press
• Avoid large areas of solid composite colour.
• Employ under colour removal (UCR) technique if possible.
• Use screens of 130 - 150 l.p.i.
Printing Inks & Damping Solution
• Natural Translucents are non-absorbent. Use hard drying, fully oxidising inks, as
used for plastics and foils. Contact your supplier for ink recommendations.
• UV curing and IR drying may induce curl.
• Drying times of metallic inks vary widely with ink colour and coverage.
• Drying agents may be added to ink and/or fount solution as recommended by the
supplier
• The ink / water solution should be set at a minimum. Damping solution pH ~5
• Alcohol damping can be a benefit.
• Waterless systems can be used.
Printing
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Confine 72 g/m² and below to single colour work.
Air sheets well during loading
Run as fast and as dry as the sheet permits.
The fewer passes through the press the better.
To prevent set-off and improve air circulation, use 15-25 micron coated spray
powder
• Rack in small piles, air frequently, and keep covered
• Aqueous coatings are not recommended. If protection is required consider spot
UV varnish.
Notes: Metallic and Iridescent products differ from others in having a surface coating. When printing these it
may be necessary to clean the litho blanket periodically.
Products containing inclusions: there is a risk that a small proportion of these may pick out during
printing processes.
Inapa Clear Finishing Hints
Finishing
• The finishing environment should have the same conditions as the print room.
• After each operation protect stacks with waterproof wrapper.
Trimming / cutting
• Do not use a newly sharpened blade; it may chip if grinding marks remain in the
sharpened edge.
• Use a slightly dull but polished 23° bevel angle b lade.
• Cut in small stacks - maximum thickness 5 cm (2”) to avoid blade damage.
Folding
• Predominant folds should be made parallel to the grain direction if possible.
• Do not fold in low humidity conditions, or after the paper has dried in earlier
processes.
• Grammages less than 92 g/m² are not recommended for use on high speed
buckle folders. Lighter weights can be run satisfactorily at reduced speeds.
• For multiple folds use a fine tooth perforating wheel with care.
• Suitable for knife folding.
• Pre-creasing is required for weights of 140g and above, using a rounded tool
and matrix.
• For grammages of 200g and above we recommend two parallel creases with a
gutter to form the spine of the crease.
• Fold away from the bead. This is contrary to conventional papers.
• Avoid sharp creasing tools.
Embossing
• Avoid using very sharp tools.
• The use of metal dies is recommended.
Binding
• Translucents can be saddle stitched / stapled. Round wires are preferred.
Weights under 92g are not suitable for outer wraps and centre pages.
• Adhesive binding should be parallel to grain direction.
• Hot melt glues are preferable - use aqueous adhesives sparingly.
• Wrap finished results in a waterproof material.
• Caution – adjacent products in the finished job should have similar moisture
content.
Chartham Papers has endeavoured to ensure this information is correct.
However, we do not accept liability for any error or omission.
For further information please contact your paper merchant.
Inapa Clear 82-112 g/m²
Laser printing hints
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Good results can be achieved on translucent from desktop and office laser printers, both
mono and colour machines.
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Different desktop laser systems differ greatly in their ability to print onto translucent
products. The actual results will depend, for instance, on toner fusing temperature, speed
and state of maintenance. End users are advised to test samples.
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Some desktop printers may crease translucent paper.
Due to the heat from laser printers which can dry out paper and cause curl, we would not
recommend a pile of translucent paper be left in the feed tray. Immediately after use,
unprinted translucent should be returned to its packaging.
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Results may also vary on the grade of the paper
Light weights (under 82 g/m²) which have lower stiffness may give feeding/runnability
problems on the larger/faster office machines. We would advise to use a bypass feed tray
(where fitted) or single sheet feed tray to overcome sheet feed problems.
Heavy weights may be to stiff. Different machines all have their own limits on
grammage/calliper and some feed trays on larger machines also have specific limits. Again
the single sheet feeder may give better results.
Heavy weights eg 180+ may absorb heat away from the fuser and so lead to poor fusing so
that the toner will rub off. This can only be found by the user making a test.
The optimum weight for best results on laser printers seems to be 102 to 112 g/m².
Some larger machines, and some desktop ones such as some Xerox Phaser printers, have
optical sensors that fail to “see” the translucent paper.
To summarise :
82 – 112 g/m² recommended for copier use.
Flatness problems may be encountered on lighter weights.
This is especially true for laser printer / copiers which are particularly hot and here 102 and 112 g
perform best. Toner adhesion deteriorates on heavier weights.
Translucent is compatible with plain paper laser copier.
Best results for runnability / toner fusing are achieved on 112 g/m²
Some machine do not “see” some translucents
Use by-pass or single sheet feed trays for best runnability.
Return unused translucent paper to its packaging.
Recommend the end-user test a few sheets before making a large purchase.
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