Finishing Methods: a guide for Design and Technology students

• Laminating (thin layers adhered together):
  • Plastic or aluminium foil film or coating added on one or both sides;
  • Barrier against moisture;
  • Increases durability;
  • Allows packaging to be heat sealed for hygiene;
  • Attractive glossy finish.
• UV Lacquer or varnish
  • Common way to create a glossy finish on printed products
  • Specialized coating that is cured (dried and hardened) using ultraviolet (UV) light. Can be applied to a packaging surface.
  • Fast curing: Allows for high-speed production lines
  • Durability: Provides scratch and abrasion resistance

Embossing

• Paper or card is pressed into stamp using steel press;
• Part of surface becomes raised;
• Visual and tactile effect;
• Expensive.

• Premium appearance: Embossing can enhance the perceived value of a product, adding a tactile and visual dimension to the cardboard surface. This can make customers feel they’re receiving a premium product, potentially justifying higher prices or increasing brand loyalty. For example, a product with an embossed logo may feel more prestigious than a flat-printed one.
• Visual interest: Embossing can enhance the visual appeal of a product, adding texture, shadows, and depth to cardboard surfaces, creating a more visually striking product. This aesthetic improvement can be particularly effective for packaging or promotional materials, helping items stand out on shelves or in marketing campaigns.
• Recognisable branding element: Embossed logos or patterns on cardboard can serve as a recognizable branding element, making products more memorable. This tactile branding element can work even when the product isn’t visible. For instance, a wine box with an embossed grape motif could be instantly recognisable by touch alone, enhancing brand recall.
• Increased manufacturing cost: Adding embossing to cardboard products typically increases manufacturing costs due to the need for specialized equipment and longer production times. (Note: Embossing also works best on thicker papers, which are typically more expensive). A retailer might need to weigh these higher costs against the potential for increased customer engagement and sales.
• Tactile experience: Embossed cardboard provides a tactile experience that may increase user engagement with a product. This can be particularly effective for educational materials or interactive displays. For example, a children’s book publisher might use embossed cardboard for book covers to create a more engaging sensory experience for young readers.
• Benefits vision impaired users: Can be used to provide a more inclusive product that caters to vision-impaired users, such as by including braille or other tactile cues that help communicate information.

Why surface finishes are used in graphic products

• Protection against physical damage: Surface finishes provide essential protection to printed materials and packaging from everyday wear and tear. For example, magazines use varnishes on their covers to prevent scuffing and scratching during handling and cleaning, significantly extending the product’s usable life. This helps maintain the appearance and integrity of products over time.
• Moisture resistance: Surface treatments help protect products from moisture and liquid damage. Finishes can protect products from moisture during transportation and storage. Point-of-sale displays often use protective coatings to maintain their appearance despite varying humidity and temperature conditions. Food packaging often incorporates water-resistant lamination or PE coating to maintain structural integrity and prevent deterioration when exposed to condensation or spillage. Water resistant surface finishes can also add practical functionality to products. For instance, write-on/wipe-off finishes on presentation materials allow for temporary marking while protecting the underlying design. Water resistant surface treatments also make products easier to clean and maintain. Point-of-sale materials in high-traffic areas can be easily wiped clean without damaging the underlying graphics.
• Enhanced visual appeal: Surface finishes can dramatically improve the aesthetic appeal of graphic products and printed elements. A high-quality finish can make a product look / feel expensive, influencing how people respond. Visual factors are often a major factor in why people select which product to purchase. People will pay more for a product that looks expensive. A small investment in aesthetics can provide very valuable. For example. luxury packaging might use spot UV varnish to highlight specific design elements or metallic foiling to create eye-catching effects that attract consumer attention. High-end cosmetic packaging often uses combinations of matt and gloss finishes to create a premium look that sets them apart from competitors.
• Improved tactile qualities: Surface treatments can enhance the tactile qualities of products. Glossy and smooth surfaces not only contributing to aesthetics and visual interest, but can increase engagement. Softer, more tactile plastics may create a pleasing feeling to the touch than a rougher or harder surface. For example, book covers often use soft-touch lamination to create a pleasant feel while providing protection, improving the user experience. Embossing can also create textural elements.
• UV protection: Certain finishes protect against UV damage and colour fading. Outdoor display materials are often treated with UV-resistant coatings to maintain colour vibrancy and prevent degradation from sun exposure.
• Chemical resistance: Surface finishes can protect against chemical exposure or staining. Display materials in retail environments are often treated to resist cleaning products and accidental spills.
• Food safety compliance: Surface finishes help to ensure packaging meets food safety regulations. Food-grade coatings, such as a PE coating, create barriers between food products and printed materials, preventing ink migration and contamination.
• Extending lifespan:Many of the items discussed above increase the lifespan of the product, reducing the need for frequent replacement. While adding cost initially, treatments like lamination can make products more economical over their lifetime by preventing damage and deterioration. This is also better for the environment.

[understand the preparation for and application of surface treatments

understand the process of electroplating and anodising – IG]

be aware of a range of different finishes including oils, paints, lacquers, stains, satin polishes, dipcoating

be aware of surface finishes available for both interior and exterior use

be aware of the special finishes available that will prevent corrosion or stains, or withstand heat or liquids

understand the term self-finishing and the processes by which some materials are self-finished

finishing
○ paints
○ polymer coatings
○ varnishes, including UV and spot varnishing

**linseed oil, raw timber, laminated coatings**

[The advantages/disadvantages of applying finishes to a material to improve:
– performance
– aesthetics.

Physical tests to determine the suitability of materials and components for the application of a finish.

Types of finish and methods of application, including:
– embossing/debossing paper and card
– UV varnishing/spot varnishing on paper and card
– hot foil blocking on paper and card
– paints
– sealants
– varnishes
– anodising
– plating
– coating. – A2]

[coming soon]