Printing Westminster, London SW1

Posted: December 12, 2019   •   Posted in: Printing London   •   Tagged: ,


A guide to digital print finishes

We’ve talked before about print finishes which enhance your print output. Spot UV, embossing, foiling and die-cutting are all effective ways of making your print stand out from the competition. These print finishes used to be expensive due to the additional processes and time that needed to be involved.

Nowadays, digital printers are able to add these embellishments during the original print run, meaning they can be applied quicker and easier than ever before.

Why use visual enhancements on print?

There are a lot of printed materials around right now. From magazines on a newsstand to packaging on supermarket shelves, all compete with each other to attract the most attention. In such competitive environments, the small details make all the difference. The printed embellishments displayed on these mediums can be the difference between selling your product or not.

Think of the toothpaste market. The product itself is not that sexy. But the cartons they’re displayed in have been jazzed up with bright colours, foil blocking and even holographic printing. The use of holographic foil-stamped packaging was first used by Colgate in the late 90s. Now everyone has to have it or they’ll literally be outshone on the shelf.

By introducing this new packaging, Colgate Total became the number one toothpaste brand in the United States, within four months.

This shows how important print embellishments are.

These effects can now be printed digitally…


Digitally printed variable data spot UV

We’ve talked about spot UV before. About how it’s an excellent way to highlight certain parts of a design. How it can improve a business card, postcard or flyer, by highlighting elements, such as a logo or a specific part of the design.

Spot UV digital print finish on business card

Adding this effect, is now even easier with our newest printer, the Xerox Iridesse.

By applying clear ink over a matt laminate, we can produce a superb spot UV finish. Because it is applied digitally, this finish can be applied to variable areas, meaning it can be used on direct mail campaigns, for example, where recipient names and addresses change.


Digital foiling

Traditionally, to apply a foil to your print, you’d have to use the foil blocking process. This is where a heated die was used to stamp foil onto a substrate. This block was expensive to setup, and the design could not be changed for increased personalisation.

Nowadays, this effect can be printed digitally, making for a faster experience which can be used for short print runs. With the capacity to print two speciality dry inks in addition to the standard CMYK colours, our Xerox Iridesse production press can deliver eye-catching metallic effects, which your customers will love.


What are the benefits of digital print finishes?

By using digital machines to add your print finishes, there are a number of advantages. Speed is, of course, the major factor. There are no dies or plates to set up, and the print job can be completed in house. This means high-street printers can now produce small batches, or even proofs almost immediately.

Previously, the different processes could only previously be applied when the proceeding process had dried properly. Now they can be applied in one pass, saving time, space and labour costs.

Without requiring plates or screens, the printers are also more eco-friendly. This is something all companies aspire to in today’s environmentally conscious world.


For digital print finishing in London, get in touch

One of the most environmentally friendly digital presses on the market, our Xerox Iridesse can produce several finishes in a single pass. If you require a high-end digital print finish, speak to the print team at Kall Kwik St James’s in central London. We’d be delighted to help.

Contact Us About Digital Printing