Finish your print the right way – Print Finishing Trends 2021

Print marketing will be standing strong for 2021. This type of marketing content separates yourself from an ever increasing digital world. The immense volume of information given to customers on digital platforms, means print will set you apart. Your advertising will be seen more as they’re not ignored or deleted as we so often do in the digital world.

Print advertising also provides a broader customer experience – it allows for a deeper level of engagement than that of digital marketing. Printed pieces are tangible where digital formats are fleeting, it makes customers feel thought of and not just a number on a follower list. For example, if a potential customer has a printed piece in their hand they can see not only the beauty and colour of the brochure, ad or catalogue, but they can also feel the texture and smell the ink, experiencing something more connected than digital can ever offer, which is needed now more than ever. Statistics show that after the last 12 months consumers are looking for more and more ways to feel connected to people, brands and what they consume.

And this means we can take it a step further and really make marketing materials stand out with finishing off print the right way. Many underestimate the value of print and quality print finishing. Print finishing takes an ordinary printed item and elevates it.

So to inspire you for your next print project, here are our top print finishes:

1. Lamination

Lamination is bonding a clear plastic film onto your printed material, it’s main purpose is to give the printed piece longevity and to protect it from stains, smudges, moisture, wrinkles and enhances the colours of the ink, adding to this it adds an immediate tactility to the print.

There are so many types of laminates available now, apart from matt and gloss there is velvet, antibacterial, textured and holographic. Velvet is very on trend at the moment, and if you’re wanting to give your printed materials that extra feel of class and luxury this is definitely a direction to go in.

2. Spot varnishes

A spot UV varnish is a liquid that is applied to a specified area of the printed sheet during the print process. It is dried quickly using UV light. Spot UV varnishes have always been very popular — they’re great for emphasising an area on the print, and they look unique against a contrasting laminate. Varnishes come in matt, gloss, glitter, textured and tinted. The design opportunities are endless with this finish.

3. Foiling

The design to be rendered in foil is etched onto a metal die. The die is heated up, and the foil is placed between the die and the surface of the paper or other material to be stamped. When the die is applied to the surface, the foil bonds to the surface, producing the metallic effect.

Foil is beautiful, strong, bold and still a trend favourite when it comes to packaging! It makes a statement especially when used in printed media where you don’t often see it. Used minimally to great affect it comes in an array of colours in metallic, holographic and pigmented (solid colour).

4. Embossing or debossing

These are centuries old methods of ‘stamping’ the paper stock, whether raised ’emboss’ or pushed in ‘deboss’. Without ink is called ‘blind’. With ink gives a wonderfully custom, unique and handmade feel to the print and is currently becoming one of the biggest trends. This goes hand in hand with personalisation printing and using human emotion to draw in a consumer. It instantly makes them feel that they have received a one-of-a-kind product – ensuring they engage with the rest of the print.

5. Die cutting and laser cutting

Both do the same — cutting a shape out of the paper stock. Die cutting uses a tool to ‘stamp’ out the shape — perfect for large areas, whereas laser cutting ‘burns’ out the design — great for really detailed design. Often used in customer greeting cards, covers of high-end catalogues or brochures.

6. Binding

Binding offers a wide selection of solutions and creative ways to finish off your printed materials, from wire binding, plastikoil, saddle stitch, per binding and more. Our personal favourite is wire binding, giving it a professional look while being a higher quality product and longer lasting. Incorporating many of the above techniques with a suitable binding finish makes for the perfect marketing tool and lasts a lot longer than a few seconds scrolling on social media.

So when choosing contacting your printers for your next print job remember to ask them for all the different finishes they have to offer and get your design team to keep these in mind when putting together the perfect look and feel for your brand.

Have any more questions? Contact one of our highly experienced sales consultants and we will be happy to offer our expertise and advise you in the right direction.