2D+ is simply a term we sometimes throw around to describe printed pieces that have depth. These projects usually combine one or more traditional printing and finishing processes like embossing/debossing, letterpress, engraving, die cutting, and mounting – to name a handful.
Printing Services
Check out the many fine in-house printing services we offer below. We love combining different processes to create new effects. Please contact us if you are looking for a particular finishing that's not showcased here.
Printing Services - Printing in NYC
Screen Printing
Screen printing or serigraphy is essentially a stencil process whereas the image is imposed onto a specialized mesh (screen) which allows the ink to be transferred onto the printing surface. Inks or coatings are pushed through the apertures in the mesh by way of a squeegee under pressure.
Digital Printing
Digital printing allows your designs to be printed directly onto a variety of substrates. Modern digital presses use electroink digital ink technology.
Edging
To achieve an edging effect, colored pigment or foil is applied to the edges of a short pile of stock after the pieces have been printed.
Embossing and Debossing
Embossing (or debossing) uses heat and pressure to raise (or lower) paper fibers above (or below) the surface of the substrate. Artwork is transferred onto a metal die, by routering, photo-etching or hand-tooling.
Die Cutting
Creating a die cut shape or window involves cutting a substrate – usually one sheet at a time – with a die. This process can cut an entire sheet into a shape, put slits in a folder, or cut a window into a page.
Thermography
Thermography is, as its name suggests, hot printing. It creates raised imagery – and interesting textures – by fusing tiny granules of thermo powder with wet offset inks. The thermography unit is attached to a standard offset press.
Offset Lithography
Offset lithography is the most common printing method. The inked image is transferred from the printing plate to a rubber blanket and then onto the paper. All litho presses basically work the same way, whether they are sheet-fed or web, which uses a huge roll, called a web, of paper.
Engraving
Engraving is a pressure process that transfers ink directly from an engraving plate onto the paper. Automatic engraving presses can run at speeds between 4,000-5,000 impressions/hour.
Letterpress
Letterpress is a relief printing process where the image to be printed is raised above the base of the plate. Pressure is applied to push the image into the paper, on either a cylinder or a platen press.
Foil Stamping
Foil stamping uses pressure and high heat to release a thin film onto the substrate. The image to be stamped is etched in relief on the plate (so it is raised, rather than recessed).
