8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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Jul 27 2010 54 Comments
A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
By Ciara Panacchia
In college in Waterford, Ireland, one of our class projects was called Techniques. The brief
was to become familiar with every printing technique we could and show them through
physical pieces. It was a fun project. However, when you leave school, you dont always get
the chance to work with these really amazing printing techniques or even figure them into
your budget, but what I will talk about in this guide are popular and affordable. Consider them
in your next print project!
Note:I will be using a few print design terminologies here, and if youre unfamiliar with someof these terms, you can get up to speed by reading my guide on preparing your work for
print.
Embossing/Debossing
Embossing and dembossing are similar processes that create a different result. Both
processes involve making a metal plate and a counter. The plate is mounted on a press and
the paper is stamped between the plate and counter. This force of pressure pushes the stock
into the plate, creating the impression.
Embossingproduces a raised impression on your paper stock, while debossingcreates a
depressed impression.
Things to remember when designing for a piece that includes embossing/debossing:
Be aware that embossing is a mechanical process that manipulates the paper stock,
so by default, it will also manipulate your design.
Set your type with more space between letters than usual.If you put them too close to
one another, they can merge and become one element once the embossing has been
done. Embossing makes design elements look smaller and reduces the sharpness of
smaller items.
http://designinstruct.com/print-design/a-guide-to-preparing-files-for-print/http://designinstruct.com/print-design/a-guide-to-popular-printing-techniques/#commentshttp://designinstruct.com/print-design/a-guide-to-preparing-files-for-print/http://designinstruct.com/print-design/a-guide-to-popular-printing-techniques/#comments8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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There are two ways you can emboss your work at home: dry embossingandheat
embossing.
Dry embossing, also called relief embossing, is done by tracing a stencil with some paper
over it with a special tool called a stylus to get the raised effect on it.
Heat embossing, also referred to as stamp and heat embossing, is done by stamping an
image on a piece of paper, sprinkling powder over the stamped image, and then applying
heat.
From Amanda Woodward found on Flickr.
http://tasteofinkstudios.com/portfolio/business-card-design/cotton-card-lux-business-card-design/http://www.flickr.com/photos/amandawoodward/2989765848/http://www.flickr.com/photos/amandawoodward/2989765848/8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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From tasteofinkstudios.com
http://tasteofinkstudios.com/portfolio/business-card-design/taste-of-ink-emboss-business-card-design/http://tasteofinkstudios.com/http://tasteofinkstudios.com/portfolio/business-card-design/cotton-card-lux-business-card-design/8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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From tasteofinkstudios.com
Silk Lamination/Lamination
Silk lamination provides a soft, silk-like finish, is water-resistant and tear-resistant, and
complements vibrant colors. Pieces are traditionally printed in full-color, like any regular
business card, however one additional step is taken to get their unique texture the
cardstock is coated with a durable, weather-resistant, silk laminate
finish.
Lamination can be a liquid that dries to a tough gloss or dull surface, or it can be a film. Both
adhere to the surface to protect it and give it a sheen or a muted effect. The effect could be
glossy, dull, or even satin (a look thats in between glossy and dull).
http://tasteofinkstudios.com/http://tasteofinkstudios.com/portfolio/business-card-design/taste-of-ink-emboss-business-card-design/8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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Varnish
A varnish is a liquid coating applied to a printed surface to add a clear glossy, matte, satin,
or neutral finish. Here are the types of varnishes:
Varnish
Type
Description
Gloss
Varnishing
A gloss varnish gives the printed surface a glossy, sheen look.
MatteVarnishing
A matte varnish gives the printed surface a non-glossy, smooth look.
Silk or
Satin
Varnishing
A satin varnish gives the printed surface a neither a high gloss or matte,
but the middle ground.
UV
Varnishing
Ultraviolet (UV) varnishing is a process for achieving an even more
striking type of coating on your printed material.
8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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All-over
UV
varnish
Simply put, this is a UV seal applied all over the printed surface.
Spot UV
Varnish
A spot varnish is applied to chosen spots (areas) of a printed piece. This
has the affect of highlighting and drawing attention to that part of the
design.
From tasteofinkstudios.com
http://tasteofinkstudios.com/portfolio/business-card-design/brazil-business-card-design/http://tasteofinkstudios.com/http://tasteofinkstudios.com/portfolio/business-card-design/floral-business-card-design/8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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From tasteofinkstudios.com
Foil
To get the gold /silver stamp, a foil layer is affixed to a certain material by a heating process.
