Print finishing

Print finishes allow you to not only make your print products appear higher quality and more sophisticated, but also increase their durability. Regardless of whether you are designing brochures, packaging or invitation cards - you can enhance surfaces and at the same time protect them from external influences such as scratches or moisture with targeted print finishes. Thanks to technical progress, there are numerous processes available to you today that you can use to customise your printed products and make an impact. Find out which types of finishing are possible in printing, how they are implemented and what advantages and disadvantages they have in the print24 blog post.

What is print finishing?

Print finishing refers to the targeted modification of the surface of a print medium. This can be done either directly in the printing process (inline) or in a downstream process. Depending on the technique, print finishes create special tactile, visual or textural effects - from glossy coatings to tactile embossing. This not only enhances the appearance of your printed products, but also significantly improves their quality.

With special coatings such as UV varnish or film lamination, print finishes can also serve as a protective layer. They protect your products from scratches, abrasion, tears, dirt or moisture - a decisive advantage, especially for packaging or high-quality advertising materials.

Areas of application for print finishes

The effect of print finishes makes them particularly attractive for use in marketing, advertising and packaging design. However, you can also benefit from print finishes in the private sector - for example for exclusive invitations to weddings, anniversaries or other special occasions. Depending on the style and target group, your print products can be either eye-catching or discreetly enhanced with print finishes.

Overview: types of print finishes

Today, the variety of print finishes is greater than ever. They serve to enhance the look, feel and quality of your print products. Common processes include:Each of these print finishes has its own advantages - from increased resistance to an unmistakable look that makes your print products unique.

• Varnishing (e.g. UV varnish, relief varnish)
• Foil embossing (hot foil stamping, cold foil transfer)
• Embossing (blind embossing, relief embossing)
• Lamination (matt, gloss, soft touch)
• Laser-cut and die-cutting

Each of these print finishes has its own advantages - from increased resistance to an unmistakable look that makes your print products unique.

Coatings for print finishing

If you want to finish your printed products, there are various varnishes available that fulfil both optical and protective functions.

UV coatings and dispersion coatings in particular - also known as water-based coatings - are frequently used in book production. They can either be used over the entire surface as a protective coating or partially to emphasise contours. You also have the option of using relief, scented or drip-off varnishes to achieve special effects.

Dispersion varnish - water-based print finishing with fast drying and a high protection factor

Dispersion v arnish is a printing varnish that consists of water-based components. After printing, it is applied to the paper and evaporates or is removed mechanically. The drying time is short and can be further accelerated by applying heat. Depending on the type of varnish used, you can give your print product a matt or glossy finish. At the same time, you improve the paper properties and increase the rub protection - the printing ink is less likely to rub off. Dispersion varnish can also be used directly in inline production.

The composition of the dispersion coating includes polymer dispersions, hydrosols, synthetic resins, film-binding aids, wax dispersions, wetting agents and defoamers. After application, the water evaporates and the water-soluble resins combine to form a smooth surface. This form of print finishing is particularly uncomplicated as it is easy to apply and dries quickly. It forms a protective layer that not only protects your print product from abrasion, but also from water penetration. In addition, the coating does not yellow and does not discolour overlying printed sheets. As the dispersion varnish remains elastic, you can easily process it in grooves, slots or foil embossing. One disadvantage, however, is that subsequent labelling, reprinting or stamping is difficult - the ink smudges and dries slowly.

Radiant impression with UV varnish - finishing for durable and elegant print media

UV varnish - also knownas UV spot varnish or partial UV varnish - allows you to create high-gloss effects. These are created by deliberately alternating between coated and uncoated areas and at the same time create a strong tactile impression. You can apply a matt or glossy UV coating. It consists of polymerisable binders and dries within a few seconds - but only with special UV drying systems. As no high temperatures are required, UV varnish is also suitable for heat-sensitive substrates.

Print finishes with UV varnish not only produce impressive visual and tactile effects, but also provide additional protection for your print products. UV varnish is particularly favoured for spot varnishing or partial applications on design elements. In contrast to dispersion varnish, UV varnish consists entirely of solid particles - no water or solvents are used. This makes it a more environmentally friendly alternative.

