Printing Capabilities PRINTING PRESSES

Surface - The oldest automated printing method still in use today, Covers has a dozen of these highly valued, century-old presses still in operation. Surface presses utilize raised images on an engraved roller to transfer colors to a continuous reel of paper. A heavy lay-down of inks, wet-onwet printing, and a less exact image outline give this type of printing a very distinct look that is impossible to duplicate with modern presses. With up to 12 colour stations, surface printers are especially good for printing multi-coloured florals and classic document designs.

Flexographic - ‘Flexo’ is an updated version of surface printing. But unlike surface printing, where the engraved roller is composed of a very hard material, flexographic printing uses a flexible material, much like a rubber stamp, allowing the use of less ink and providing a more exact image outline. The least distinct of any of the print methods, flexographic printing can approximate the look of the other methods, depending on the particular design. Good for holding details on designs such as stripes, geometrics and paisleys. Up to 7 colours are available.

Gravure - ‘Gravure’ printing uses a hard engraved cylinder to transfer the image to paper, but unlike surface and flexo, the image is recessed on the engraved cylinders instead of raised. The ink collects in the recessed pockets of the cylinder and is absorbed by the paper as it passes over the cylinder. The deeper the desired colour, the deeper the recessed pocket, which transfers more ink to the paper. Because the inks are transparent, rotogravure can provide an unlimited number of process colours and shades with only four print stations. Several other colour stations are available to compliment the tonal printing with additional flat colours stations. Most of our borders that duplicate existing art, as well as murals which require large repeats are printed with a digital press.

Rotary Screen - Rotary screen printing is the automated form of hand screen, or silk screen, printing. The image is created by forcing ink through a fine mesh screen onto the paper. The amount of ink needed is controlled by the size of the screen openings. With hand screening, the screens are flat. With rotary screen printing, the screens are wrapped into a cylinder with a repeatable image. The inks are applied from inside the cylinder, and forced out by a squeegee blade onto a continuous paper web. Characteristics of screen printed papers include vibrant, opaque colors with crisp edges. As one of the most costly methods of printing, rotary screen printing is usually reserved for our designer brands.

Digital - The newest and most technically advanced method of printing, the Covers digital press is a toner-based printing press, capable of an endless array of flat and 4-color process, tonal colors. It does not require engraved cylinders, prints in flawless registration, and is capable of printing designs with extended or unlimited repeats. Because of its minimal start-up costs, it is capable of printing shorter runs more efficiently than traditional presses. Digital printing most closely resembles that of gravure printing, in terms of appearance.

RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL All wall coverings provide protection for walls from normal wear and tear while hiding dirt and unwanted marks that inevitably occur in high-traffic areas of the home. That is why you find wallpapers in most public spaces where it’s important to maintain clean, fresh looking walls with minimal effort for the longest period of time.

Residential Product: Narrow product (20 ½ inches/52,1 cm, 27 inches/68,6 cm, or 36 inches/91,4 cm wide) geared to the Do-It-Yourself market and smaller spaces Washable, lightly scrubbable, good light fastness, strippable or peelable Many specialty finishes available: sand, glass bead, glitter, raised inks, metallic, grass cloth, Mylar, flock Huge selection of designs and colours. The typical retailer library houses 800 collections in sample book format. Designs are frequently offered in 4-6 colour ways and often have coordinates.

Commercial Product: Typically 54 inches/1,37 m wide geared to large expanses of walls such as hotel and hospital hallways (product can be slit into 27 inches/68,6 cm widths for smaller spaces) 15 ounce/425 g vinyl weight: suitable for lower traffic areas such as hotel guest rooms 20 ounce/567 g vinyl weight: suitable for high traffic areas such as hotel lobbies and hallways Scrubbable, good light fastness, strippable Designs tend to be textural or more neutral in motif, although this is expanding recently into higher style with more visual interest Highly embossed finishes most typically create the impact Sampling is done on tip cards with small sample swatches adhered to a card, with one design per card and 20+ colours for each design.

Cross Usage: There has been a recent trend toward cross usage of residential wall coverings in commercial spaces, particularly specialty wall coverings like sand and glass beads, and bolder colours not typically available in commercial wall coverings. Similarly, commercial vinyl wall covering is being used in residential spaces like hallways and playrooms where higher durability makes it a very desirable wall surface.

Rotary Screen

Raised Rotary Screen

Digital

Flexographic

Gravure

Raised Gravure

Surface Print

Sculptured Surface

Iridescent

Raised Glitter

Metallic

Mylar

Grasscloth

Cork

Sand & Glitter

Glass Bead

Mica

Flock

Contract - Deep Emboss

Contract - Texture Emboss

Contract - Glitter

Contract - Digital Mylar