Sunvandar - Custom Printing Guide - Post Press

Finish options

No matter it is a paper box or a book cover, finishes are needed for protective purpose in most cases. It can either be varnish or lamination. They are typically used for protecting the ink and increasing the durability of a printed item. Also, they can give your item a different glossness in its appearance.

Varnish

A varnish serves as a liquid coating applied to the paper using a process similar to that of applying ink on a printing press. The chosen varnish type typically corresponds to the finish of the paper, which can be either glossy or matte, and its primary function is to protect the ink printed on the paper.

Except gloss and matte finish, there is another option called satin varnish. To simply put, it’s a combination of matt and gloss varnishes, achieves a balance between medium gloss and high wear resistance. The outcome of a satin varnish creates a subtle aesthetic effect, almost giving the impression that there is no protective layer applied to the substrate.

Lamination

Lamination is a finish that involves applying pressure and heat to adhere a thin layer of polypropylene film onto paper or cardstock. Typically, lamination is used to enhance the durability of printed materials, protecting them from everyday wear and tear and extending their longevity. This process offers a choice of gloss and matte finishes.

Although matte and gloss lamination are sufficient finish options for most of the projects, they are not able to offer enough protection for the printed cover for example with extensive areas of solid color, especially a full black background, scratches and scuffs are easily visible. To address this issue, we have the option of using a scuff-free gloss/matte lamination as an alternative to our standard gloss/matte lamination. This will help protect the paper against scratches and scuffs, preserving their aesthetic appeal.

Additionally, we offer a soft touch matte lamination that not only offers the same protective benefits as scuff-free lamination but also enhances tactility. As the name suggests, it offers a soft and velvet-like texture.

Except protective finish options, there are some other finish options to decorate your book and make it more visually pleasing. Below are some popular finish choices:

Spot UV

Spot UV involves the application of a liquid varnish onto the printed surface to produce an eye-catching high-gloss finish. This finish is often used to enhance specific elements like logos or titles, making them stand out prominently against a matte background. It can significantly elevate the visual appeal of your printed piece and the contrast between the matte and high-gloss elements lends a luxurious appearance to your project, making it truly distinctive.

Here’s an image reference of spot UV effect:

Foil Stamping

Foil stamping uses a heated metal mould to transfer the foil films to add metallic material onto paper, cloths, and leathers. There are many types and colors of foil films, including gold, silver, white, green, red, black, and more. Some of them offer gloss and matte choices in line with your own projects. There is also a holographic foil which can offer a futuristic look.

Here are photos to show a foil stamping mould and its effect on a case:

Here’s a photo to show a gold and red foil onto a case with imitation paper wrapping:

Emboss/deboss

Below is a video that might help you choose your preferred foil films. Do let us know the model no. if you would like to get a more clear photo reference.

Embossing uses custom made dies to raise a specific area of a design above the surrounding paper area. While debossing lowers a particular section of a design below the surrounding surface, resulting in a recessed appearance and tactile sensation. These finishes are frequently employed in conjunction with other specialty options like foil stamping to enhance visual and tactile elements.

(An example of emboss finish)

(An example of deboss finish)

Graining

Graining is a procedure employed to impart a textured pattern across a sheet, transforming ordinary flat paper into a material with a decorative and tactile texture.

(An example of graining)

There are many patterns in China printing market. Here is a video showing graining options for you to select:

Laser cut

Laser cutting employs lasers to precisely cut the print according to the selected design. The laser beam effectively burns through the material's surface, resulting in a high-quality and precise finish that is particularly well-suited for intricate designs.

(An image reference of laser cut finish)

Gilding & digital edge printing

Gilding is the process of applying foil or paints to the outer edges of a book. This technique can be executed using any foil typically employed for foil stamping, or alternatively, a custom PMS ink can be applied to match the printing. Digital edge printing use inkjet print to achieve amazing and stunning results.

(Gold gilding on book edges)

(Digital edge printing on book edges)

Scodix 3D foil & 3D UV

In current packaging and book cover design, Scodix 3D foiling and UV techniques have been gaining attention. These techniques utilize 100% solid content UV curing ink and rely on a nozzle array to deposit a large amount of ink on the substrate's surface, building up graphics and text in micrometers or even millimeters. The ink quickly cures before spreading, achieving a tactile effect known as Scodix Sense. It can also be used for post-curing foil transfer, creating a digital embossing effect called Scodix Foil.

Scodix can achieve effects like "foil on foil" and "UV on UV" by layering ink, creating pronounced raised areas in the design region, resulting in various textures and tactile sensations in the printed materials.

(Scodix 3D foil)

(Scodix 3D UV)