Blog Post | Jan 21, 2025
High-End Finishes to Elevate Your Print and Marketing
When it comes to printed pieces, high-end touches like varnish, embossing, die-cuts and lamination are about much more than just looks – these extras can add durability and pick-me-up value to help your marketing succeed.
We hear from marketers who say they love the idea of beautifying their print pieces with high-end finishing treatments but aren’t sure if it’s worth it.
Our first response is that part of our job is developing creative ways to help deliver high-impact solutions on any budget! But finishing touches like spot varnish, metallic foils, die cuts and glosses aren’t simply about making your print more pretty. These extra touches can improve longevity and durability, enhance readability, lend ‘pick me up’ value, and help your products stand out.
This is a brief guide to some of the most popular finishes and what they can do for you.
Varnish and gloss finishes can help paper and card stock withstand repeated handling and resist scratches, smudges, dirt and moisture. And for any printed piece that lives outside, UV coating is a must-have protection that helps colors stay rich and true. In fact, because UV coating helps pigments pop and keeps visuals looking crisp and distinct, it’s often used on catalogs, product one-sheets, and direct mail postcards.
Spot varnish is the application of a gloss or texture to select images or sections on a printed piece. This technique is used to draw a reader’s attention, add emphasis to key elements, or help direct a reader’s eye down a page.
Lamination is like a layer of high-gloss, protective coating; unlike a varnish, it’s typically applied all over a printed piece. This finish doesn't just look sleek: the laminate is like a protective force that can help printed pieces stand up to repeated handling—so you can save money by using the same materials over and over again. Lamination is typically added to business cards, folders, flashcards and packaging.
Metallic foil or stamping can add a distinct shine to an area of a piece. It’s frequently used on brochure covers, folders, and packaging. You’re not just limited to gold and silver; metallic foil can be created in any color. Besides offering unparalleled stopping power, metallic foil can help make print more resistant to fading and peeling. And foils maintain a metallic sheen over time, so printed pieces stay striking-looking for longer.
Embossing is a process that creates a raised design so your piece looks distinct and has a tactile dimension that invites your audience to touch and interact with it. It’s not right for every project; it can only be used on something hardy, like a folder or packaging. But embossing makes a bold statement, conveying luxury and authority.
Die-cuts can be creative and functional. Die-cutting is a process where a machine creates a hole or a cut-out shape, such as a window or tab. Strategic die-cuts can create a WOW effect and make your printed pieces more functional. This can enhance their perceived value, so your audience may handle them with greater care and keep them around longer.
Contact Us to Learn More
These extras are just a handful of the touches that can elevate your printed pieces. Contact us to learn how we can help you make the most memorable marketing materials.
Our first response is that part of our job is developing creative ways to help deliver high-impact solutions on any budget! But finishing touches like spot varnish, metallic foils, die cuts and glosses aren’t simply about making your print more pretty. These extra touches can improve longevity and durability, enhance readability, lend ‘pick me up’ value, and help your products stand out.
This is a brief guide to some of the most popular finishes and what they can do for you.
Varnish and gloss finishes can help paper and card stock withstand repeated handling and resist scratches, smudges, dirt and moisture. And for any printed piece that lives outside, UV coating is a must-have protection that helps colors stay rich and true. In fact, because UV coating helps pigments pop and keeps visuals looking crisp and distinct, it’s often used on catalogs, product one-sheets, and direct mail postcards.
Spot varnish is the application of a gloss or texture to select images or sections on a printed piece. This technique is used to draw a reader’s attention, add emphasis to key elements, or help direct a reader’s eye down a page.
Lamination is like a layer of high-gloss, protective coating; unlike a varnish, it’s typically applied all over a printed piece. This finish doesn't just look sleek: the laminate is like a protective force that can help printed pieces stand up to repeated handling—so you can save money by using the same materials over and over again. Lamination is typically added to business cards, folders, flashcards and packaging.
Metallic foil or stamping can add a distinct shine to an area of a piece. It’s frequently used on brochure covers, folders, and packaging. You’re not just limited to gold and silver; metallic foil can be created in any color. Besides offering unparalleled stopping power, metallic foil can help make print more resistant to fading and peeling. And foils maintain a metallic sheen over time, so printed pieces stay striking-looking for longer.
Embossing is a process that creates a raised design so your piece looks distinct and has a tactile dimension that invites your audience to touch and interact with it. It’s not right for every project; it can only be used on something hardy, like a folder or packaging. But embossing makes a bold statement, conveying luxury and authority.
Die-cuts can be creative and functional. Die-cutting is a process where a machine creates a hole or a cut-out shape, such as a window or tab. Strategic die-cuts can create a WOW effect and make your printed pieces more functional. This can enhance their perceived value, so your audience may handle them with greater care and keep them around longer.
Contact Us to Learn More
These extras are just a handful of the touches that can elevate your printed pieces. Contact us to learn how we can help you make the most memorable marketing materials.