Post-treatment and refining: caching, embossing, foiling, and lacquering
How the house systems work together
A perfect print is not a finished product. It must be cut folded assembled and often refined before it becomes the book box or brochure the customer ordered. Finishing is where the product gets its final tangible form.
§Cutting — precision with a knife
The cutting machine brings the sheet down to the finished format. For demanding tasks the machine must be programmed and adjusted carefully, and the blades must be changed when they become dull — a dull blade gives ragged edges and inaccurate dimensions that spoil the impression of otherwise beautiful printing.
§Family Bocuse.
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§Softcover and hardcover
In book production a distinction is made between softcover where the cover is a flexible paper cover glued directly to the book block and hardcover where the book block is mounted in a rigid binding. Softcover production is a fixed part of the graphic technician's work area while knowledge of the hardcover process provides a broader overview of the entire production flow.
§Refinement: lamination stamping foiling and lacquering
| Technique | What it does |
|---|---|
| Laminating | Glues a thin printed sheet to a thicker cardboard to make it stiff and durable |
| Embossing | Presses a relief into the paper or cardboard for a tactile effect |
| Foil wrapping | Transfers a metallic or coloured foil to the surface with heat and pressure |
| Painting | PLACEHOLDER_77 |
Refinement techniques are often used in combination — a package can for example be both laminated foiled with a logo and lacquered to protect the surface. This produces a product that looks exclusive and withstands being handled.
§Digital post-processing — new challenges
Post-processing of digitally printed products can present its own challenges: toner and ink do not always behave like traditional offset ink when folded, glued, or laminated, and it requires you to know the special properties of digital materials to avoid cracks or poor adhesion in post-processing.
Regardless of technique, the same rule always applies: make a complete trial sample and check it thoroughly before the entire batch goes through post-processing.