It is applied using a roller, which applies the solid synthetic resin particles to your print product as a film. Subsequent UV exposure causes the particles to cross-link to form a stable, full-surface layer. This cross-linking also allows thicker layers of varnish, which are particularly effective. This makes print finishes with UV coating appear even glossier or more matt - just as you wish. The resulting protective layer ensures high abrasion resistance and stability, which is particularly advantageous for flyers and postcards. Your printed products remain hard-wearing, abrasion-resistant and of lasting high quality.

Relief varnish - three-dimensional effects for your print products

Relief v arnish is a special form of UV varnishing. You can use it to highlight lettering and motifs in three dimensions - either transparent or pigmented in colour. The substrate remains unchanged as there is no deformation. Relief varnish is available in both matt and glossy versions and can also be used as textured, contour, water droplet or Braille varnish (Braille for the blind).

Relief varnish can be applied in particularly thick layers using the screen printing process. After curing with UV light, impressive effects are created, especially with rough or linear motifs. If you choose a matt substrate, glossy lettering looks particularly high-contrast and high-quality. Print finishes with relief varnish are therefore ideal for emphasising headlines, book titles or brochure covers.

You can use relief varnish on coated and smooth paper as well as on foils and laminates without any problems. Please note, however, that the more intricate the motif, the thinner the possible layer thickness - but the effect will still be clearly visible. With very large motifs, the surface can appear uneven and the varnish tends to sink in slightly in the centre. In addition, transparent relief varnish changes the underlying colours. If you stack your printed products, you should bear in mind that the varnish can be printed onto other sheets.

Scented varnish - sensual print finishing with an aroma effect

Scented varnish also offers you a special option for print finishing. This is an effect varnish that is enriched with micro-encapsulated flavourings. These are integrated using a chemical-physical process and supplemented with stabilisers. The scented varnish is applied to your printed product as the final layer.

As soon as pressure or friction is applied - for example when a label is opened - the microcapsules burst open and release the fragrance. As not all the capsules burst at the same time, the fragrance effect can last for up to ten years. You have the choice between numerous

fragrances that can be customised to your product.

Print finishes with scented varnishes can be applied both partially and over the entire surface using flexographic, gravure, screen and offset printing processes. The web offset, screen and sheet-fed printing processes are particularly suitable. High varnish layers can be achieved in screen printing, making the scent particularly intense.

Drip-off varnish - contrasts through chemical interactions

Two chemically different varnishes are used for print finishing with drip-off varnish . Firstly, you apply matt oil colours to the desired areas. Then a high-gloss, water-based thermal dispersion varnish is printed over the entire surface using a wet-on-wet process.

The different surface tensions and the repulsion effects between oil and water create the characteristic drip-off effect. This makes matt areas appear even duller, while glossy surfaces stand out clearly. This print finishing is based on reflection differences and creates impressive contrasts. The process is particularly popular for annual reports, high-quality product catalogues or image brochures.

Other types of varnish for print finishing

In addition to the above-mentioned variants, there are numerous other varnishes available with which you can finish your print products:

• Sand varnish for a rough, textured surface
• Soft-touch varnish for a velvety feel
• Iriodin varnish with shimmering pearlescent effects
• Glitter varnish for sparkling highlights
• Silver and gold lacquer for metallic accents
• Thermal varnish with temperature-dependent colour effects

With these print finishes, you not only give your print products a special look, but also an individual touch that leaves an impression.

Embossing for print finishing

Embossing is a particularly effective type of print finishing. In this process, the surface of your print material is remodelled through the targeted use of temperature, pressure and time. You can apply embossing both partially and over the entire surface - which is why this process is also known as embossed foil printing. The various types of embossing can generally be realised easily and cost-effectively.

Two steel rollers press a previously defined motif into the embossing material. One of the rollers contains the engraved motif and is heated to transfer it to the substrate. The second roller is coated with a heat-resistant, elastic material that yields to the embossing tool, creating a three-dimensional image. While your substrate is between the rollers, it is important to precisely control the pressure and temperature so as not to damage the material.

Variants of embossing as a print finish

You can choose between different embossing processes, each of which creates its own visual and tactile effects:

• Blind embossing: With blind embossing, your paper is either highly or deeply embossed - completely without additional colour or foil. Using an embossing die, the material is deformed by pressure and, if necessary, temperature. The effect is created by the interplay of light and shadow, which elegantly emphasises the print finish. The prerequisite for successful blind embossing is sufficiently long paper fibres that can be easily shaped.

