In addition, something perhaps more familiar to PSPs is spot mode. Here, spot colours are single colours used in the same print run as the rest of the colours and used as highlights or to create bold, single-colour areas in a design. “In short, with the right white ink and printing technology, you can produce vivid images, without sacrificing the ability of media to catch and reflect natural light,” Thomas says. As for technology options from HP, there is certainly no shortage of white ink options when it comes to HP Latex products. The HP Latex R Series, including both the R1000 and R2000, the HP Latex 700W and HP Latex 800W, all offer users white ink, as do the HP Latex 630 and HP Latex 2700. “Each printer comes with HP’s automatic recirculation system, which continually recirculates white ink within the ink-delivery system and the printhead,” Thomas says, adding: “This is designed to prevent clogging and maintain a readyto-print state, allowing users to switch the machine on and begin printing straight away.” Accessible Print Of course, not all special effects are for pure decoration; sometimes, they are crucial to the end piece. Earlier this year, Canon Europe linked up with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) for a photography exhibition that invited visitors – blind, partially sighted, and sighted – to experience photography in an accessible and immersive way. Designed with the experience of blind and partially sighted people in mind, the exhibition featured photographs by famous photographers, accompanied by elevated prints, audio descriptions, soundscapes, and braille for a tactile 46 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk November / December 2024 - Issue 351 experience, allowing visitors to connect with each image. On top of this, each image was obscured in different ways to convey the many types of visual impairment, allowing sighted people to experience what partially sighted people experience on a daily basis. Pete Morris, brand and sponsorship senior manager at Canon EMEA, says: “Photography is an incredibly powerful medium that can push the imagination; we wanted this experience to be accessible to everyone. This exhibition was created with blind and partially sighted people in mind to share imagery and the stories behind them in an entirely new way.” However, this was not the first time Canon brought the arts to life through elevated print. Using its proprietary PRISMAelevate XL software and Arizona printer series, Canon has been making arts more accessible for blind and partially sighted people for many years, working with art galleries and museums around the world on tactile printing and braille signage. So, whether you are looking to add extra sparkle to packaging or an elevated print finish to business cards, there are plenty of equipment options out there that not will not only allow you to do this, but also offer excellent ROI in the long run. Adding special effects to a printer’s production portfolio instantly increases their flexibility when accepting jobs SPECIAL EFFECTS billion people worldwide have some form of visual impairment 2.2
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