Post-Press Surface Finishing Techniques for Color Printing

Post-press surface finishing plays a vital role in color printing and packaging production. In today’s highly competitive printing market, the success of a product often depends on the quality of its packaging. The effectiveness of post-press surface finishing directly determines the overall appearance and grade of the packaging, thereby influencing the product’s market competitiveness.

Therefore, post-press surface finishing can be regarded as an essential technical means to enhance packaging value, strengthen brand image, and improve product competitiveness.

Common Post-Press Surface Finishing Techniques for Color Printing Include:

1. Special Surface Finishing Techniques

In recent years, special post-press finishing techniques for color printing have developed rapidly and are now widely used in mid- to high-end packaging applications. Common techniques include:

Surface Gluing (Spray Coating)
A layer of adhesive or coating is evenly applied to the printed surface to enhance gloss, water resistance, and abrasion resistance.
Matte / Sanding Finish
Fine and uniform sand-like textures are created on the printed surface, producing a soft matte appearance and a refined tactile experience.
Embossing / Debossing
Patterns or textures are pressed into the paper surface using molds, adding visual depth and artistic appeal.
Embossed (Raised) or Debossed (Recessed) Effects
Selected areas such as logos, brand names, or key graphics are made raised or recessed to highlight important design elements.

These special finishing techniques are widely used in premium packaging, especially for gift boxes, handicrafts, tobacco and alcohol packaging, and luxury consumer goods, significantly enhancing product quality and recognition.

2. Calendering (Polishing)

Calendering is a finishing process usually performed after varnishing, and in some cases, directly applied to high-grade paper products.

Since varnish may not achieve ideal gloss through natural leveling and drying alone, calendering is often required for high-quality printed materials to improve surface smoothness and gloss.

Key benefits of calendering include:

Enhanced surface gloss
Improved smoothness and flatness
More vivid colors and stronger image contrast

Calendering is performed using a calendering machine, which is often integrated with varnishing equipment and is suitable for large-scale, high-quality packaging production.

Posted on 2025-12-18 by ZXC Print