OUDG504 - Studio brief 03 print finishes workshop

Embossing

Embossing is a raised design – a logo or other graphic image, for example -- that is pressed into paper or card stock from underneath. Embossing requires two dies, a male and female die, thus creating more production steps and die charges. The raised area can have ink applied to it, foil applied, or it can be left unprinted/unfoiled. When an embossed area is not printed or foil stamped it is known as a blind emboss.

Debossing

Debossing is the opposite of embossing. With debossing, the imprinted design causes depressions in the material leaving a depressed (debossed) imprint of the image on the paper or cardstock.

Debossing impresses a die into the surface of the paper material.

Varnishes

Paper varnishes are applied to paper stock to give the page a smooth and consistent texture as well as having the added benefit of sealing the printed material to help preserve it better.

High-quality books and magazines usually have a paper varnish applied to their pages.

Varnishes can be glossy or matte. 

Lamination

Lamination adds a layer of protective coating (usually some type of plastic), often glossy or matte, to the printed surface while also improving its sturdiness and water resistance.

Lamination also has the added benefits of improving the tactile feel of the of the printed surface, lending it a smooth finish.

If a high gloss laminate is applied to the printed surface, photos and images appear to have more contrast and have better sharpness

Spot UV Varnish

Spot UV varnishes are paper varnishes applied to the printing surface and is cured or hardened by UV light during the printing process. This results in a glossy coating on the surface of your print.

UV varnishes are usually used as a spot application where only specific parts of the page get a UV varnish.

This effectively gives texture and focal interest to different areas of the printing surface while leaving other areas untreated.

Foil Stamping

Foil stamping is the use of a malleable metallic material applied to the print surface by using heat and pressure.

Foil stamping adds reflective properties to various elements of your design and can serve to add a bit of luxury to your project.

Typically, it is used on text and the logo on the page or when certain elements call for it.

die-cut

A die-cut is often used to create packaging from a regular sheet but can also be used in brochure design. An irregular shaped cut-out can be used in a leaflet or brochure to create an unusual cover, or to knockout a hole for an image to show through. The cutter can be combined with scoring to create folds in the paper. These can have a significant cost and are usually only used when a budget permits or for short, high-quality runs. 

Scoring 

Scoring creates a line or depression in the paper to help the paper fold easily. Folding paper without scoring it first can look unprofessional and the paper may crack. A reverse score – where the outside of a printed item is scored and then folded back on itself – is sometimes used on glossy or plastic coated papers. Duplex and any paper that cracks when folded can be reverse scored. 

Coating (Sealer) 

A special water based coating – usually sealer, gloss, matt or silk is applied to protect printed items from ink smudges, finger marks etc.
or to enhance the appearance. Coatings are commonly used on coated matt or silk paper, which are more prone to smudging than gloss paper. Coatings dry faster than varnishes, resulting in a quicker turn around of jobs, tend to be more scuff resistant than varnishes and there is less risk of yellowing paper.