Four Reasons for Adding those Finishing Touches

By Joe Haddad

There’s a temptation to see finishing services, such as laminating, binding, folding, collating, perforating and shrink wrapping as luxuries or unnecessary added expenses. It’s true that many print materials require little or no finishing. But if you’re interested in adding value to – and eliminating unnecessary hassle when completing that next important marketing project – finishing processes can provide you with four big cost-effective advantages.

 

1. They can enhance your project’s appearance. Whether it’s laminating a single sheet, spiral binding a report or adding a die-cut window to the cover of a brochure, finishing adds distinctive touches that result in a more appealing presentation when you want your documents to truly stand out.

 

There are dozens of options for binding alone, which is why it is best to consult with a print professional to determine the most appropriate finishing service for your project. Book binding is growing in popularity, too, since the technology has made this service more cost-effective in smaller quantities. In fact, research companies and advertising agencies more frequently request hardcover books as an impressive way to present survey results to clients.

 

2. They can improve its function. Some simple, yet practical finishing touches include:

* a perforation so a coupon can be easily torn out,

* adding tabs or dividers to make a report easier to use,

* scoring to ensure smooth, crisp folds, or

* choosing a binding solution that lets your brochure lay flat when it’s opened.

 

Finishing processes can make certain a printed piece works the way it should. It can even provide other ways to use the document. For example, many customers have found it beneficial to enlarge and laminate forms for use in training sessions. There’s a special laminate that can be written on with dry erase markers. 

 

3. They can increase its durability. What can you do to create your print communications with a lasting impact? Protect them with coatings, laminations, heavy covers or strong bindings. During shipping and storage, use shrink wrap and other packaging to prevent damage. These are just some of the ways that the finishing process helps protect print materials and keeps them together (and looking better) far longer.

 

4. They can make your life a whole lot easier. If you’ve ever spent an evening or weekend collating, folding, applying labels, stapling, stuffing envelopes or filling binders, you probably don’t have to be sold on the value of professional finishing services. And when you consider that finishing processes do all these jobs with far greater speed, quality and uniformity, it’s easier to justify spending a little more for those finishing touches.

 

If there’s one thing all these finishing processes have in common, it’s this: they all increase the professionalism of your print communications. So if you want to end up with a printed piece that shows your business or organization in its best light, finishing is a great place to start.