While work on the first issue of 2020 is well underway, we paused to see which Plastics Decorating articles from 2019 caught the eyes of our readers. The following five articles were the top reads from 2019 for visitors to the website.
1. Q&A: Pad Printing vs. Digital Inkjet for Direct-to-Plastic Printing
While pad printing and digital inkjet technologies for plastics decorating have been around for quite some time, inkjet hasn’t found the same footing that pad printing has enjoyed. However, that doesn’t mean that either technology is necessarily better than the other. Each has its place in the industry and always will. At times, they may even work together for the benefit of the decorator and the customer.
Plastics Decorating sat down with Julian Joffe of Engineered Printing Solutions to discuss some of the developments in pad printing and inkjet and what those developments will mean for the industry in the coming years.
2. Simulating PANTONE Colors on Colored Substrates
Anyone who has attempted to match spot colors when printing on colored substrates knows that the process presents various unique challenges. However, incorporating a few key suggestions can lead to great results. This article looks at why these challenges exist and how to approach overcoming them.
3. The Future of Cosmetics Packaging Shines with Foil
Prominent fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent was reported to have said, “The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion, but cosmetics are easier to buy.” This is true in part due to the number of brands and products available today. In an oversaturated market, brands have precious little time to attract and keep consumers’ ever-dwindling attention long enough to ensure purchase. As a result, packaging has a vital role to play when it comes to making individual products stand out. Cosmetics packaging, in particular, has become a highly competitive arena, and the demand for luxury packaging at an affordable price is expected to continue to rise in the years to come.
4. Breakthrough Anti-Counterfeit Technology for Plastics Products
No single anti-counterfeit technology can effectively protect all products and circumstances. A layered approach that combines multiple features into the product and packaging works best. This tactical methodology is ideal for plastic products that have value-added decorating and finishing. This article introduces a new anti-counterfeit technology and examines three levels of authentication security for plastics products.
5. The Evolution of Pad Printing
Today, those companies that are the most successful with pad printing are utilizing newer, highly efficient pad printing systems that offer flexibility and substantially more process control than those offered by their older counterparts.
