- Die Cut
- Throw Outs
- Glossary / Key-Terms
(all photographic images at the end of the book to digest all at once)
Finishing
Finishing is the added processes after the production and print process. Print finishing can incorporate a wide range of processes that can provide the final touches to a piece of work. It's important to consider that after a piece of work is printed, it often needs cropping and binding which is a finishing process itself, the most common finishing processes are die cutting, foil blocking, varnishing embossing and die cuts to name just a few. We will go through each of these processes in this Finishing book with introductions and examples to help you understand how the processes work, the benefits of them and existing examples of finishing out there today.
Finishing processes may on the surface look like a decorative and fancy added element to a printed piece but they also can have a very important role to play in the success of a product and its durability. For example, a die cut alters the physical product for possible functionality or may provide a window for which other parts of the publication can be viewed, more on this on the die cut pages.
The finishing process is often overlooked in design, especially as design students, you often don't look ahead to the finishing process and assume the work is pushed to the limits as soon as it comes off the printing press, but the finishing process can be equally as important.
Binding <atleast 2 DPS>
Binding is the collective term for the processes regarding putting a publication, magazine or similar product together. Every book you see, or magazine you see has obviously had a binding process, the binding process is probably the most important finishing process, especially in terms of functionality and successfulness of the design, the function and context of the product needs to be considered when deciding what binding method to opt for. Will it need to sit flat? Will it be a flip book, why? Will it be a pocket book designed to be easy to write into? What is the cost of the product, how long is the shelf life?All these considerations need to be factored in.
The following are the most common binding methods used in everyday products:
Wiro/Spiral/Comb binding:
Wiro binding is when opposing metal teeth 'bite' through holes cut into the pages and meet to bind the pages. Spiral binding is when a metal spiral is fed from the top to the bottom through the holes cut in to the pages, to bind the publication, this is more secure than wiro binding. Comb binding follows the same principle as wiro binding, but uses a plastic comb instead of metal teeth.
<illustration of spiral binding>
Self bind:
Some publications can appear to be bound when in fact the only actual finishing process that has been used is folding, which is free! A hotdog booklet is an example of self binding. A map is a typical example of a self binded product.
<illustration of self bind>
Case binding:
Case binding, or edition binding as it is often called is a very durable and long lasting binding process often adopted for the production of hardback books. Vellum is the translucent paper, similar to tracing paper which is used to protect the colour plates in books. Buckram is a course linen like favric, which is used for hardcover binding using glue or gum. Imagine a perfect binded book but with a hard cover binded round it.
<illustration of case bind>
Perfect binding:
Perfect binding is probably the most commonly used binding method and most effective form of binding considering the simplicity of the process itself. Perfect binding is often used for magazines, paperback books, prospectuses and so on. The sections/pages are formed into a block, making sure the edges are perfectly even for good glue coverage. Adhesive is applied to the binding edge, and the cover is attached round, if you do this at home, you'd clamp it together and let it dry. Side sewing binding uses a thread which goes from the front to the back of the text block producing a very strong bind.
<illustration of perfect bind>
Saddle stitching:
Saddle stitch is a binding method which fastens the loose pages of a publication with wire stitches through the central fold.
Z-binding:
Z binding is a z-shaped cover which joins together two separate publications, Z-binding is uncommon and can lead to a unique quality to a product, it offers a solution to the problem of grouping information into distinct different sections of a publication, Z-bind is usually simply two perfect bound books connected with a single cover
<illustration of z-bind>
Dust jackets:
A standard dust-jacket is a loose sheet, usually with flaps, which is help in place between the end-papers of a case-bound book. A french-fold dust jacket as seen below uses an oversize sheet, which is simply folded top and bottom, adding extra strength to the jacket and gives you little pockets.
<french-fold dust jacket illustration>
Bellyband:
A bellyabnd is simply a band of paper which wraps around and secures the pages of a publication, it can be used equally as well with a binded publication or even loost pages, bellybands are typically used with consumer magazines. This 'Print Is Not Easy' publication has a bellyband!
<illustration of bellybands>
Endpapers:
Endpapers are heavy cartridge paper pages that are found at the front and back of a hardback book to the join the block of pages to the hardback binding. Endpapers are sometimes glued to the inside of the hard cover, to add colour and sometimes extra notes such as publisher notes.
<diagram of endpapers>
Foil Blocking
Foil blocking is a processes involving coloured foil which is pressed onto a substrate or stock via a red-hot heated die, the heat causes the foil to separate from it's backing only where the heated die touches it The die basically relief prints the foil into a substrate. A common foil blocking press is the Heidelberg press. Foil is usually a thin polyester film containing a dry pigment. Several terms are used to describe this process including foiling, foil stamping, heat stamping, hot stamping, leaf printing, block printing and foil emboss... they all basically mean the same thing.
Flat stamping gives a basic flat stamp with a slightly raised print, leaving no impression on the reverse. Multi-level stamping is a die-created with multiple levels and textures which can basically foil emboss, leaving an impression on the reverse side, this is more expensive.
Foil blocking is a very common finishing process when it comes to invitations such as wedding invitations and luxurious literature such as a Bible, for example.
