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The finishing stage of any print job is where much of the magic and differentiation happens. Think about a book. Casebound books with sewn book blocks and embossed covers give a different impression than perfect bound books with soft covers. Direct mail pieces with intricate folds and shiny embellishment tell a different story than oversized postcards or trifold brochures. In regulated and transactional mail, the differentiation may come from how marketing ride-alongs are handled. Across the realm of print production, the finishing stage holds a prime place as it transforms printed pieces into the final product. Finishing ensures that every printed piece brings visual appeal and keeps the attention of the target audience.

Finishing is essential, but getting the most value requires a production workflow designed to ensure that the printed pieces can be finished efficiently and to the defined specifications. To truly optimize the print production workflow requires starting at the end with finishing and working back to the original document creation. It is essential to understand the finishing requirements and your capabilities in order to implement the best production workflow.