Finish Perforation/Duplexing Foiling Embossing Flocking Laser cutting
Perforation
There are many different finish techniques that add to a design after it has been printed, these techniques may be more expensive and time consuming, also produced in lower, but they certainly add value to a design. Perforation, or perf cutting, is a process that creates a cut-out area in a substrate or on a stock to weaken it so that it can be detached, or it is used to create a decorative effect.
Duplexing Duplexing is the bonding of two stocks to form a single substrate with different colours or textures on each side. Duplexing is a very useful finish as it allows design to have more dimension to it, and allows it to be more versatile by having either multiple colours or textures in the design.
Foiling Foil blocking is a process where a design is applied to a screen, like screen print, although instead of ink, a glue substance is pushed through onto a stock, then a coloured foil is pressed on to a substrate via a heated press. Also called foil stamp, heat stamp or foil emboss, the process allows the designer to add a shiny finish specific design elements such as title text. Foiling is aesthetically pleasing and worth while, although it is time consuming and has a low production. Squeegee
Glue
Screen
Stock
Embossing Embossing or debossing is a design that is stamped into a substrate to produce a decorative raised or indented surface respectively. Embossing can be done with copper/magnesium/ brass plates or hard laser cut woods. Thinner stocks can hold more detail than thicker stocks, but intricate designs do not reproduce well. Thicker stocks generally require thicker lines to reproduce well as the image has to press through more fibres. An emboss may be made with foil to give colouration to the design, but they are frequently made blind without the use of foil to add a tactile element to a design. Embossing is low production and high cost, although adds a lot to a piece of design. Embossing press Bulk
Embossing plate(inside) Stock
Flocking Flocking is the process of depositing many small fibre particles, called flock, onto a stock. The process is similar to foiling, it also uses a screen and glue, although instead of placing foil onto a stock, place flock on it and heat press the substrate between newsprint to protect the design. Flocking is a technique which is used to give a different texture or aesthetic to a design. Squeegee
Glue
Screen
Stock
Laser cutting Laser cutting uses a laser to cut shapes into the stock rather then use a mental tool. Laser cutting can produce more intricate cut-outs with a cleaner edge than a steel die although the heat of the laser burns the cut edge. Faster set-up times mean faster job turnaround, therefore its more time effective to use laser cut. As well as cutting out shapes, a laser cutter can kiss cut substrates too, kiss cutting is commonly seen in the production of stickers.
Laser cover
Laser
Vacume bed
Stock