Engaging with a piece of print is a multi-sensory experience. In addition to the creative design and your choice of paper (see my blog on the influence of paper on the impact of your communications), special print finishes can play a very important role in conveying your message.

In this post, I highlight five print finishes that will ensure that your print messages have the lasting impact you want.

1. Varnishing

Applying varnish to paper or card produces a smooth and consistent texture. As well as improving the look and feel of a printed piece, varnishing also seals the ink to help it last longer. Varnishes can be gloss, matt or silk and are usually used to cover an entire printed surface. As well as reducing set-off by sealing the ink underneath they provide a visual effect on coated papers.

2. Lamination

Lamination is a process of bonding a clear plastic film onto printed paper or card. It is commonly used on book covers and jackets as well as business and greetings cards. In particular, it helps prevent cracking in folded material and degradation. We offer gloss and matt lamination as well as soft-touch lamination. Gloss lamination can add dynamism to images while matt lamination is sometimes perceived as being more sophisticated. A more unusual lamination is soft-touch, which provides a peach-skin feel and is popular for use on business cards adding an unusual tactility to cards.

3. Spot UV

Used creatively as part of the design process, spot UV produces some really stunning results. As the name suggests, varnish is applied and cured under UV light. It’s usually applied to specific areas (hence spot), rather than to an entire surface, and can be especially effective when used to highlight an image or detail. The contrast between the treated and untreated surface areas creates a dramatic visual and tactile feature.

4. Foil blocking

Foil blocking involves the application of a metallic foil, which is fixed in place with heat and pressure. It’s a process that invariably adds prestige to a project. Foils are not just limited to silver or gold but are available in a wide range of specialist colours and finishes – including more specialist holographic foils for certificates and security projects. Typically, foil blocking is used for text or to pick out a detail, adding a luxurious reflective quality. The technique – also sometimes called foil stamping – is used a lot on high quality book covers, invitations and business cards, often in conjunction with embossing for added impact.

5. Embossing

Embossing literally makes an impression by adding a physical depth to any area you choose to emphasise. The process involves pushing out specific areas – usually, but not necessarily, text or part of an image – so that the area is either raised (embossed), or pushed in (debossed). The effect creates shadows and real depth for an interesting and highly tactile finish.

To get the best from print finishes they should be factored in as part of the design process rather than added in as an afterthought. If our studio is designing a print piece for you, we’ll work with you from the outset to show you how they can enhance your project. If you’re taking care of the design yourself, make sure you involve us early on and we can work with your creatives to help and advise them as your designs take shape.

Talk to us now about your next project, and we’ll show you how you can use special print finishes to make a great piece of print even greater. Give us a call on 01865 242098, or email us.