Study Task 13 - Print Finsishes

Looking into print finishes, There are certain aspects I need to consider to understand print finishes, such as: production methods, digital preparations, costs, potential uses. 

Varnish

looking into Varnish, and firstly thinking that varnish is related with wood, but it also can be applied to paper. Varnish gives a smooth and consistent texture as well as having the added benefit of sealing the paper to protect it and almost preserve it. Products that use varnish are the likes of high quality books and magazine pages. 

Varnish coating are Available in gloss, satin or dull finishes, with or without tints. Varnishes offer a relatively low degree of protection compared to other coatings and laminates, but they are used widely, thanks to their low cost, flexibility and ease of application. Varnishes are applied just like an ink, using one of the units on the press. Varnish can either be flooded across the entire sheet or spot applied precisely where desired, to add extra gloss to photos, for example, or to protect black backgrounds. Although varnishes must be handled carefully to prevent the release of harmful volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere, when dry they are odourless and inert.

One problem is that over time, they tend to yellow. Yellowing is not a big concern when the varnish is used over process colours, but it is noticeable when the varnish is applied over unprinted paper, especially today's high-brightness blue-white papers. And for some reason, silk, dull and matte coated papers tend to reveal yellowed varnish much more than their gloss-coated counterparts. In an attempt to counteract the yellowing, some printers will add a small amount of opaque optical whitener to the varnish that will be applied over white paper, but it is a less than perfect solution.

Lamination 

Adding a layer of protective coating, glossy or matte, in addition, the printed surface will also offer sturdiness and water resistance. The Design has a tactile feel which allows a smooth finish. 

Glossy Finish: Images can be sharper and have more contrast when using a glossy finish.

Matt Finish: subdued and the design has a luxurious and elegant finish.

Lamination and varnishes are similar however they depend on the outcome of the design. Lamination is sturdier and provides a more tactile design, however it will end up costing your design more as it is a more expensive finish.

Spot UV Varnish 

Spot UV Varnishes are varnishes that are applied to a printed surface, cured/hardened by UV light as it is printing, then results in a glossy coat on the surface. 

UV varnishes are typically a spot application that can be applied to specific parts of the design giving certain aspects highlighted in a uv print. 

This allows a focal interest on certain aspects of the design as they stand out from the rest of the page.

Foil Sampling

Foil stamping is the use of a malleable metallic material which is applied to a print by the use of head and pressure. It adds a reflective property to different elements of a design. It adds a touch of luxury to a piece of work. 

Typically, it is used on text and the logo on the page or when certain elements call for it.

Embossing

Embossing can refer to raising sections of the page to emphasis and apply texture. It creates a depth of physical depth to the embossed elements creating shadows and highlight. Generally, embossing refers to raising parts of the page for emphasis and texture. This print finish adds physical depth to the embossed elements and thus, shadows and highlights are also produced in the design.

Letterpress 

Letterpress printing is one of the oldest printing techniques available. Some printers may call letterpress printing by the term debossing.

A letterpress is used to depress or indent certain portions of the page. It can be seen as the opposite of embossing.Traditionally, the letterpress technique was used only for applying ink on a page as a form of relief printing and usually only for text. But it has evolved to also include pressing logos and other design elements directly into the paper substrate.