Print finishing techniques - types and methods of finishing

Nowadays, there are many methods that allow companies to attract the attention of customers. This is of considerable importance in an era of large, dynamic competition, as it allows you to stand out in the market (in a given sector). Potential buyers can be interested in the offer thanks to, among other things, various print finishing techniques. Due to them, advertising media have a more attractive design, and will serve their purpose longer. Find out what it is, and learn more about the different types of this process. We encourage you to read on!

What is print finishing?

Let's start by explaining what this process consists of, as well as its purpose. Its primary task is to increase the aesthetics of the printed material. By improving the appearance, posters, advertising flyers, business cards, labels, packaging, etc. look professional. They are more attractive and, in addition, more resistant to adverse external factors.

Among the most important advantages of print finishing is the distinction of the product. Regardless of the type of process, the final product will be characterized by careful processing, better color saturation, and often emphasize the content - inscriptions or graphic elements. An additional advantage is the protection of the printed surface. For this purpose, it can be covered with a special protective layer, which will affect the durability of the materials. The label, poster or flyer will thus be more resistant to tearing, scratching, moisture, etc.

What are the types of print finishing?

Customers who want to stand out their products and get ahead of the competition have a really big choice of techniques. Among the most popular options are embossing, lamination and varnishing (with special varnishes). When talking about the methods that are used when decorating advertising media, we can't ignore foiling either - an option called hot stamping and cold stamping.

What kind of print finishing is used when processing orders depends on a number of factors. A different type will pass the test for advertising materials, another will be optimal for printing packaging. Sometimes it is enough to cover the surface of the article with a layer of varnish, and sometimes additional solutions are needed, such as elegant embossing and gold plating of letters or a company logo. The ordering party does not need to know about the individual proceedings. A professional company will advise him on the best technique for him to increase the attractiveness of the product.

What are the most popular print refinements?

Among the most commonly used, and at the same time the simplest and most impressive techniques is embossing. In short, the method can be called the creation of a three-dimensional motif on the printed surface. The obtained pattern can be embossed or gravure; and it is obtained by pressing the material on the printing roller to the embossing die. This type of material decorating is sensational, for example, on all kinds of accydens, as well as labels and packaging. It is elegant and subtle at the same time.

Another leading process is lamination. The finished product becomes more durable thanks to it. Choosing this print finishing technique allows you to increase the quality of the backing, smooth its surface, as well as strengthen it. The process involves applying a film (of varying thickness) transparent or matte (depending on the effect you want to achieve). A layer of glue is applied to the printed surface and then the lamination film is applied.
Another type of print enhancement is cold stamping or hot stamping. It consists in applying colored foil (metallic, gold, silver, holographic) to selected print elements. Cold stamping - is a finishing technique using cold-stamping foil and an appropriate adhesive. The glue is applied to the areas we want to print. After pressing the adhesive "printed" to the adhesive layer of the film, the dye is detached from the carrier layer. Hot stamping, on the other hand, is a technique using hot-stamping film and relief dies made of heat-conductive material. Hot-stamping is used for print finishing, decorating items, marking, print protection. An important advantage worth mentioning is the choice of film. It can be velvety, glossy or matte.

 

Types of finishing and print protection

In addition to improving the appearance, some methods also give printed materials effective protection from adverse external factors. Those wishing to protect their printed materials from moisture or dirt can either foil or varnish them. If the ordering party is not only concerned with print finishing, it is also worth learning about other types of process than the typical decorative one. For example, the above-mentioned lamination protects the print from UV radiation. Thanks to this technique, graphics, colors, lettering, etc. do not fade over time, even when exposed to constant sunlight.

 

Who offers print finishing?

The decoration of printed materials in this way is handled today by many companies in the printing industry. Interested parties will easily search the web for a company where you can print, for example, self-adhesive labels. Among others, our brand provides services in this area. If you are looking around for a point where you can order print finishing, we recommend reviewing the offer and then contacting us directly. In our daily work we use various techniques, so contact us for help. We will advise you on the choice of a particular type, depending on the product.

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