Print Finishing

Good quality print finishing is often overlooked but can determine the over all look of your finished product. Improve the impact of your work by adding the perfect print finishing. Finishing techniques include cutting and creasing, varnishing, laminating, embossing and foil blocking.

WHY CHOOSE DIFFERENT PRINT FINISHES?

Other than the essential print finishing like cutting, creasing and binding, you can add other kinds of finishing to your print to achieve different looks and produce a higher quality print job. Here at JPL we offer many different print finishes, here are just a few:

Print varnishing is used to reduce or accentuate particular items on the printed page as well as improve durability of the item. Gloss varnish gives a shiny coating which tends to heighten the impact of photographs or particular design elements on the page. Matt varnish gives a smooth look that doesn’t reflect the light (which can heighten impact in brightly lit areas where reflections might obscure the cover messages). Silk varnish sits between gloss and matt varnishes.

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. Matte laminated prints are more subdued but add a very luxurious and elegant finish to the printed surface. Typically, lamination is used if sturdiness is required such as for business cards and soft covered books. Also lamination tends to be one of the more expensive looking print finishes.

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 blocking is the use of a malleable metallic material applied to the print surface by using heat and pressure. Foil blocking adds reflective properties to various elements of your design and can serve to add a bit of luxury to your project.

Embossing uses a specially-made die under high pressure to form a raised three-dimensional impression that allows you to literally feel the design. It is a graceful effect that brings a touch of class to your piece.

There are also may different ways you can bind, fold or stitch you print, please contact us to discuss any specific needs you require.