Domtar’s educational series Paper Trails is back with Volume 3: Make the Journey Colorful. In this edition, we’ll explore the world of paper shade and brightness using Cougar®, Domtar’s premium line of uncoated paper that has long been recognized for its quality and ability to perform. You’ll discover how brands and creatives can use shade and brightness as tools to bring projects to higher elevations.
The purpose of their series is to educate its readers on the basics of paper in an inspirational way. To recall, the first edition, Finding the Perfect Line, explored basis weight and opacity. The second edition, Get the Feeling Right, dove into paper finish and the role it plays. If you missed our blog posts on the first two editions or need a refresher, click the titles to read more about each.
Brightness
Brightness is one of the key properties of paper. It represents the percentage of light reflected off the surface of the paper. The brighter the paper, the more light reflected and the higher the number recorded. Cougar’s high scare of 98 makes it an ideal canvas for vivid colours and sharp details.
Picture a day out in nature surrounded by beautiful landscapes. Imagine what it would look like on a sunny day as the light rays expose the various textures, surfaces and colours of the terrain around you. Now picture that same scene on a cloudy, overcast day. Those same textures now flat, the colours muted, and ultimately not nearly as picturesque. Light holds power over how we perceive the imagery around us, as well as how we feel about it. The same holds true for how we interact with paper. Paper brightness determines how vivid the print is. It brings light, no pun intended, to details in different capacities than its darker counterparts. In addition to colour vibrancy, Cougar’s bright white paper enhances readability and contrast. This is ideal for projects involving text/copy.
Shade
Shade refers to the colour of the paper. Cougar offers two shades: White and Natural. Both can be used to convey a message or help guide perception. The right shade can enhance the quality of the colours and graphics printed on it. As Domtar puts it, shade can be the difference between high noon and golden hour, setting the tone for your project.
Cougar White is a classic – solid and reliable. It is essentially the perfect blank canvas to support everything you may want to print on it. It supports the integrity of the original tones.
Cougar Natural radiates a subtle warmth, enhancing images with rich hues and depth. It can enrich skin tones and natural landscapes. It’s approachable and comforting, adding character, an earthy feel to your projects, and visual softness.
Since standard process inks are transparent, the substrate’s shade will impact the final colour of the print. When choosing a shade, explore what kind of feeling(s) the project should invoke from the reader. Energetic and striking? Perhaps nostalgic and heart-warming? Choose the shade that best fits the tone.
Printing Notes
Cougar digital, also available in both shades, brings the same high performance to digital printing, thanks to its great ink adhesion and smooth surface.
All three volumes of Paper Trails thus far were printed on a UV press. The benefit of using a UV press is that ink dries instantly as it moves down the press. On the other hand, with a conventional printer, there would be some dry back. UV also helps make fine lines and details pop.
Also used were high-definition inks. They contain more pigmentation than traditional inks and can be run at a higher density, allowing colours to be even more vibrant.
Print Techniques Featured Inside
Some of the techniques featured in this volume include scented varnish, a tipped-in notebook, spot register UV, French folds and blind emboss.
1 - Blind embossing
A raised impression that uses pressure to create a tactile design, using light and shadow to highlight the raised area. When embossing on text weights, French folding sheets helps disguise any impressions appearing on the reverse side.
2 - Spot register UV
Generally considered challenging to use on uncoated due to sheet inconsistencies, but Cougar’s exceptionally uniform surface allows varnish to be applied smoothly and evenly, resulting in coverage that is glossy and bright. The pictured sheet was first printed (4-color), then a primer was added to page 25, then a 20 BCM gloss UV coating was added onto that.
3 - Tipped in trail guide
Tucked inside is a tipped in notebook, added using glue dots and easily removed without damaging the print underneath. It features a prepress checklist, a press check guide, and design tools to help you get print ready.
4 - Rich black
This page was printed with two hits of rich black plus a spot silver, resulting in a rich, velvety finish.
5 - Scented varnish
Encapsulated varnish was used to add a long-lasting scent over this page. If you have a physical copy, rub the forest area with your fingers and take a sniff to be transported into the wilderness. This does not affect recyclability.
6 - Digital vs. offset
The left side is a digital sample printed on HP Indigo, and the right is an offset sample printed on 4/C process UV. This centerfold demonstrates that no matter the device used, there is a consistent look from left to right. Using Cougar for multi-part campaigns where you need to run pieces in different quantities ensures your brand look feels consistent across all your printed pieces.
Through Ariva, Cougar can be made carbon neutral upon request. Contact your Ariva sales representative to learn more or to ask about stocking availability.
Click here to request a copy of Cougar Paper Trails Volume 3, or contact your Ariva sales representative.
