October 28, 2015
The overall appearance of a printed product tells the world what your brand is all about; from the type of paper used to the design itself and any special finishes.
This guide has been put together to give you a brief outline of some of the most popular print finishes. These add something extra to a standard printed product and can be used on a range of items, from swing tickets to packaging, including boxes and bags.
SPOT UV
Spot UV Varnish is a clear coating applied over specific areas of a product giving it a glossy finish. This can be used over areas that have been printed, to emphasise them, used on blank paper stock or even as a pattern or design separate to the print beneath.
FOILING
Foil finishes are applied using a heated die, with a sheet of foil ‘film’, to stamp the design onto the product. Foils are most commonly used in metallic finishes such as gold, silver or even holographic, but can also be applied using solid colour foils in a range of colours including pastel and matt shades. Foil is often used for logos or key design elements.
EMBOSSING / DEBOSSING
Embossing is a process used to create raised areas of paper or card. Debossing is a process used to create depressed/indented areas of paper or card (the opposite of embossing).
A die is used to stamp the chosen design into the paper stock, adding physical depth and a tactile feel. This can be used in conjunction with printed areas to emphasise them or can be used alone (known as ‘blind embossing/debossing’) to achieve a more subtle finish.
All of these processes can be used in a variety of ways or combinations to enhance the final appearance and feel of a product.
If you want to know more about how different print finishes can be applied to your products, get in touch here.