Varnish: The Finishing Touch

arnishes, though they are actually part of the printing process, come to mind as more of a part of the finishing process. Varnishes are an extra coating put on all or certain areas of a printed piece to give it a more slick or finished appearance.

Varnish is actually a liquid shellac or plastic that is used like an ink on the printing press. It can be loaded just like an ink color and applied after all of the ink has been printed on the paper. A varnish can be clear or tinted and can give either a glossy or a dull-finish. Designers use varnishes in a variety of ways and create a whole slew of different effects.

One thing to keep in mind: varnishes are best used on coated stocks. Uncoated stocks tend to soak the varnish into the paper so it's virtually invisible. I once saw five coats of varnish applied to an uncoated stock and couldn't tell that any had been applied. Keep in mind that designers and printers should be sure that the combination of the coated stock and the varnish will not create a too much of a reflection. Your readers may not appreciate having to wear sunglasses just to read you piece.

VistaPrint.com
Get 250 premium quality, color business cards FREE! Order today! One of the great leaders of online printing. One of the most popular printers on the Internet. Check them out for great deals on the full color printing of brochures, postcards, business cards, newsletters and other customized printing projects.

Mailer's Club
One-stop online printing and mailing resource. On top of doing a great job with their printing (postcards, brochures, business cards, newsletters, catalogs, etc.), Mailer's Club will also find a mailing list to fit your needs and will mail your project pieces — at great savings to you!

ITC Fonts
Professional fonts at reasonable prices from one of the font giants in the business for 30 years; the International Typeface Corporation.