<diagram of foil blocking, die + foil + substrate>
<pic of foil blocking>
SNASK
Black Foil Block on textured paper Anthon B Nilsen by Heydays
Varnishing
A varnish is a colourless coating that is often applied to a printed piece to add a shine or gloss. It also quite importantly protects the ink from smudging or blurring and the substrate from scuffing. Varnish is a very common finishing process, it can be subtle yet appreciated and add interest to a product. Varnishes typically produce three different finished - gloss, dull or satin and also in some cases a UV coating.
Applying a varnish increases colour absorption and makes the ink underneath look more vivid and saturated, it also speeds up the drying process. The varnish helps to prevent the ink rubbing off when the substrate is handled.
Varnish can be applied in-line or wet;which means it's essentially treated as an additional colour during the printed process and applied as such, straight after process colours and spot colours. A wet layer of varnish is applied to wet ink and both are absorbed into the stock and dry together, this reduces the visual impact of the varnish though. An off-line varnish is applied once the inks have dried and therefore less is absorbed by the stock and has more visual impact. Varnishing performs better on coated stocks, because less is absorbed by the stock and it nicely sits on the surface.
Varnishes can be used for different effects and in some cases really add to the interactivity of the product as seen opposite >
This poster by Ronald Tiango is a clear spot varnish which reveals itself when dirtied up. Very clever and interactive.
There are several varnish types out there, such as matt varnish, typically used fo text heavy pages to diffuse light and glare to increase readability. Gloss varnish, which reflects light back and enhances the appearance of photographs and adds sharpness and saturation. There's even pearlescent varnish out there which subtly reflects a variety of colours to give a luxurious colourful effect.
Embossing & Debossing
An emboss or deboss is a designin that is stamped into a substrate to create a raised or recessed impression, sometimes with a combination of ink or foil. Embossing is highly decorative, and as print is very much about how a piece of work feels, embossing is a very important and often overlooked finishing process. We often interact with embossed books and cards without realising why we like them, the initial interest is usually because it's foiled or embossed, or both.
Generally a paper stock with a thicker caliper (basically weight) holds an emboss or drboss much better than thicker stocks. Embossing is similar to foil blocking in that it uses a die, usually accomplished by combining heat and pressure to a substrate. The dies are either male or female, providing a raised or recessed impression. Embossing and debossing is typically done after inking, as trying to ink on an embossed surface instead of a flat surface can't be too fun.
Embossing is a raised impression made in conjuction with ink or foil. Blind embossing is a raised impression made without using ink or foil creating a very subtle impression.
Debossing is a recessed impression made in conjunction with ink or foil. Blind debossing is a recessed impression made without ink or foil.
<diagrams of embossing and debossing>
Recto facing page =
Blind embossing for 344 Design.
Ink + deboss for Fredrik business cards
Die Cut
Die cutting is a process which uses a steel die to cut away a specified section of a design. It is mainly used for decorative purposed and to enhance the visuals and and successfulness of a piece. Pretty much any printed product you see on a low-strength substrate such as paper, rubber, cloth, paper, foam and more is most likely die cut. Along with functionality, die cut's can be used creatively for user enhancement, such as windows cut-out to see parts of the publication beneath the surface. Die cutting basically punches out a shape from a substrate using steel edges and pressure.
Common examples of die-cut products are labels, corrugated boxes and envelopes.
ICTR Identity by TOMATDESIGN. Die cut hole in the facing page, gives a sneak peek of the page underneath.
die-cut + pop-up
Throw-outs
A throw out is a folded sheet of paper which is bound into a publication to provide extra space for content and to show an individual image or visual element, throw-outs can add interest and a break way from the monotony of flicking through a publication. If a throw-out appears, you will definitely open it up, even if you're aimlessly flicking through a book.
To open a throw out, the extra panel is extended horizontally and sometimves vertically. The sheet will have a slightly smaller dimension than the overall publication so that it folds and nests comfortably within the publication, preparation is key for a throw-out as it will usually be a long leaf which binds along with the rest of the pages and only comfortably forms a seamless part of the book when folded back in.
<diagrams of throw outs>
Here you can see the recto (right) page is a double panel page, which folds out giving you double the space for content, once folded back in it causes no irregularities with the sizing of the book.
<diagram of throw up dps>
You can see here a vertical throw up, slightyl different to a throw out as it opens vertically, this is a double page spread fold out, once it's folded up you now have two double page spreads.
Facing page = example
Glossary
Dies: The mould, usually made of steel or copper used to apply heat in a controlled manner to foil or a stock directly in order to apply foil or create a raised or recessed impression
Blind emboss: creating a raised impression on paper without inking, using a die
Recto: The right hand page of a double page spread
Verso: The left hand page of a double page spread
Endpapers: Cartridge papers binded to the front and back of the pages, to make contact with a hardcover book for, usually, case binding
Fluorescent: A vibrant special colour that can not be reproduced by process colours. Special colour, can also apply flourescent varnishes.
Fore-edge printing: A special printing process for the fore-edge of a publication's pages. Gilding is a form of fore-edge printing
French fold: A sheet of paper that is only printed on one side and folded with two right-angle folds to form a four-page, uncut section. The section is sewn through the fold while the top edges remain folded and untrimmed
Dust jacket: A loose cover cover to protect the boards of an edition bound book
Foil stamp: Foil pressed on to a substrate using heat, pressure and a die leaving a foiled impression
Bellyband: A printed band that wraps around the belly of a publication; typically used on magazines.
Laminate: A stock made by bonding two or more layers together. Typically used to provide a thick cover stock comprising a cheap liner with a printable outer.
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