Packaging finishes & effects

Finishes & effects

At Litmus we are always experimenting with different finishes and effects, in order to deliver a stand out result for our clients’ projects. Below you will find a brief introduction to the 7 core finishes that we use.

Hot foil

Hot foiling (AKA foil blocking or hot foil stamping) is a method of applying foil details to a print surface using a “die” (a moulded shape), heat and pressure. This produces a debossed shiny finish that gives a premium, tactile feel. Hot foil is usually added to luxury packaging to add quality cues. Foils are available in hundreds of different colours, from silver to gold and everything in between.

Cold foil

Cold foiling is a cheaper, more environmentally friendly alternative to hot foil. It involves bonding foil to a special artwork colour which means that it doesn’t involve a “die” or heat. One the foil is applied we can overprint with any colour and even different tones to give a layered feel. Cold foil doesn’t leave an impression, so is less tactile than hot foil.

Embossing & debossing

Embossing raises a design above the surface; debossing presses it into the surface. Discuss the substrate and the effect you want with the team when preparing your sample.

Die cutting

CAD cutting and Die cutting are two different techniques that produce similar results. Both are used to cut simple or intricate shapes into card, so we use them to create carton and box packaging. CAD cutting is better for short print runs and Die cutting for longer ones. For a more detailed description of each please click here.

Cad cutting

CAD cutting involves a large flatbed “plotter” and a computer controlled arm fitted with a variety of blades and knives. We use this to cut and crease card, acetate, or E-flute boards up to 5mm thick. It’s perfect for making cartons and boxes and cutting simple or intricate shapes into them (for e.g. windows or patterns). CAD cutting is great for short print runs.

Dry transfers

Dry transfers, or rubdowns, are flat, single coloured graphics produced on a sheet and “rubbed down” onto the surface of a mock-up or prototype. They are a great, cost effective way of adding small foil or Pantone coloured details to a short un of mock-ups and can be applied to most materials including glass, card and plastic. We can replicate almost any metallic shade or flat colour and our transfers can be any shape or size up to A3.

Varnishes

A varnish is a clear coating applied to a printed surface to produce a glossy, matt or satin finish. Each varnish adds a different feel and effect, from sleek and shiny to matt and sophisticated. Litmus also offer special effect varnishes including spot UV, tactile, pearlescent and high-build.

Varnishes can cover the whole surface of a mock-up or prototype or be used to highlight a certain area, like a brandmark or typography. This is called spot varnishing and adds an eye-catching aspect to any design as it reflects light, in a similar but subtler way to foil. Spot varnishes come in a full range of finishes and effects, but our favourite is high-build, a thicker varnish that combines shine with the tactility of embossing.

Cast & cure

Cast and cure, or film casting, is a revolutionary decorative process that allows an etched image to be added to a UV coating to produce stunning visual effects that appear much like holographic foils. Cast and cure is also much more environmentally friendly than the processes it mimics and really needs to be seen to be believed.