File Formats: AI, EPS, PDF (vector files preferred for all finishing services).

Pre-Press Process: Make sure your artwork is set up with the correct bleed, safe zones, and is optimized for the specific finishing service requested. If using spot colors, make sure they are defined in your artwork for processes like foil stamping, embossing, or varnishing.

Types of Finishing Services:

• Lamination: Protects the print by applying a glossy or matte coating to enhance durability and finish. Ensure the artwork file is set with the necessary bleed, and avoid placing critical elements too close to the edges.
• Foil Stamping: Used for high-impact designs, where a metallic or special color foil is applied to the surface. Prepare your design to specify areas to be foiled, and separate these areas as spot colors in your file. Ensure all foiling areas are clearly outlined.
• Embossing/Debossing: Raised or recessed areas on the print. Artwork for embossing or debossing should include the design element as a separate layer and clearly indicate the areas where this effect is to be applied.
• Die Cutting: Custom shapes are cut from the printed material. Ensure the file includes a die-cut line (usually in a distinct color such as red) to indicate the shape to be cut. Provide a margin around the design for smooth cutting and avoid small text or elements near the cut lines.
• Spot UV Coating: A glossy coating applied to specific areas of the print, typically on matte finishes. Define the areas to be treated with a spot UV layer in your artwork, separating them from the main design as a separate layer or spot color.
• Binding and Folding: For brochures, catalogs, or booklets. Specify folding types (e.g., tri-fold, Z-fold) and binding methods (e.g., saddle stitch, perfect binding) in your file. Make sure that your fold lines and binding margins are clearly marked in the artwork.

Post-Print Process: Once the finishing services are applied, the products are carefully inspected for the precision of the finishes. For lamination, products are checked for any bubbling or wrinkling. For embossing/debossing and foil stamping, attention is given to the crispness of the design and alignment. Products are trimmed, folded, or bound according to the finishing details, and the final product is packaged for delivery.

• File Formats: STL, OBJ, 3MF (these are the most commonly used 3D model file formats for 3D printing), STEP, IGES (for CAD models).

• Pre-Press Process:

  • Model Preparation: 3D models should be designed with consideration for printability. Ensure that your design does not have non-manifold edges, holes, or overlapping surfaces. For complex designs, consider breaking them into smaller components to optimize printing.
  • Scaling and Orientation: Ensure your model is correctly scaled to the desired size and oriented to minimize support material and maximize structural integrity. The orientation will also impact the strength and finish of the final print.
  • Wall Thickness: Pay attention to the wall thickness of the design. Thin walls may not be printable or may lead to weak structures. Generally, walls should be at least 1mm thick, but this can vary depending on the printer and material used.
  • Support Structures: If your design has overhangs or complex geometries, ensure that the 3D model is designed to include or accommodate support structures. Some 3D printing technologies can print without the need for supports, but others will require them to ensure a clean result.
  • Material Considerations: Different 3D printing materials (PLA, ABS, PETG, etc.) have different characteristics. Design your model with the specific material’s properties in mind, including temperature resistance, flexibility, and strength.

• Cutting/Printing Information:

  • Layer Height: Specify the desired layer height for your print. A smaller layer height results in a smoother finish but takes longer to print.
  • Print Speed: The print speed is important to ensure accuracy and quality. A slower print speed results in higher precision but takes more time.
  • Infill Density: This determines how solid your print will be. Higher infill density creates a stronger object but uses more material. Lower infill densities are useful for lightweight structures or when only the outer shell is required to be solid.
  • File Size: Ensure that the file size is manageable for the printer’s capabilities. Very large models may need to be sliced into multiple parts, especially if the printer has a size constraint.
  • Tolerance: Depending on the printer’s resolution, ensure that your design accommodates for slight variances in printing. Tolerances generally range from ±0.1mm to ±0.2mm, but this can vary by printer and material.

• Post-Print Process:

  • Support Removal: After printing, support structures may need to be removed, which is done carefully to avoid damaging the print. Depending on the material used, supports may be broken away, dissolved in a chemical solution, or peeled off manually.
  • Cleaning and Smoothing: Post-processing may involve cleaning up the print to remove any excess material, such as rafts or support remnants. Some prints may need to be smoothed using sandpaper or chemical smoothing (for materials like ABS), especially if the print has noticeable layer lines.
  • Assembly: If your design was printed in multiple pieces, post-print assembly may be necessary. This could involve gluing, clipping, or snapping parts together, depending on the design.
  • Finishing: Depending on the use case, additional finishing can be done, such as painting, varnishing, or coating the 3D print. For more polished or decorative prints, you may also use specialized techniques like airbrushing or hand painting.