Introduction to Most Common Post-printing Processes

For guys in the printing industry, the term post-press is familiar to you. It refers to the post-printing work. Generally, the post-processings of printed material include laminating, UV coating, varnishing, die-cut, hot stamping, debossing/embossing, binding, creasing & cutting are among those mostly used for brochures and packaging materials. The following is a brief introduction to these basic post-printing processes, for your preliminary understanding.

1. Hot Foil Stamping 

The professional term of this processing is hot press transfer printing, or hot transfer printing for short. Hot stamping, bronzing or silver bronzing all refers to the same thing. (In contrast, there is a cold pad printing.)

2. UV coating

It is a post-processing where the special ink used will be dried and cured by ultraviolet radiation. UV coating can be done both through silkscreen and offset printing.

3. Embossing/Debossing.

It is a process of forming patterns over spot areas in the print by pressure. The metal plate is corroded and becomes a pressing plate and pressed against a base. Embossing and debossing are the processes of creating either raised or recessed relief images and designs in paper and other materials. An embossed pattern is raised against the background, while a debossed pattern is sunken into the surface of the material but might protrude somewhat on the reverse side. 

4. Die cutting

The die-cutting process is a forming process in which a special die-cutting cutter is made according to the required shape of the print, and then cut to the shape or leave the required crease under pressure.

5. Laminating

 Lay a layer of transparent plastic film on the printed paper. There are gloss and matte laminations. This processing will provide the print excellent protection against dust, stains and scratches. It's almost a regularly required processing in packaging prints. But it's not quite environmentally friendly. 

6. Flocking 

It is to apply a layer of glue to the paper, and then paste a layer of material similar to fluff to make the paper look and feel a little fluffy.