Bridging the Gap

As screen printing has become more widely used, Mountford says GS has seen more specialized applications such as tactile printing, faux embossing using screen print, and high-luster metallics. “All of these screen printing techniques can really add value to a label or package and give customers the shelf impact they are looking for,” he states. He also cautions that because of the higher costs involved with printing a combination label, (e.g., screen material and higher ink usage) some printers attempt to replicate [the screen process] with UV flexo, especially in terms of opaque white on clear substrates. “While this reduces costs,” he says, “it doesn’t have the high impact of true screen-printed labels.”