The KURZ subsidiary is a specialist in hot stamping tools for applications in the graphics and plastics industries.
Italy's largest fine paper manufacturer has stood for exclusive quality papers since its founding in 1888 and is represented in over 100 countries worldwide.
The online publication provides comprehensive reporting on developments in key global luxury markets through its international network of journalists.
Like an exclusive bottle of champagne, Formes de Luxe stands for outstanding designs and packaging that exude pure luxury and convey an exquisite attitude towards life. Therefore, this year's cover should play with the theme of champagne, but treat it abstractly without showing a bottle or a specific motif. For the design of the finishing, the fluidity and lightness of the noble sparkling wine should be translated into haptic and optical effects with surprising nuances.
Julia König, Senior Design Manager at KURZ, was guided by the idea of constant motion:
The theme was brought to the cover in a play of different types of abstraction: distorted and merged colors flow across the cover. Stylized water droplets hot-stamped with SILVER LINE® Rain on the front subtly hint at the leitmotif and make the idea of freshness tangible. On the back, the drops and lines merge into a large abstract pattern in blind embossing with delicate, tactile effects.
In addition to the KURZ finishing line SILVER LINE®, the matte COLORIT® was also used to implement the fascinating cover design. First, the flat embossing was applied one after the other with the SILVER LINE® Rain decor and the trend color ORANGE MATTER COLORIT® 307027. In a further production step, blind embossing was then applied to various parts of the cover, as well as special embossing on the left-hand side in a glass look. The particular challenge here was to combine both embossing processes on two different machines with pinpoint accuracy.
Alexander Müske, Technical Expert & Innovation Consultant at H+M, emphasizes:
Frank Denninghoff, Managing Director of Gräfe Druckveredelung GmbH, adds:
As a specialist in the enhancement of print products, Gräfe has been putting the finishing touches on printed products for over 90 years. The extra-white fine paper ARENA High Definition Arena 300 g from Fedrigoni was used as the material. This is characterized by a matte surface, a good feel, and a particularly sharp and defined print quality.
The realization of the Formes de Luxe cover required a holistic approach and finishing solutions that offer a wide range of tactile and visual design options. KURZ's high-quality finishing products, combined with the precise stamps of KURZ subsidiary H+M and the years of expertise of Gräfe Druckveredelung, were the ideal combination for implementing such a demanding project in great detail. The high-precision stamping tools from H+M achieved perfect deformation of the substrate.
Stéphane Royère, Head of Business Area Packaging and Print and International Sales and Marketing at KURZ, explains:
(Image: Julia König, Alissa Demorest and Stéphane Royère (f.l.t.r.))
Alissa Demorest, editorial director of Formes de Luxe, explains:
Marta Franceschi, Senior Product Manager of Fedrigoni, adds:
Let the finishing solutions from KURZ convince you!