Surface treatment process of gift box

This article mainly focuses on the patterns we can create on the outer box paper through different processes, making the outer box beautiful and high-end!

[Surface treatment process]

Surface treatments include processes such as glossy glue, matte glue, PET film, varnish, polishing, and matte oil. Depending on different designs, these surface treatments are combined to create unique styles. If environmental protection is a concern, it is recommended to use UV treatment.

Surface treatment process - lamination

Lamination, also known as "plastic coating", "adhesive lamination", "film lamination", etc., refers to the process of applying a transparent plastic film onto the surface of printed materials through heat pressing, serving to protect and enhance the gloss of the printed materials. It is one of the common post-printing processing techniques for paper printed materials nowadays, where plastic film and paper printed materials are bonded together after being heated and pressed, forming a paper-plastic integrated product.

Printed materials that have been laminated have a thin and transparent plastic film on their surface, making the surface smoother and brighter. This not only enhances the glossiness and durability of the printed materials, extending their lifespan, but also provides protection against moisture, water, dirt, wear, folding, and chemical corrosion.

There are generally two types of laminating: glossy film and matte film. ① When using glossy film, the printed graphics and text of the product appear more vibrant and have a three-dimensional effect, making it especially suitable for packaging of products such as green foods, which can stimulate people's appetite and consumption desire. ② When using matte film, the laminated product gives consumers a noble and elegant feeling. Therefore, laminating can significantly enhance the grade and added value of commodity packaging.

② Surface treatment process - VU pass

The UV printing process involves a printing technique that utilizes ultraviolet light to dry and cure ink. It requires the use of ink containing photosensitizers in conjunction with UV curing lamps. UV ink has been applied in various printing fields such as offset printing, screen printing, inkjet printing, and pad printing. This process involves applying a layer of varnish (with gloss, matte, crystal inlay, and glitter powder) on top of the printed pattern. The key is to enhance the brightness and artistic effect of the product, protect the surface of the product, and provide high hardness, resistance to corrosion and friction, and resistance to scratches. Some laminated products are now being converted to UV coating, which meets environmental protection requirements. However, UV products are not easy to bond, and some can only be treated through local UV or polishing.


[ Auxiliary Process ]

In terms of auxiliary processes, there are various techniques such as debossing, embossing, partial UV printing, partial embossing, partial hot stamping, and laser printing. However, it is not advisable to use too many; it is suggested to adopt one or two techniques.

① Embossing (concave-convex embossing)

Embossing is a common printing technique. The embossing process involves using a concave-convex mold to induce plastic deformation in the printed material under certain pressure, thereby applying artistic processing to the surface of the printed material. After embossing, the surface of the printed material exhibits patterns and textures of varying shades, with a pronounced three-dimensional relief effect, enhancing the artistic appeal of the printed material.

② Hot stamping

Hot stamping, also known as hot press printing, involves creating a raised version of the desired pattern or text, and then using a certain amount of pressure and temperature to transfer various aluminum foils onto the substrate, resulting in a strong metallic sheen and giving the product a high-end feel. At the same time, due to the excellent physical and chemical properties of aluminum foil, it can serve as a protective layer for printed materials. Therefore, the hot stamping process is widely used in modern packaging printing.

Cosmetic packaging has always had high requirements for hot stamping technology. In this regard, not only must it be compatible with high-performance equipment, but it also has certain standards for gold paper. Imported gold paper from the UK and South Korea can meet the requirements in terms of color diversity and quality. As for hot stamping plates, copper plates are mainly used. Copper hot stamping plates have the characteristics of high stamping frequency, no deformation, and no burrs. For some high-quality paper boxes, we now adopt copper electro-engraved plates for one-time forming of hot stamping on cigarette packaging. After hot stamping, it looks like engraving on paper, significantly improving the quality of packaging, but the cost is higher than that of general copper plates and zinc plates.

③ Laser transfer

Laser printing is a printing technology that utilizes laser ink (with metallic optical color-changing anti-counterfeiting ink) and adopts advanced laser printing techniques to screen or roll print the laser ink onto various flat and smooth materials. The printed products can exhibit different colors as the viewing angle changes, with a distinct dynamic color-changing effect. Under concentrated light, they can produce a rainbow ring effect, effectively enhancing the grade of packaging. This process can print full-page or partial transparent laser effects on smooth paper surfaces, changing the previous processing methods that could only achieve laser effects by printing on laser paper or by laminating proprietary laser films on the paper surface. It allows for flexible and varied laser patterns.

④ Freezing snowflakes

The Frosted Snow Effect is achieved by printing ink on various substrates such as gold foil paper, silver foil paper, laser paper, and PVC, then exposing it to ultraviolet light to cause wrinkling and UV curing. This process results in a surface with a fine sandy texture and a delicate feel. Due to its appearance resembling a thin layer of snow or ice on the printed surface, it is commonly referred to in the industry as "Snowflake" (for larger patterns) or "Frost" (for smaller patterns). This technique is widely used in cigarette and alcohol packaging, calendars, gift box packaging, and other exquisite printed products due to its visually intricate patterns, strong three-dimensional effect, and luxurious elegance.

⑤ Reverse UV

The adoption of reverse glazing technology allows for the coexistence of a mirror-like high-gloss effect and a matte or textured non-high-gloss effect on the same printed product, creating a stronger contrast in brightness and achieving a better glazing effect. Simultaneously, since the non-high-gloss areas are printed using offset printing, the registration is extremely accurate, ensuring the printing precision of the high-gloss areas. In summary, reverse glazing addresses key issues present in conventional glazing techniques and achieves contrast effects that ordinary glazing cannot, resulting in a better and more exquisite printing effect, elevating the printing quality to a higher level.

⑥ Reverse frosting

The reverse frosting process is a new printing technique that has emerged in the past year or two, which requires several special base coat or varnish treatments to complete. Some people refer to it as the reverse glazing process, viewing it as a new technique of localized glazing. This process involves printing the printed matter in the normal color sequence, and on the basis of the ink being completely dried or cured, a layer of special base coat is printed on the local areas that do not require highlighting using an offset inline (or offline) method. After the base coat is completely dried, UV varnish is applied to the entire surface of the printed matter in a full-page manner. This causes a cohesive reaction in the areas where the UV varnish and the base coat come into contact, forming a small granular ink film, which constitutes a matte or frosted finish; while in the UV glazed areas where no base coat is printed, a high-gloss mirror surface is formed. Ultimately, the surface of the printed matter forms localized high-gloss and localized frosted low-gloss areas. These two completely different gloss effects achieve a high contrast effect in the localized images, embellishing and highlighting the glossy mirror surface of the text and graphics.

⑦ Die-cutting and creasing

Die-cutting and creasing, also known as die-cutting molding, die-cutting, and die-cutting, is a molding process that uses a die-cutting knife to form a die-cutting and creasing plate (knife plate) according to the pattern combination required by product design. Die-cutting is a process where steel blades are arranged into molds (or carved into molds using steel plates), frames, etc., and the paper is rolled and cut into a certain shape on a die-cutting machine. The hollowed-out part of the main display surface in the middle is obtained using die-cutting technology and becomes the personalized decoration in the entire packaging. Creasing is the process of using steel wires to press marks on paper sheets or leave grooves for bending by pressing.

The sea of knowledge is boundless. I've pondered over this several times, but I still feel it lacks depth. There are probably more techniques involved, and perhaps practice is even more crucial!

That's all for now. Welcome to exchange and discuss! The picture is taken from the internet. If it infringes on any copyright, please delete it. ~