When working with metallized or holographic paper, you can elevate your designs to their full potential by throwing a fifth colour into the mix: white. 

A standard four-colour CMYK process with no white ink underneath will produce solid, jewelled colours. By adding varying opacities of white inks under CMYK, you can obtain some very different effects: 

• White ink at a 10% screen will enable the metallized or holographic paper underneath to shine through, creating a glossy, mesmerising effect. 
• If you’re going for a more muted look, opt for a higher percentage of ink screen, which will mean less metallic show-through.
• Applying a 100% white ink screen before the CMYK colours can provide specific areas of metallic show-through, which can be used to make a logo or small graphic detail pop. This can be used as an alternative to printing with metallic inks. 

One of the best things about working with metallized paper is its sheer versatility. We recommend you experiment with a variety of gradients of white inks in order to find which one enables you to obtain your desired look. And of course, our design team is always here to lend a helping hand: don’t hesitate to get in touch!