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Graphic Design vocabulary · Print Production

Finish

Meaning in graphic design, with examples

/ˈfɪnɪʃ/nounCommon term

In graphic design, finish means: A treatment added to a printed piece to change how it looks or feels, such as matt or gloss lamination, spot UV varnish, foil or embossing.

In Turkish: yüzey işlemi, baskı sonrası işlem, kaplama

How it is used

Used with printers and in packaging and stationery projects. You choose, add or specify a finish; designers talk about a matt finish, a soft-touch finish or special finishes. The plural finishes is common.

Example sentences

  1. We chose a matt finish with spot UV on the logo for the business cards.

  2. Special finishes like gold foil add a few days to the print schedule.

Common collocations

  • matt finish
  • gloss finish
  • soft-touch finish
  • special finishes
  • spot UV
  • paper stockThe type of paper or card used for a printed piece, described by its weight, thickness, surface (coated or uncoated) and colour.
  • die cutA custom shape cut out of paper or card with a sharp steel blade called a die, used for packaging, unusual business cards, windows in covers and stickers.
  • GSMGrams per square metre: the weight of paper or card. Higher numbers usually mean thicker paper, for example 80 gsm for office paper and 350 gsm for business cards.
  • proofA trial version of a design, on paper or as a PDF, that the designer and client check carefully for mistakes and colour before the full print run starts.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Print Production

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