Laser Cutting (Print)
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- Dancer
I am trying to spec a job (print) that could potentially have a Laser etched front cover.
My print reps have gone home and I am just trying to get a feel for this process.
I know that it can "burn" the paper or give dicolouration... would this happen on one side only?
How expensive is it? Does the cost run per unit or the more I do the less per unit it is.
Any insight would be great
- detritus0
Burning a raster type image in at good quality is the slowest use of a laser cutter - as it 'scans', dotmatrixprinter- stylee at 300+dpi.
The amount of burn depends on the amount of power set and the speed at which the laser 'scans'.
I've posted a couple of pics up on another site you might be aware of, of a silly wee thing I burned for my brother recently.
It uses good quality card stock, one black side, one white. Fritzing around with the power setting, I was able to eke out 3 distinct, metallic greys before getting down to various shades of brown. None of these went all the way through.
If I used different stock, I'd get different results.
Erm.. that last sentence is beyond stating the obvious.
Basically - "raster printing" is expensive for anything but the shortest or most exclusive of runs. As an example, a 20cm x 15cm burn might take up to around 10 minutes = epic laser time for a mere detail.
Drop me a mail with a more specific query, or hit me up on The Other Site, if you like.
- detritus0
Beyond computer-side file setting, there will be little in the way of bulk discount, I think - it's not a die-like process where the bulk of the cost is in the setting of the steel, and material handling.
With lasers, it's all about the Time.
- Dancer0
Sorry I did not explain myself propa' liike!!
I have a Vector Graphic and need it cut THROUGH the card so it shows the colour below.
I do not need to burn an image persay...
- detritus0
Ah, ok - the burn will only appear on the very edge and will depend on the stock used. It is sometimes possible to reduce the amount of tinge, but if you're using pulp-based stock, it will always be there in some form.
Someone asked this just the other day here too - I recommended they look into the option of using a plastic paper, like Tyvek, which doesn't necessarily brown.
- Dancer0
I do not have a problem if you get the brown tinge on the underside but I would really like a crisp white front...
- version30
if it's to pass through, why not a die punch?
i know with drilling cutting etc you always place a piece of scrap on the top
- Dancer0
The detail of the image (a Grade II listed building) is way too complex to Die Cut
- detritus0
it often depends on what the cut is sitting on - if you have white underneath, the tinged edge will likely contrast against it, making it visible, If the stock beneath the cut is dark, you won't so much.
I'm doing some burning tomorrow, if you want to send me a ..er.. denatured version of your file and a description of the stock type (I can see what I've got in).
- Dancer0
I do not have the graphic here.. I can get it off the client, just generating concepts at t he moment but would like to propose this as an option and its always good to get some info... I will email you if I go any further.
Thanks for the details Narin.
- detritus0
No worries.
If you're talking many, many units (and it pains me to say this), you're probably better off with die cutting.
- AMOK0
Ok I just saw that you are in the UK, so this might not help. But Laser Excel(.)com is a company up in LA that does really amazing laser cut work! Might be worth a visit to their website to check out their processes and specs! Its really not that much more expensive that diecutting, but obviously it depends on quantities.
- inkpink0
was a thread like 2 days ago addressing burned edge concerns