This session we were set the task of finding out about print finishes. I was lucky to be given a book to flick through call the production manual, it had an entire chapter on finishing which included folding binding as well as the all important finishes applied to print.
Perforation
Perforation comes from the Latin word “foramen” and means hole or opening. This is a process that creates a cut-out area that can be detached from the page. Potential uses include mail out packages, or contact information that can be torn out and kept.
Duplexing
When two stocks are bonded to form a single sheet this is called duplexing, it's a technique used mainly on business cards or invites.
Thermography
This print finishing process produces raised lettering using powder fused to the page in an oven. It gives the overall look a bubbly and mottled surface that is very touchable and eye catching. This can be used in any statement piece such as cards, high end promotion materials such as leaflets, and decorative posters.
Foils
Foiling an image adds a 'shiny' layer to the page and is produced by pressing a heated die to the paper. Also named foil stamp or foil emboss it is a widely versatile finished process and can be used on leaflets, book covers and promotional materials such as leaflets or business cards. They can also be used as watermarks for samples.
Embossing and Debossing
Both embossing and debossing involve a mounted plate being pressed into the stock to produce the finish. The difference between the two is that embossing creates a raised impression on the paper where as debossing creates an indented look. Both have many applications including watermarking, book covers, adding a textured dynamic to business cards or letter heads, invitations etc. If doubled with a foiling technique it adds a really interesting look to printed material.
Die Cutting
Die cutting is a process where shapes are 'cut out' from the stock using blanks or templates; blades formed into the desired cutting shape; and a press. When manufacturing mass amounts of one cut out product die cutting is the easiest method to use, however producing a new design takes time and effort and if it is for a small number of jobs it becomes more effort than it is worth.
Laser Cutting
Similar to die cutting; they both remove shapes from stock; but more flexible with what you cut. Laser cutting is all set up digitally and then produced with a laser cutting machine. For smaller numbers of cutting products this is the tool to use, however is mass production is your thing then die cutting is the better option. It takes less time to set up, once a digital 'cutting' file is produced but takes longer toy cut; vice versa for die cutting.
Varnishes
There are many types of varnishing finishes for many different effects. They are: gloss for a shiny look, making photos and images look sharper and the colours brighter, matt for the opposite of gloss, neutral for an almost invisible look useful for quick turnarounds as it dries very quickly, pearlescent for a luxurious effect, satin and silk for that midway look between matt and gloss, textured spot UV to apply texture to paper such as leather, crocodile skin etc, and UV varnish a form of varnish that will dry when exposed to UV rays, a page with this varnish on it will be shiny and a little sticky.
Laminates
Like with varnishes, there are many different types with many different effects. Matt, diffuses light and reduces glare, satin for somewhere between matt and gloss, gloss, a shiny highly reflective laminate, sand, for creating a subtle sand grain on a design and leather, to give a leather texture to the page.
A shape with foiling and UV spot varnishing.
A two colour image with foiling.
A three colour image with spot varnish.
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