When printing there are quite a few considerations to be made which include the stock used, inks and print finishes which add something extra to the print.
http://designinstruct.com/print-design/print-finishes/
Varnishes can be added to paper stock after printing to make the paper more robust without adding too much weight like lamination. They are excellent for magazine and book pages and can be matte, satin or gloss. These choices are dependent on the content of the book and how the book wishes to be portrayed. For example a photography portfolio may be presented better in a gloss as it makes the images give impact and appear up market/ sophisticated.
Examples:
http://designinstruct.com/print-design/print-finishes/
Lamination is a much more sturdy process than varnishes and makes a printed product durable. This is is necessary for prints which will be handled regularly such as business cards and soft cover books which need to be durable. These are used more for their purpose rather than their aesthetic.
http://www.instantprint.co.uk/businesscards/classic
A high gloss could be used for images which want a high contrast and impact for their image sharpness. However a matt finish could be seen as something which is more luxurious and sophisticated.
Spot UV is a process which adds a glossy coating to the print. It is applied to the printing surface and is cured or hardened by UV light during the printing process.
Examples:
I own this book and the dog in the background has a spot UV finish which makes it shiny when the book is moved. In this example it is used to lead the eye towards one of the characters.
When used in business cards it appears incredibly luxurious. It works especially well for small selected parts including text and detailed backgrounds which allow other elements to stand out.
http://www.cuttingedgedesigns.com/images/4769641266_a7445512f3.jpg
http://www.wgbaird.com/links/folio_02.jpg
"This effectively gives texture and focal interest to different areas of the printing surface while leaving other areas untreated."
Foil Stamping
Foil stamping is the use of a malleable metallic material applied to the print surface by using heat and pressure.
http://ohsobeautifulpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Gold-Foil-Business-Cards.jpg
https://www.behance.net/gallery/21865453/Robot-Roy-The-Nutcracker-Toy
https://www.behance.net/gallery/16728009/Nathalie-Marquez-Courtney-Branding
https://www.behance.net/gallery/9364559/Steam-Train-Logo-Corporate-Identity
These finishes work best for businesses which have a large budget and want to portray themselves as luxurious. The gold and silver foiling especially is a reminder of jewellery of the original metals themselves which are also seen as expensive. They are typically used on logo's or text which dominates attention of the page.
Embossing adds texture and can often be seen as being used alongside foiling. These print finishes are often used on expensive products such as gifts, perfume and jewellery. They are used to add texture and can sometimes be used for type and images with no actual printing onto the stock. This print finish adds texture and a three diminutional aspect to the print therefore creating shadows. These finishes allow designs to become tactile as a textured stock would be felt.
http://www.watermarx.net/wp-content/gallery/embossing/blind-emboss-pandora.jpg
debossing is a similar technique but the paper is indented rather than raised. Letterpress can be used to create this finish.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOKotj7ZwMWL4qG0wNgPWC9uWgcAgjlb2J4RbgOUIklY5aLTMxjQnod70ocYskDc9DuJ_tej8gI4tIdMgoSEpmXh16GmAf3l9RJSrmQWjXTx4HSTrrUBdH8HnN1swTaHXJQ6KKDkr8C8d/s640/110971578288481149_fVAcLfRU_c.jpeg
A laser cutter can also be used to die cut images or text out of stock. However when this isn't done correctly it can make the stock appear burnt around the edges therefore to ensure this is done properly you must work with someone who knows how to do this professionally. This usually works best with thicker stock and other materials such as wood.
https://www.behance.net/gallery/5586145/Epson-Ink-Cartridge-Packaging
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-OLoX3wBphEKU9rSAIq2a33WQWDR0MTJ0Mi-Q69dKUFkN9GzcsMIP44oxZ3RjPdc9Ua2pLnSH_mjdstcDBaLEcqEX94SmQkD_U78jikJycfc4WjynLVa-tskzVuKoLz0mUUFetGUQwEs/s1600/coldplaymyloxylotovinylartwork.jpg
Like the coldplay album cover die cut can be used to enhance and lead the eye to important elements of the design which means the foreground is simplistic. Definitely affective with bright colours. Die cutting can also be used by hand and not laser cutting and artists such and Rob Ryan complete delicate artwork.
http://robryanstudio.com
https://www.behance.net/gallery/21688193/wolnosc-antologia-freedom-anthology
As you can see in examples laser cutting can have a burnt affect on the edges which can make the design appear unprofessional.
https://www.behance.net/gallery/21617553/Paul-Bunyan-Typography-Calendar
https://www.behance.net/gallery/10103771/The-Companion-Ale
But on the other hand it can look incredibly professional when executed professionally. Onto wood it appears quite natural even though it is designed using a computer and machinery. It is completely dependent on the project as to whether this works with the brief or not.
On the whole these processes are expensive and usually suit briefs which have an audience with a disposable income.
"A good print finish can sometimes make or break a good design. The challenge, therefore, is finding the right applications and the perfect balance of their use. And really, that’s where print finishing becomes an art in and of itself."
These finishes are crafted and are appreciated by those who understand their complexity and the beauty they provide. However they are not always necessary for every brief. It is important to know that these options are available for future projects and beyond university in outside printers as some/most of these finishes are not available on a small scale but must be accessed through commercial printing.
For my current advertising brief the only print finish that would be appropriate would be that of varnishing or laminating to make the printed material durable. As the project has a natural colour scheme and is about horses the more sophisticated finishes such as foiling/ UV spot finish, embossing/debossing and die cutting would not work at all as they require a high budget which would be essentially fuelled by sales and an audience, for which this project doesn't and would never have. However these processes would be interesting to work with for the personal branding in PPP and responsive briefs.
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