Back to the glossary
Print embellishment
Also called special finishes, print finishing
The finishes added to printing to give a cover relief, shine or texture: foil blocking, embossing, spot UV, soft-touch lamination, die-cutting.
In practice
One well-chosen embellishment makes a book stand out on a shop table; several together often fight. Each needs its own file, a separate layer at exact scale, and some combine badly: foil does not always take on soft-touch lamination. Ask for samples on the chosen stock, and have each finish itemised line by line on the quote.