Post Press refers to the processes that are done after printing to give a printed product its final shape, finish, and professional appearance.
In simple words, printing creates the design on paper, while post-press gives the printed material its final look and usability.
A printed design may look good, but proper finishing makes it stronger, cleaner, easier to use, and more attractive.
For example, a brochure may need:
while a business card may need:
Good post-press work gives the final product a professional finish.
Cutting means separating the printed sheet into the required size.
Trimming means removing unwanted edges or extra areas from the printed material.
A large printed sheet may contain several visiting cards. After printing, the sheet is cut and trimmed into individual cards.
Folding means bending a printed sheet into a specific shape.
Folding is commonly used for:
The correct fold should be planned during the design stage.
Creasing creates a controlled line on paper so it can be folded neatly without cracking or damaging the printed surface.
It is especially useful for:
Easy Difference:
Creasing = Creates the folding line
Folding = Actually bends the paper
Binding is the process of joining multiple printed pages together.
Common binding methods include:
A magazine with several pages may use saddle stitching, while a thick book may use perfect binding or another suitable binding method.
Lamination adds a thin protective layer over printed material.
It can help:
Gloss: Gives a shiny appearance.
Matte: Gives a smooth, less reflective appearance.
Die cutting uses a specially shaped cutting tool to cut printed material into a custom shape.
It is commonly used for:
A normal rectangular sticker can be die-cut into a circle, logo shape, or custom design.
Embossing raises a design above the surface of the paper.
Debossing pushes a design into the surface of the paper.
These techniques can create a premium look on:
Foiling adds a metallic or special foil finish to selected parts of a printed design.
Common examples include:
It is often used for:
Post-press techniques are also important in packaging.
A packaging project may involve:
Printing → Cutting → Creasing → Folding → Gluing → Finishing
The final packaging should be:
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