What Are Print Finishing Services, and Why Do You Need Them?
The creation and design process of a high-impact print piece is no easy feat. It takes time, money, and effort from the whole team to get the job done right. With the amount of energy that goes into making a great print piece, it’s just as important to have the print job be of equally high quality.
That’s why we recommend designing with a final look in mind. Since the process is not as simple as ordering a generic print, it is important to fully consider the various print finishes available to get the full finished look you’re after. This strategy helps eliminate last-minute decisions, indecisiveness, and can accomplish your final design faster.
What are Print Finishing Services?
Print finishing refers to the actions performed on your design once it’s been printed to improve either the look or functionality. From making your product more eye-catching or simply wanting to add protection, there are several techniques to ensure you get the finished look you’re after.
Here are the most common types of print finishes, how they work, and what they look like.
Binding
Binding is the process of fastening separate sheets of paper together into a book-like form. Several types of binding can be completed depending on the project, including:
Saddle Stitching: Commonly used for magazines, booklets, brochures, catalogs, and pamphlets, saddle stitching is one of the most popular and cost-effective means of binding. In the saddle stitching binding process, several sheets of paper are nested into one another and attached by staples to create the fold. More specifically, these sheets of paper are laid over a base, giving it the appearance of legs over a saddle – hence the name – where long staples are “stitched” through the paper to hold everything in place.
Perfect Binding: Perfect binding is a form of adhesive binding that gives publications a perfectly bound rectangular backbone, making them excellent for books, corporate reports, manuals, brochures, and annual reports. The flexible adhesive attaches a cover to the spine that is then placed around the inside pages, giving it that perfect strong yet flexible feeling when flipping through the publication.
Wire-O Binding: Wire-O binding is a technique that uses circular double-wire strip through pre-punched square holes along the binding edge, allowing the pages to be turned 360 degrees without damaging the binding. As such, Wire-O bound books can lie flat when open, making them a great choice for presenting information in a more formal, organized, and professional way, making them ideal for manuals, notebooks calendars, and more.
Spiral Binding: Spiral binding uses a spiral or plastic coil using a PVC coil that is spun through punched paper and then cut and crimped to prevent the coil from spinning back out. Coil binding is ideal for any publication you may use as a daily reference to read or write in. Thanks to the durability of the plastic coil, you can flip through pages thousands of times before seeing wear and tear. Spiral binding is usually used for reports, calendars, and manuals.
Mounting
A great print piece deserves to be on display. Mounting a print piece is simply the process of gluing a print to a rigid, lightweight material, such as a foam core or mat board. The very reason for using a stiff and light board is what makes mounting a great option for business presentation materials or hanging photographs. Mounting boards come in a few styles and varieties but are usually ¼ inch thick, giving it that “floating off the wall” look. Mounted prints are easy to hang and can be framed for a more professional feel to avoid wrinkles and bends.
Folding
While folding a print design might seem like a relatively simple concept, it’s a great way to physically reduce the size of a printed piece allowing it to fit inside something else, like a folder or envelope. This smaller size can make it easier to disseminate your printed piece. It’s also used to affordably increase the impact of any printed piece. A tri-fold brochure is one of the most popular options, but business cards, menus, guides, catalogs, and newsletters can all incorporate a fold to increase appeal.
Embossing and Foil Stamping
The creation processes of foil stamping and embossing are very similar but produce vastly different results. In foil stamping, heat is used on a metallic film to create a shiny design on top of a label. In embossing, an image is pressed into the back of a label giving it the appearance of being on the front of the label. Essentially, foil stamping transfers colorful foils to the front of a print design, while embossing creates an image through the back of a print design.
Die Cutting
Die cutting helps you get your print into any shape you desire. In the die-making process, a sharp, thin, metal blade is formed into a specific shape to cut out the print material. The die is then embedded into a wooden die-cutting block where the print material is fed onto the die and is pressed against the metal blade, which is known as a die cut – giving your print piece a smooth and distinctive shape.
Packaging
Packaging keeps things organized. Whether it’s something as simple as holding flyers to promote a business, medication to keep loved ones healthy, or even sweet, sugary candy to bring a smile to a child’s face – these all require packaging to put things in place. Packaging is more than a practical tool, however. It draws a consumer’s eye on the shelf, reflects the value of the contents within, and emulates the brand’s identity and promise, all while telling a story through a sensual experience.
Handwork
To give you the full look and feel you’re after, any finishing touches that can’t be created by machine are completed with our own two hands. Whatever it might be, we can probably do it. This includes collating papers, hand trimming, folding, and gluing - anything that requires special added attention to get the project just right.
Print finishing services are important because they give the print a professional look, a long-lasting impression, and maximize the value. With a wide variety of print finishes to choose from, you can get a project to accommodate any of your desires and needs.
At Phillips, we work hard to help our clients make the right first impression, because we know best, first impressions matter. Interested in learning more about how Phillips could help with your next finishing design project? Reach out for a quote today!