An apparatus and process for printing with tactile and glitter effect on flexible substrate and printed substrate thereof

A process of printing with tactile effect on flexible substrate by rotogravure printing machine, the process comprising:

• providing a substrate web in roll from an unwind to a first printing station of the rotogravure printing machine;
• printing by transferring radiation curable ink from a printing cylinder to the substrate at the printing station;
• drying and/or curing, the printed ink on the printed substrate after printing and forward the printed substrate to the next printing station in line;
• applying a registered or unregistered coat of radiation curable coating at a coating station;
• curing the coating applied on the printed substrate by a radiation source;
• and
• collecting the printed substrate web in roll at rewind,
• wherein a layer of 20 to 300 microns thick ink is deposited at predetermined locations on the substrate to provide tactile effect.

A printing apparatus comprising:

• an unwind for providing a substrate web from roll;
• a plurality of rotogravure printing stations for printing on the substrate web, each of the printing stations having an engraved printing cylinder and an impression roller;
• an in-line coating station for applying layer of curable coating composition on the substrate web;
• and
• a rewind for collection of the printed substrate in roll;
• wherein a printing cylinder at least one of the printing stations being engraved with cells or wells having a depth of 20 to 300 microns, an angle (a) of 15 to 70 degree corresponding to a width suitable to effectively allow transfer of thick curable ink to provide tactile effect on the substrate web, and
• at least one printing station and the coating station is provided with a radiation curing unit for curing the ink and coating, inline, respectively.