We always love working on Computer Arts magazines – they love the print process nearly as much as we do and are not afraid to have some fun with finishes.  This month was no different.

‘Upgrade Yourself’ is the focus of this month’s edition of Computer Arts magazine (issue #277) and so by rights, the cover really needed to stand out and pack a punch.

Our secret weapons? Our Heidelberg soft touch UV, satin gold foil and faceted emboss.

This issue puts the spotlight on careers, with a special report that aims to help you upgrade yourself. It offers advice for identifying where skills gaps are and shows how to pinpoint what employers are looking for, to help you get a step closer to your dream job, no matter what that might be. It’s a powerful issue and this was Nick Carson’s final edition as Computer Arts Editor, so the team really wanted to send him out in style.

The cover used a futuristic, almost ‘Metropolis’ image which was printed on a heavier 300gsm stock incorporating a Pantone 806 intense Pink. Celloglas applied a Soft Touch UV varnish on the Heidelberg at our Leicester site, prior to foiling.

We then used our CF Satin Gold Foil, with the logo foiled flat, and then applied a facetted emboss on the headline ‘UPGRADE YOURSELF’ to give it a really precise, piercing 3D lift. We also facetted the gold circles/coins spread across the cover, so they really jump off the print. These coins were created using a technique called a blind emboss, meaning they are not printed on to the cover, it’s simply the foil that gives the result.

Steve Middleton, Sales Director at Celloglas commented: “The embossing gives a 3D, stand out effect which really adds value to the covers in a reasonably inexpensive way. We always enjoy producing these covers for Computer Arts. ‘Upgrade Yourself’ is the focus of this month’s edition and I feel that is what we achieved with the cover, using the Satin Gold foil, facetted emboss and soft touch varnish! A great result.”

To see the work in progress and to hear Steve talking through the process, watch our video on YouTube.