The type of paper and finish can have a
dramatic effect on your
printed material. Special inks from the
Pantone range such as
metallics, pastels and fluorescents, along
with coated, uncoated
and textured finish options, will all
impact on the overall quality
and messages of your item. Here, we’re
taking a look at the
different types of paper and print finishes
that can be used.
Print finishes
Blind emboss
This is the process of raising letters or designs
on card or tough paper where no printed
image has been added. Blind embossing is
a raised (embossed) surface, whilst blind
debossing gives a depressed (debossed)
surface in the paper
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.
Emboss
The technique of raising up a portion of the
printed page to create a shadow and adding
dimension to a design or image. This, like foil
blocking, requires a special dye and accurate
registration. Putting a texture on the paper is
also a form of embossing. Referring to heavily
textured paper as “embossed” paper is simply
a way to explain that the paper isn’t smooth
and has a noticeable texture
Blocking
To impress or stamp a design on a cover. The
design can be blocked in colour inks, gold leaf
or metal foil. This is most commonly used on
case bound book covers.
Digital Printing
This involves printing straight from electronic
artwork, eg. from a PDF (no plates are involved
unlike litho printing). Typically printed out of
four colour process and ideal for short run
printing (10 – 100 copies). This process can
also be used for personalisations, so each
piece can have elements that are unique to the
recipient, starting with their name.
Foil Blocking
Metallic foil is applied to a page using heat and
pressure to create a reflective area. The effect
is more eye catching than a metallic ink given
the foil’s greater reflective properties as it sits
on top of the paper, whereas ink is partially
absorbed. There are also matt foils that can be
applied to gloss or reflective materials. White
foil is ideal for use on dark coloured materials.
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.
Kiss Cut
A shaped cut out from two layered stock
(Duplex). It is mostly used for peel off stickers.
Laminating
A thin plastic protective layer used on covers
of printed literature, mainly brochures, in either
gloss, satin or matt finish. The lamination is
not always visible (especially when a matt
laminate) as it is heat sealed onto the paper.
However, it can be felt as it creates a smooth
and impervious finish. Gloss lamination is more
easily seen and again gives a tactile quality to
the page. Matt lamination in particular is prone
to scuffing, whilst satin laminates are the most
scuff resistant. Biodegradable versions are
now available.
Heat Embossing
Thermographic printing is a powder and heat
process. The powder becomes liquid when
heated and quickly dries hard when it cools. The
end result is a raised surface on the paper. This
is often used on business cards but can create
interesting textures for invites and postcards
UV
UV is a special varnish which has undergone
an accelerated drying process using ultra
violet. A gloss UV varnish gives a very shiny
effect, especially when used on printed matter
with a matt laminate. With both gloss and matt
finishes available, UV varnish gives a similar
effect to lamination (although the process
is more akin to printing a spot colour). The
advantage is that it can be printed onto specific
sections of a page to enhance a logo or image.
Varnishes
Varnishes are applied to protect printed
literature from ink smudging, finger marks or
to enhance the appearance. There are five
main types – machine, gloss, matt, silk and
UV. Varnishes are commonly used on matt or
silk coated paper as these are more prone to
smudging than gloss coated paper. Applying
varnish to the whole document as a seal is an
‘overall varnish’ whilst applying it to specific
areas for effect is a ‘spot varnish’. However,
this is more costly as the job is taken off the
press and allowed to dry, before the varnish is
applied on the press at a later date. The gloss
varnish is a more subtle version of the gloss
UV varnish.
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.
Off set litho
A printing process by which the inked image
to be printed is transferred (offset) first to a
rubber layer before contact with the paper,
which takes up the inked areas. Higher quality
than digital and can be used to print CMYK,
specials or a mix of the two.
Metallic Inks
These are spot printed onto a page and can
add another dimension to literature as they
have a reflective quality due to their metallic
components. Available in a variety of Pantone
colours, they are best used simply and
sparingly, due to the viscosity of the ink. They
can be prone to rubbing off if not coated or
sealed.
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