Whether you call it bling or zing, some projects need that little something extra to bring out their maximum potential.
Images can help. Color can help as well. But if you want to add sparkle to a project that makes people sit up and take notice, consider using mica-coated sheets. You get a big visual boost without any extra effort on your part.
What It Is and Isn’t
Mica is the name used for a group of about 37 minerals that all contain silica, the major component in glass. Mica crystals sparkle when the light hits them. When it comes to paper, these sheets are suitable for offset and digital printing, as well as for use in laser and inkjet printers.
You may hear mica sheets referred to as coated papers, but they are uncoated papers coated in mica crystal particles that are ground very fine.
No individual crystal particles can be seen or felt. The texture falls somewhere between that of coated and uncoated stock. It's not as smooth as silk, but you're definitely not running your fingers over specks of rock crystal.
Like mica crystals found in nature, mica coated paper glints and reflects light. Applied to white or colored stock, the colorless ground crystals give the paper its unique sparkle. The look is almost metallic -- the reason people sometimes use the term “metallic papers” -- although no metallic substances are used in the paper.
The papers are available in all the common text and cover weights used for offset. Some of the papers are white or light colored, but you can get medium to dark colors such as pinks, purples and dark green, and metallic looks such as bronze, copper and gold. The papers are recyclable, but are not made with recycled materials -- unless you consider that using minerals is a form of recycling!
Going Digital
All of the mica-coated papers are suitable for offset printing use, but not all have been certified for use in digital presses. For example, CTI Paper USA offers the ASPIRE Petallics line of metallic paper. On top of the many colors available, the company recently released a version of Beargrass, a pearlescent white, suitable for digital printing.
Cordenons' Stardream line is a popular and tried-and-true choice for digital printing. With dozens of colors in the line from light (crystal) to dark (anthracite), you can find a color for any project. Stardream runs smoothly on Nexpress and iGen3 production presses.
"All our mica-coated lines, including Malmero Perlé and Astrosilver, handle the digital challenge beautifully," says Jean Rarick, central regional sales manager for Cordenons.
Making Best Use of the Papers
“Let the paper speak for itself,” suggests Lianne Fuji, art director for Wells Fargo. Fuji has used mica-coated papers for several projects including a fold-over holiday card for the company.
She used a mica-coated paper for the card and envelope and had the message printed on a slip-in translucent sheet. She had the inks custom mixed to match the Wells Fargo colors. There was very little printing on the mica-coated paper, which is just how Fuji likes to use these types of papers.
Kim Sergio Inglis of Reich Papers explains that using a heavy ink density on these kinds of papers can reduce the shiny look of the paper. “One hit can be fine, two hits can diminish.” Big photographic images done in 4-color printing may also not work well, she warns.
Fuji agrees, “If you’re doing any heavy 4-color work, it might not be the right paper.” She suggests using images that coordinate with the subtle shine and metallic look of the paper.
Rich Paper, Elegant Results
The papers have a high-end look to them, which is in part why Andrew Ockene, art director at Sherman Advertising, an advertising and marketing firm located in New York City, chose them for a recent project.
He designed a multi-page marketing brochure for Platinum, a 43-story residential tower currently under construction in midtown Manhattan. Ockene was looking for a paper that would match the high-end and expensive nature of the building itself.
Since Reich Paper’s Shine line in Pewter reminded him of the look of platinum, his paper choice was an easy one. “I was looking for strong and shine,” he says. He switched to the White Pearl color in the same line, when he discovered that the architectural renderings of the property looked too dark on the Pewter.
To get the metallic look he wanted without sacrificing readability, Ockene used a special PMS gray ink. He was very pleased with the end result, especially with the look of the photographic images in the brochure. “They shine.” The images have an inner glow, which is especially noticeable on the elegant foldout in the center of the brochure that features a nighttime image of the New York skyline.
Avoiding Potential Pitfalls
Phil Schumacher, research and development manager for CTI Paper USA recommends using high oxidation inks as they contain a chemical method of drying. “Inks for Aspire need that because there is no absorptive method of drying.”
Schumacher explains that with normal paper, when the solvents dive into the sheet, the ink is almost dry at once just because the solvents are gone. “With low-solvent ink on a nonabsorbent paper, that mechanism isn’t there, so the oxidative dryers are the only method of hardening the ink. You really need to specify both oxidative ink and low-solvent ink to be sure it is correct.”
Inglis says that with the Shine line of papers the inks can be UV, but they must be fully oxidizing and hard drying as the stock is somewhat sealed.
Theoretically, the papers can be coated and varnished, but doing so will cut down the shine of the paper as it puts a layer on top on the stock. Scuffing and scratching is not a problem even without a protective top coat, and the papers can be embossed or diecut as easily as any other stock. CTI Paper and Reich have additional printing tips on their respective company Web sites.
The Proof Is On the Paper
Ockene says that designers who have not used the papers before should know that there are subtle color tints in the paper that can affect the finished look but can be worked around with color correction. “Even Pearl has a little red in it,” he says.
Proofing can be tricky as the paper is highly reflective and the look of the printed piece can change dramatically under different lighting conditions.
Ockene says the trick is to look at the proof under as many different lighting conditions as possible. For his projects, he has the printer create press proofs on the paper and has found that doing so really helps get the colors right.
He uses text weights of the papers to produce interim proofs on his Fiery. The interim proofs will not be “color perfect,” Ockene says but adds they are rarely trying for color perfect until they get to press with a project.
If you haven't used mica-coated sheets before, consider buying a small quantity and experimenting with it. You can even use some of the papers in inkjet printers and proofers. If the papers are new to your client, then it’s a good idea to show them a proof of the project on the paper.
Putting a Gleam in Your Next Project
Mica-coated papers are distinctive and can put a gleam in just about any project. They are readily available in various colors and weights and some are certified for use in digital presses. Care should be taken to match the look and feel of the paper to the nature of the project, but don't be afraid to experiment with custom ink color and finishing touches such as embossing. The end result can be a printed piece that is stunning and memorable.
A Little Side Dish
Mica sheets are used in the electrical and electronics industries for products that require electrical insulation. In Colonial America, mica sheets were used as we use windowpane glass today. Ground mica particles are used for a variety of industrial purposes including the manufacture of wallboard joint compound.
The Chinese use mica rice paper for traditional Chinese painting and call it “ice and snow rice paper” because of the subtle gleam on the paper. You can purchase handmade papers that have been sprayed with mica particles. Although they have a striking appearance thanks to the sparkling nature of the crystals, which are visible to the naked eye, these papers are not suitable for offset or digital printing.
© 2007 PaperSpecs. All rights reserved. This article was reprinted with permission. PaperSpecs is the first one-stop paper source for creative professionals. Receive the latest news, updates and paper tips on a regular basis. Sign up for PaperSpecs’ popular e-newsletter at www.paperspecs.com</a>.
