SPECIALIST FINISHES
We offer a range of finishes and embelishments to ensure your printed item has the desired impact, lasting impression and making it unique.
Lamination
Lamination is the process of applying a thin film to the surface of a printed sheet to enhance the look, feel and longevity of an item. there are a number of different finishes but primarily these are Matt, Gloss or Soft touch. The lamination process is applied to the printed sheet and cut down to size with no additional borders. This is often confused with ‘encapsulation’.
Duplexing
Duplexing is the process where two individual sheets of material are adhered together to double the thickness of an item. Many printing machines have limitations to the thickness of material that can be passed through the rollers. Duplexing allows for any item to be made thicker, if required. A different material (colour or texture) can be used and stuck together making for a unique and individual look and feel.
Triplexing
Triplexing uses the same adhesion process as duplexing, although 3 sheets of material are used. The main uses for this process are to get the item even thicker, and also to add a colourful touch with a coloured card central to the outer sheets.
Die Cutting
Items which do not have straight edges or right angles cannot be trimmed on a conventional guillotine. These items will require die cutting to achieve the irregular angles, radius, slits or holes. This process requires a cutter guide or ‘die’ which is then used on a platen or cylinder which applies pressure between the printed sheet and the die to cut or punch out the desired area. This can be a great way to make your item unique and funtional.
Embossing
and De-bossing
Embossing and De-bossing uses a similar process to die cutting, where a guide is produced to create an impression on the desired area. Embossing This can be used to great effect in several ways. It can be combined with foiling, spot varnish and print. This process is used to either raise (emboss) or depress (de-boss) a particular area on the printed item. If used, this can immediately make a flat printed item more tactile and interesting.
Foil Blocking
Foil blocking is the process of adding foil on to a printed design by using a die. This foil is permanently stuck to the design in order to create a shiny metallic effect. Foil blocking in generally added to the printed media in order to help bring emphasis to certain areas of the design. When used in moderation foiling can suit a brand which is trying to come across as premium as you can achieve a shiny metallic gold effect.
Foil Sleeking
Sleeking is a foil stamping solution for short-run digital applications. Sleeking uses pressure and heat and unique foils that bond with toners. As no dies are required this allows for some amazing special effects that are cost effective. Sleeking technology can apply a metallic finish, such as gold or silver and other coloured foils, or holographic. This can be applied to particular substrates and laminated finishes.
Thermogaphy
Thermography uses a powder and heat process to give a raised image area to a lithographic printed colour. The powder is dusted over the wet ink and put under direct heat. the powder melts and expands giving a raised feel to the intended areas. this process must be printed lithographically in a solid colour. Pantone color can be used and make for a vibrant result.
Spot UV Varnishing
UV (ultra violet) Varnish is a liquid coating used to ‘mask off’ any area of a design and enhance it. This is generally added to particular areas of text, logos or images whilst leaving the remainder of the page unaffected). UV varnishes come in an variety of finishes including gloss and matt but also glitter and latex which allows for the production of scratch cards. this process is most effective when used with a matt lamination to contrast the areas which are not UV varnished.
Mounting
The mounting process is when 2 substrates are adhered together to create different finshed product. This is usually used to take a printed item and make it rigid for a different use. This can be used for items like display boards and items which are produced in a large format, but can also be used to create unique items or bespoke boxes, or hard back books.
