Course Overview
Specialty print finishing is where packaging moves from a simple necessity into eye-catching marketing sensations. This course introduces students to the world of premium print finishing, including die cutting, laser cutting, foil stamping, embossing, and film lamination. Through a combination of hands-on learning, industry tours, and guest speakers, students will gain a comprehensive understanding about producing award winning packaging. Students will gain a comprehensive knowledge of industry suppliers, machinery, materials, and workflows.
Prerequisite(s)
- No prerequisites are required for this course.
Credits
3.0
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Define common finishing terminology.
- Determine the characteristics and manufacturing considerations for industry-standard specialty finishing equipment.
- Determine the workflow and scheduling requirements of projects including specialty finishing.
- Specify steel rule die tooling.
- Describe the interaction between papers, inks, tooling, heat and pressure and the limitations this has on design.
- Articulate the differences between hot, cold, and digital foil applications and their suitable uses.
- Differentiate between different types of hot foil and emboss die tooling and their applications.
- Describe the considerations of foil material releases and their applications on different substrates.
- Determine appropriate depth for emboss/deboss tooling based on design and material selections.
- Differentiate between different film lamination substrates and their interactions with a variety of papers and inks.
- Operate film laminator machinery.
- Perform basic maintenance on film laminator machinery.
- Apply foil decoration on a range of media using digital foil machine.
- Explain the applications of laser cutting and its limitations and challenges. Identify common mistakes in design and prepress and their impact on specialty finishing projects.
Effective as of Winter 2025
Related Programs
Specialty Finishing Applications (GCOM 4220) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
School of Business + Media
- Graphic Communications
Diploma Full-time
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