  
  

• Hot foil stamping: In hot foil stamping, a coloured foil - such as gold, silver, metallic or copper - is transferred to your printed product under heat (between 80 and 200 °C) and pressure. A special embossing stamp ensures exact placement. This print finish gives your medium a particularly elegant appearance and creates a tangible 3D effect as well as visual highlights through light reflection. Hot foil stamping is particularly popular for envelopes, book covers, brochures and business cards. It is preferably used in the sheet-fed printing process, as the production of the embossing plates is more complex.

  
  

• Relief embossing: If you want to emphasise certain areas of your printed object, relief embossing is a good option. In this process, both the embossing foil and the substrate are shaped three-dimensionally - either raised or recessed. The combination of the play of light and shadow and the altered feel significantly increases the exclusivity of your product. Relief embossing can be carried out in a single work step using relief cut engraving, in which foil transfer and moulding take place simultaneously. Alternatively, a two-stage process is also possible, in which the foil is transferred first and then the reliefs are added using blind embossing. However, the latter is more cost-intensive and is therefore used less frequently.

  
  

• Steel engraving: Steel engraving is considered one of the finest embossing processes and is produced using gravure printing. This creates a particularly sharp print image that is raised and tactile on the front. The reverse of your printed product is also embossed, complemented by the finest lines and hatching. The printing areas are recessed and coated with a special varnish colour. The paper is then pressed into the colour recess - this allows finer lines to be achieved than with hot foil stamping.

Further print finishing methods: from flocking to lamination

In addition to the processes already mentioned, there are other specialised print finishing options available to you that you can use to give your print products an individual and high-quality design.

Velvet meets texture - flocking as a creative finish for high-quality print products

Flocking as a print finish creates a tactile surface that you can feel with your fingertips. Fibres of different lengths and strengths are applied to the coated surface of your print product using an adhesive. This creates velvety, plush or brush-like structures.

Thanks to high-quality adhesive formulations, the flocking remains stable for a long time. The fibres are available in various colour nuances - however, multi-coloured flocking is associated with increased effort and corresponding costs. Fine lines cannot be realised with this technique. As an alternative to the adhesive process, you can also use partial flock printing.

Innovative print finishes: Lenticular printing, foil techniques and laser engraving for high-quality print products

• Lenticularprinting: With lenticular printing, you can achieve impressive visual effects such as 3D images, wobbling images, zooming, morphing or animations - often combined with optical illusions. Several image variants are precisely mounted in strip form and pasted over with a lenticular film. Different image effects are created depending on the viewing angle. You can combine up to 34 computer-generated image variants to achieve a particularly dynamic print result.

• Cold foil transfer: Cold foil transfer offers you an elegant print finishing option in which a foil is applied to the print substrate. This can be printed directly inline - i.e. immediately after application in the printing press. As no high temperatures are required, this is referred to as cold foil finishing. It is particularly suitable for temperature-sensitive materials and enables metallic effects without thermal stress.

• Film lamination: With film lamination, a fine film is applied to the entire surface of your print product with adhesive after printing. The films used are made of polypropylene, polyester, PVC or acetate and are available in matt, glossy or soft-touch versions. This form of print finishing - also known as film lamination or cellophane wrapping - increases the stability of your product and reliably protects it from moisture, mechanical influences and dirt.

• Lamination: For a particularly robust protective layer, you can have your printed product laminated. This involves bonding a thin, usually film-like layer to a carrier material using adhesive - on both sides. This means that your print object is completely enclosed by a stable protective layer, which significantly increases its durability.

• Laser cutting & laser engraving: Laser cutting, laser engraving or laser cutting can be used to create extremely fine cut-outs and contours from paper or cardboard. With the help of precise laser beams, you can create graphics, logos or other design elements with a high level of detail. The results look particularly elegant and give your print product an exclusive touch.

Whether tangible structures, glossy highlights or fragrant surprise effects - the world of print finishing offers you an impressive variety of options for customising your print products with a high-quality finish.

Conclusion: A wide range of print finishes - your options at print24

No matter whether you are looking for elegant hot foil stamping, eye-catching UV varnishing or velvety flocking: At print24 many of these finishes can be realised professionally and reliably. This not only gives your printed products a special look, but also a noticeable value that leaves an impression.