Has anyone ever set up photographs printing using CMYK and Metallic? We are trying to create an effect, but not sure how to get there. Any suggestions?
That can be tough, like duotones with Black and Silver.
The Black gets murdered, and the metallic loses its sheen when screened into dots.
Might also consider metallic stock instead? Then you can use opaque white to make parts of the image less or non metallic.
I *think* I have done this many, many years ago. The metallic can't ever be 100% or the effect won't work unless you print the metallic, wait for it to dry and then print the black over the top of the dried metallic on a second pass. If the metallic is a screen value, the screen angle CANNOT be the same as the black screen angle or they overprint each other and the metallic removes all traces of the black.
How are you printing these photos? Are they going litho or Xerox?
Litho
another variant of my advice is to print reversed on clear plastic, then laminate with metallic silver paper
Sounds like the old MetalFX (do a net search). In practice you lay the metallic down first and overprint with CMYK. If you've a 5 or a 6 colour press this can be done inline, of course you do need the appropriate tack graded metallic ink, normal metallics don't 'trap' the subsequent inks correctly, that's trap as in ink lift, not as in pre-press trapping. Or maybe you could print the metallic first (no sealer varnish or aqueous seal) and then overprint the CMYK when its dry.
Quote from: Trish on November 13, 2019, 11:37:35 AM
Litho
Hmm... I would have an idea if it was the Xerox. EyeTech's idea sounds like the best bet. I believe the metallics we have are set to run after CMYK. We just ran a job that way, but the gold didn't trap images just text.
For setting up the image, its pretty easy to do in a CMYK photoshop file with a spot channel named correctly, then with that channel only paint or apply any textures or what have you in black on that channel and you'll get it as an overprinting spot. To get this right, I usually make a visual mockup layer I turn off in the CMYK channel and then copy the layer data and fill the spot channel with the selection still active with black - hopefully that makes sense. I have a PSD file I did to help out a Xerox sales rep selling those fancy new Xerox's with the metallic toner I can share it if you want it. It should still apply with images for Litho though I don't know how successful it would turn out compared to the Xerox.