Print Finishes and Coatings: A Briefing Guide

01

Finish is part of the object

A coating can change the way a colour reads and the way a sheet moves through a finishing line. Lamination may protect a surface, while varnish or a tactile treatment may shape attention without adding a separate film.

The right question is not “what looks expensive?” It is “what will this surface encounter, and what must remain legible after that encounter?”

02

Name the handoff

Add the finish to the artwork and production brief, not just the moodboard. Identify whether it is full coverage or selective, whether it crosses a fold, and whether the barcode, handwriting or adhesive needs a clear zone.