Thermography or Raised Printing
"Thermography" or "raised printing" requires the use of a heater. Thermography is mostly used for business cards, letterhead and envelopes. The limitation for thermography is that thermo-heaters are usually 12" wide. The process was developed to simulate engraving much like polyester was developed to simulate silk.
Here is how this process works: a small press is attached to a conveyor belt that has a tunnel-like housing unit holding a heater. As the paper goes through the printing press, before the ink has a chance to dry, a sprayer shoots clear plastic particles onto the ink. As the paper then travels on the conveyor belt, through the heating unit, the plastic melts into the ink. The remaining plastic particles are vacuumed off, voilà! raised printing.
Thermography works well with solid images: letters and geometrics. Thermography should not be used for images with dots or with photography, as the dots fill in. |
