Printing techniques
Every single technique developed at El Calotipo is handmade, without losing a single ounce of quality in our printed results. Nevertheless, we can also use modern techniques such as offset or digital printing depending on what we have to do or what the client wants.
For an overwhelming low relief
Letterpress
The best known printing technique of our days, letterpress, allows us to get a low relief effect on any material (carton, paper, wood etc). While this effect was considered a mistake in the past, it is actually what everyone demands nowadays and what everyone expects from letterpress.
We are able to print either using any matte color from pantone or metallic colors. Keep in mind that ink doesn´t have the same covering power as in screenprinting. But we can use metal color if you want to apply this technique on dark colors.
Looking for relief
Embossed printing
Embossed printing means getting a relief impression without ink. We will have to use both male and female cliché, that will allow us to get that relief we are looking for.
In order to get a prominent relief, we should use papers under 350 gr. What we have to keep in mind is: the thiner, the better. The back side of the impression will show the opposite result, that means, we´ll get the positive motif in one side but the printing trace will be noticed in the other side.
Whole ink covering on paper
Screen Printing
Who said one can´t get little details with screen printing? Throughout our career, we´ve managed to forget what we learned at school: “screen printing is just for big areas and thick strokes”.
Screen printing is a flat printing technique, meaning it does not produce any relief or low relief on materials. We mostly use this technique to print light color on dark surfaces, since inks are completely opaque. We can also reduce opacity if required, that is, control ink transparency and the visibility of those materials we are printing on.
Perfect for a stunning metallized effect
Stamping
Do you want to dazzle with your printings? Do you want light to reflect your designs or get a mirror effect? Then, maybe you should opt for stamping.
We can get a metallized effect to any motif with this technique. It is mostly used to print using gold, silver or copper in different hues and shades. There is also a wide range of metallized colors and we offer holographic effects too. This technique allows us to get a low relief, since pressure is needed to apply it, although it will never be such a deep low relief as with letterpress.
Varnish effect on a relief
Thermorelief
Maybe thermorelief lived its highlights in the past and became quite unnoticed nowadays.
However, we think it may provide a special finishing touch depending on how we use it. Perhaps it isn´t the best choice when it comes to little texts, but we can apply this technique on bigger decorative motifs, logos etc. We can manage a varnish effect over any material and using any color if we use thermorelief.
Fast quality printing
Offset, digital, laser
We prefer special works and artisan printing methods, but there´s nothing we reject. If you need to reproduce something using that techniques, we can offer a fast and quality printing. Just check our prices and options (recycled carton included).
You could also combine digital techniques and letterpress, stamping, embossed printing, screen printing or thermorelief.