It isnt too complicated of a process and getting the files ready are quite similar to uv-spot
printing. See my guide on preparing files for printas a reference and talk with your printer
about how to supply the files. Foil printing normally requires vector images and/or outlined
fonts of what you want to have stamped.
http://tasteofinkstudios.com/portfolio/business-card-design/eve/http://designinstruct.com/print-design/a-guide-to-preparing-files-for-print/http://tasteofinkstudios.com/http://tasteofinkstudios.com/portfolio/business-card-design/brazil-business-card-design/8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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From tasteofinkstudios.com
http://tasteofinkstudios.com/portfolio/business-card-design/ahmetze/http://tasteofinkstudios.com/http://tasteofinkstudios.com/portfolio/business-card-design/eve/8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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From tasteofinkstudios.com
http://tasteofinkstudios.com/portfolio/business-card-design/xryvzn/http://tasteofinkstudios.com/http://tasteofinkstudios.com/portfolio/business-card-design/ahmetze/8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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From tasteofinkstudios.com
Thermography
Thermography produces raised printing similar in appearance to engraving, but using a
different process for attaining the effect.
In thermography, a special powder is added to the ink that is to be printed on the paper. The
printed piece is heated, causing the powder and ink mixture to dry, which in turn results in a
raised effect on the paper.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/demetriomancini/4131018566/http://tasteofinkstudios.com/http://tasteofinkstudios.com/portfolio/business-card-design/xryvzn/8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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From Demetrio Mancini
Die Cut
Die cut involves cutting irregular shapes in paper or paperboard using a die. A die can be
used in printing for cutting, scoring, stamping, embossing and debossing. Dies are normally
custom pieces, but your printer will usually have some standard dies (such as for rounded
corners) available if you dont need a custom template; check with your printer to see what
they have it may help reduce the cost of printing a special piece.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/demetriomancini/4131018566/http://www.flickr.com/photos/demetriomancini/4131018566/8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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From tasteofinkstudios.com
http://tasteofinkstudios.com/8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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From tasteofinkstudios.com
Letterpress
Letterpress is the oldest printing process. In this method, a surface with raised letters is inked
and pressed to the surface of the printing substrate to reproduce an image in reverse.
Typically, metal type has been used, but other possibilities include carved wood or stone
blocks. Most popularly used on wedding invitations, this process can also be used to create
unique business cards as well as other custom printed products.
http://tasteofinkstudios.com/8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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From iglooletterpress.com
http://iglooletterpress.com/8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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From tasteofinkstudios.com
Silk Screening
Screen printing is a printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking
stencil. The attached stencil forms open areas of mesh that allows ink to transfer onto the
material. A roller or squeegeeis moved across the screen stencil, forcing or pumping ink
past the threads of the woven mesh in the open areas.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/patapri/4320308187/in/set-72157623375940330/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squeegeehttp://tasteofinkstudios.com/8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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From PataPri
http://www.flickr.com/photos/patapri/4320308187/in/set-72157623375940330/http://www.flickr.com/photos/patapri/http://www.flickr.com/photos/patapri/4320308187/in/set-72157623375940330/8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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From PataPri
http://www.flickr.com/photos/patapri/4320308187/in/set-72157623375940330/http://www.flickr.com/photos/patapri/http://www.flickr.com/photos/patapri/4320308187/in/set-72157623375940330/8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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From PataPri
Printing Technique Summary Table
Here are the 8 printing techniques mentioned in this guide.
Printing Technique Description
Embossing/Debossing Embossing creates a raised impression on stock,
debossing creates a depressed impression on stock.
SilkLamination/Lamination Silk lamination provides a soft, silk-like finish, is water-resistant, is tear-resistant, and complements vibrant colors.
The effect could be glossy, dull, or satin.
Varnish A varnish is a liquid coating applied to a printed surface to
add a clear glossy, matte, satin, or neutral finish.
Foil A foil layer is affixed to a certain material by a heating
process.
Thermography Thermography produces raised printing similar in
http://www.flickr.com/photos/patapri/http://www.flickr.com/photos/patapri/4320308187/in/set-72157623375940330/8/12/2019 A Guide to Popular Printing Techniques
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Author: Ciara Panacchia
Ciara Panacchia is a graphic artist transplanted from Carlow, Ireland to
Illinois to work for the B2B agency MarketSense. Inspired by her
daughter and her heritage, she began illustrating a series of bilingual
books to help teach her daughter the Irish language. She recently
started the site eliesbooks.comin the hopes of someday self-publishing
the series. Follow Ciara on Twitter @ciarasworldand see her work
on Flickror her website.
appearance to engraving.
Die Cut Die cut involves cutting irregular shapes in paper or
paperboard using a die.
Letterpress A surface with raised letters is inked and pressed to the
surface of the printing substrate to reproduce an image in
reverse.
Silk Screening A printing technique that uses a woven mesh to support an
ink-blocking stencil. The attached stencil forms open areas
of mesh that allows ink to transfer onto the material.
http://www.ciaracreative.com/http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciarasworld/http://twitter.com/ciarasworldhttp://www.eliesbooks.com/http://www.market-sense.com/http://designinstruct.com/author/ciara-panacchia/