"You work with someone else's material, their precious print work." Will Jol, co-owner of Silk Screen Holland in Heerhugowaard is highly aware of his responsibility, as the company's silk-screen printing machines are usually not full of blank but offset-printed sheets.

At Silk Screen, offset print work can be finished with scratch-off panels, scratch-and-sniff, spot gluing, spot (UV) varnishes, all kinds of glue, fluorescent and temperature-sensitive inks and relief printing.
Around 20 years ago, the company went into printing with scratch-off panels (for scratchcards and the like) and scented inks. Growth in the DM market caused an enormous increase in special projects. Many companies wanted extra eye-catching features for their mailings and sales promotions. "It could be adding a scratch-off panel to part of the print work, or using temperature ink, raised ink or a scented ink, for example."

During our visit, a tropical smell wafts through the workshop as they're printing a mailing using coconut-scented ink. Scented ink forms a significant part of Silk Screen's enhancement work.

Scented ink is an emulsion of miniscule scent capsules which are printed on a part of the work. The company can provide nearly any scent clients desire, from coconut to freshly-mown grass. These are the same aromatic substances that are often used in fabric softeners, products which are "chiefly chosen on the basis of how they smell." Silk Screen can also provide less common scents. It once received an order for printed material with the smell of natural gas - which turned out to be a rather nasty job. "The work was for primary school teaching packages and it had to smell of the scent added to natural gas, which itself is odourless." Will Jol explains that the printing process always breaks some of the scent capsules, releasing the odour. "The smell of natural gas is terribly penetrating and the place smelled of gas for days afterward. It was so bad, we printed the last batch of the order that night wearing masks and had to air the place out for a couple of hours before the rest of the staff arrived the next morning."

If you're interested in adding the dimension of scent to your printed material, then contact Silk Screen Holland.

Silk Screen Holland, the silk screen printers for offset printers.