Tips for Thermography Designs

Each production process has its own benefits.  Thermography is no different.  Below are a few elements to keep in mind.

Paper Selection ~ The high heat used with thermography can affect paper stock and has a tendency to dry out those with cotton-fiber content and lighter weight.  While this must be taken into consideration, ASL provides a wide range of paper choices to bring you an ideal finished product.

Ink Colors And Types ~ With thermography, you can choose from an array of Pantone Matching System (PMS) colors to give your piece a distinctive look using a one or two-color process.  however, as thermography applies transparent inks at high temperatures, the color will appear one shade darker than shown in the PMS book.  To achieve the ink color you want, it is suggested that you choose the next lighter PMS color than the color desired.  You can refer to the coated side of the PMS book to get a better idea of what your color will look like after thermography.

Also note that metallic inks do not work well with thermography as they tend to lose both luster and shine.  As always, your ASL representative will work closely with you to minimize any impact regarding ink colors or types.

Typestyles/Fonts ~ In order to achieve the desired raised effect on stationery and other materials, it is also advised that you use a font style that is more conducive to thermography.  This process requires fonts with a surface area that can hold ample ink and powder.  Larger fonts offer a better “raise” because of the amount of ink being used.  COnversely, think fonts carry less ink, making the proper “raise” harder to achieve.

Images/Graphics ~ For the majority of logos, images and graphics, thermography gives you a polished look with cost-effective results.  However, there are times when your design elements may trigger a loss of detail with thermography that would not occur with alternative processes.

It is also recommended that you avoid using screens with thermography.  When the resin powder interacts with the ink and heat, it swells or raises the image, which in turn causes the screen to fill in.  ASL can help you work through these complex design issues to meet your particular needs.