WEBCOM LIMITED books and beyond 3480 Pharmacy Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M1W 2S7 1-800-665-9322 Sales Offices in Canada and the U.S. Head Office: Toronto ON Questions or comments regarding this site? Contact the WebMaster

Cover Coatings - The final touch for any book project Coatings are used to enhance the appearance of a book cover while at the same time protecting it against the wear and tear caused by handling, display and use. Selecting the right coating for a job requires an understanding of the processes available, a clear idea of the kind of performance required in the finished job, an estimate of cost and consideration of any environmental impacts. Types of Coatings Webcom offers five different types of cover coatings, all of which are applied in-house. 1)UV Coating Webcom was the first book manufacturer in North America to offer this versatile coating for book covers. UV Coating is available in hi-gloss as well as a "spot" application in which it can be applied to only specific areas of the cover - this can be particularly effective when combining both hi-gloss and matte lamination into a cover design. 2) Film Lamination This process bonds plastic film to the printed cover using an adhesive. Laminates are available in both hi-gloss and matte finishes. Matte lamination gives covers a unique, velvety, satin, non reflective surface. There are three types of lamination available, O.P.P. (oriented polypropylene), Mylar, and Nylon, a film that reduces the curl in book covers. 3) Aqueous Acrylic Lacquers Often referred to as water-based lacquers, these coatings are an emulsion of synthetic resin and water which is spread on the printed surface and dried by the action of heat. No chemical reaction takes place; the water simply evaporates, leaving a clear surface. 4) Press Varnish This coating is applied at the same time that the cover image is being printed on the sheetfed press. Press varnish offers cost effective protection for the printed image but at a lower gloss level than the four other coatings available. Comparison of Coating Characteristics   Press Varnish UV Film Laminate Aqueous Acrylic Lacquers Gloss Poor Excellent Excellent Average Abrasion Resistance Average Excellent Excellent Good Chemical Resistance Poor Excellent Excellent Poor Adhesion Good Good Very Good Good Colour Fidelity Good Good Good Excellent To receive your own copy of the Cover Coating Samples Folder, a guide to help you choose the right coatings for your project, click here. This handy reference guide contains all the information you will need about coatings as well as samples of each process.