Finishing Techniques - Creative Techniques

Embossing and Debossing

These two techniques are where a design is stamped into a substrate to produce a raised or indented surface.

Embossing

Embossing uses a magnesium, copper or brass die which holds the image to stamp into the stock and leave the impression. With an emboss it pushes the design through the stock to result in a raised surface, for this to happen the deign needs to be slightly oversized, with heavier lines and extra spacing between letterforms.

The copper and brass dies are more durable, so these should be used for high print runs, when using a thicker or abrasive stock, and also if the design is highly detailed.

If you are producing a detailed design then a thinner stock would be better to use, but detailed designs don’t also reproduce well. If you are embossing on a coated stock then be careful that the coating doesn’t crack; these stocks are good for holding detail. An uncoated stock is best for embossing deep designs and generally is a friendlier stock to use for embossing as not a lot can go wrong with it.

Embossing is can be used alongside Foil Blocking to add colour to the embossed area, but the majority of the time it is used blind to create a tactile element to a design.

Debossing

A deboss uses a metal die containing a design which is stamped from above on to the stock to leave an indentation. Debossing also produces better results on a thicker stock because a deeper indentation can be applied.

The result of an emboss or deboss depends upon the fineness of the design and the stock thickness. Generally thinner stocks can hold finer lines, but there is a danger of puncturing the stock, on the other hand thicker stocks are more robust, but lose detail as there are more paper fibres to press through. Choosing the right stock for the process is essential and so is the design; you need to make sure you have the balance right.

Laminates

A laminate is a layer of plastic coating that is heat-sealed on to the stock to produce a smooth and resistant finish to the printed product; it also acts as a protective layer to the stock.

Types of Laminates:

- Matt

a matt laminate helps diffuse light and reduce glare to increase the readability of text heavy designs.

- Satin

This laminate provides a finish that is between matt and gloss. It provides some highlight, but its not as flat as matt.   

- Gloss

A highly reflective laminate that is used to enhance the appearance of graphic elements and photographs on covers as it increases colour saturation.

- Sand

A laminate that creates a subtle sand grain within a design

- Leather

A laminate that gives a subtle leather texture to a design.