Print Techniques for Producing the Best Print Jobs

Print Quality, Why it Matters...

Any printing job for a client needs to be completed to the highest standards. Whether it is flyers, business cards, banners, birthday cards or simple letterheads, ensuring that the client is fully satisfied with the final product is key for future business. Not only will it say a lot about your business, but will also show the standard of print work you can produce. This article aims to give some tips and advice on improving the finished print job, which may come in useful in the future.

5 Ways of Adding Flair to your Print Jobs

Adding flair to print production jobs makes them unique. There are a number of techniques, which you can use to add pizzazz to a special print job. For great results to be achieved, these procedures should be done during the final stage of printing and will definitely add to the overall cost of your printing. Some of the print jobs that can fit into these special and unique effects are brochures, invitations and folders among others.

1. Embossing

Embossing entails the use of pressure; heat and metal die to reshape a surface of a paper. Embossing ensures the image is raised on the surface of the paper while debossing ensures the image is lowered. There are certain instances when this can be combined with a foil to produce superb results. However, to achieve more intricate designs, you may have to use a pricey brass die which will give you print runs with more than 1000 impressions. The cost of dies depends on size and the final result, which it offers, is exceptional. Embossing produces perfect results on textured papers.

2. Foil Stamping

This process entails the use of heated dies in the creation of stamped impression on paper. There are many materials, colours and designs that you can choose from. Artists who want to create more stunning three-dimensional images can combine embossing and foil stamping.

3. Die Cuts

This is a technique where some parts are punched out with steel blades. Die cuts can be quite simple and can compare to slits designed to be used in holding corners of business cards that have already been designed and a wide range of other print jobs. When used on the external side of a piece, die cuts are designed to allow the inner part of an image to be shown on the outside. This effect brings a lot of creativity to the print work especially when the die cut is designed into unique shapes. Die cuts are used around the corners, holes, flaps, pop ups and windows.

3. Varnish

Vanish can be put on the surface of printed papers to add dull finish, gloss or satin. The application is done after the work has been printed. Vanish can either be used to improve readability and reproduce the occurrence of glare. Vanish applied on photos that have been printed on matte paper makes the photos pop. This coating offers the photo the protection it requires against scratches, scuffing and finger prints. The varnish ensures the printed pieces get a clear and rubbery look.

4. Curl-free Laminate

This is a simple film laminate commonly used on paperback covers of books to add durability and provide projection against scratches and ultraviolet light. You can get it in matte or gloss finish.

5. Fifth Colour

There are a few colours which do not reproduce quite well if printed with 4 colour process. If your prints are in one of the colours that fall in that particular line, the best consideration to make is opting to run a fifth colour. No matter the kind of print jobs that you have at hand, you can use the above techniques to add flair to them.