Combine and Conquer

In addition to its ability to print metallic inks, Daming points to two additional capabilities that gravure brings to the picture. It can provide a good solid opaque white lay down on a clear film or a lay down of heavy adhesives for cold seal applications in flexible packaging applications.

Gravure, though, is not the only alternative for opaque white and metallic inks, says Daming. "I do have to say, however, that I've seen rotary screen inks with a great opaque white and with metallic inks—and they are much easier and less expensive to run than gravure."