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Joanne Gardner tracks down the solutions to your print problems

Q I need to outsource a very fiddly cutting job on a 6mm clear polycarbonate but I don’t know whether to use a laser-cutting or rotary die-cutting service as I’ve heard laser-cutting has its limits in terms of material thickness. It’s a run of at least 2m. Any advice?
Bob Dunn
Via email

A Material thickness is a major limitation for laser-cutting and polycarbonate substrates are no exception, as material discoloration can often occur. In theory, laser–cutting is the best for “fiddly” jobs (making cuts as small as the laser beam diameter, which can be as little as 210 microns on high-end systems) and as technology improves the barometer of “thick” constantly shifts. I’ve found one firm, Zone Creations (020 8687 9630, www.zone-creations.co.uk), which can laser cut PETG (Polytetrafluoroethylene – try saying that with a mouth full of dry scones) up to a thickness of 6mm, but you would need to check regarding polycarbonate. I’ve found numerous cutters who insist on a maximum thickness of 4mm and sometimes 5mm for polycarbonate, otherwise they say there is a yellowing along the edge of the cut. Another reason to choose tool-based cutting in this case is that laser-cutting is only really a money-saver if we’re talking about a low batch. For a long run like yours, the set-up and tooling costs are easily absorbed. You might be better to just go with high precision, optically registered steel-rule die or other rotary (tool-based) cutting.

Q Sorry if this is a dumb question but I am not from within the print industry. Does the colour of the stock change how the ink colours look?
Jane Furness
Via email

A It’s not a dumb question considering you don’t know print. You’d be right, stock colour and finish significantly affect colours because ink is transparent. For example, light blue printed on a yellow stock could end up green, depending on how dark the blue ink is and how bright the yellow stock is. And the same ink colour will appear different on a coated stock than on non-coated stock or a smooth finish compared to a textured stock.