Note: I will be using a few print design terminologies here, and if you’re unfamiliar with some of 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.

Embossing produces a raised impression on your paper stock, while debossing creates 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.

There are two ways you can emboss your work at home: dry embossing and heat 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.

embossed card

From Amanda Woodward found on Flickr.

debossed card

From tasteofinkstudios.com

embossed card

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 that’s in between glossy and dull).

silk laminate business card

silk laminate business card

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.
Matte Varnishing 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.
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.

Spot Gloss

From tasteofinkstudios.com

Spot Gloss.

From tasteofinkstudios.com

Foil

To get the gold /silver stamp, a foil layer is affixed to a certain material by a heating process. It isn’t too complicated of a process and getting the files ready are quite similar to uv-spot printing. See my guide on preparing files for print as 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.

Gold Foil

From tasteofinkstudios.com

Silver Foil

From tasteofinkstudios.com

Silver Foil on plastic

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.

Thermography business card

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 don’t need a custom template; check with your printer to see what they have — it may help reduce the cost of printing a special piece.

die cut business card.

From tasteofinkstudios.com

die cut business card.

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.

Letterpress business card

From iglooletterpress.com

Letterpress business card

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 squeegee is moved across the screen stencil, forcing or pumping ink past the threads of the woven mesh in the open areas.

Gradient on the shape, finished.

From PataPri

Gradient on the shape, finished.

From PataPri

Gradient on the shape, finished.

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.
Silk Lamination/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 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.

Author:

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.com in the hopes of someday self-publishing the series. Follow Ciara on Twitter @ciarasworld and see her work on Flickr or her website.