Mechanical tint is a uniform, single-color background added to printing for emphasis. It’s created by printing a halftone of the desired hue onto its plate before overprinting it onto paper.
Mechanical tint is commonly used in printing and bookbinding to refer to an even background color applied uniformly across a book’s spine, endpapers, or other areas using stencils or templates, creating crisp images.
Mechanical tints are used for various reasons. Sometimes, they serve only aesthetic needs; providing a uniform background color creates an eye-catching aesthetic. Other times, they provide contrast and make text more easily legible over top of them. Furthermore, mechanical tints may help repair damaged or faded areas on a book spine or cover.
Applying mechanical tint is typically an effortless process. First, the desired area must be coated with an even coat of adhesive; next comes applying the stencil or template and coloring overtop.
Mechanical tint requires that users ensure the roller is kept free of debris to apply color to pages successfully. Furthermore, even pressure should be used when applying tint across pages to achieve consistent coverage of color across them all.
Mechanical tint is an integral component of books and printing. It enables book publishers to achieve different shades and levels of darkness in print, which can drastically change its overall look. Furthermore, special effects like making an old or weathered book appear can be created using this process.