Print finishing

Finishing that
makes your book
stand out.

Foil blocking, embossing, spot UV, lamination and more — all handled in-house at our Exeter facility. No third parties, no delays, no compromises.

Cover finishing

Make the cover
do the talking

01

Foil Blocking

Hot foil stamping applied directly to laminated or uncoated covers in gold, silver, copper or a full range of colours. Creates an unmistakable premium quality that no digital print can replicate.

02

Embossing & Debossing

Raised or recessed impressions pressed into the cover material. Can be used standalone for a clean, tactile result or combined with foil for maximum impact.

03

Spot UV

A high-gloss varnish applied to selected areas of the cover — titles, logos, imagery. Creates striking contrast against a matt laminated background.

04

Lamination

Protective film applied to the entire cover in gloss, matt or soft-touch matt. Soft-touch matt is particularly popular for premium hardback and paperback covers.

05

French Flaps

Extended cover flaps folded inward — giving a premium, finished look to otherwise standard paperbacks. Popular for literary fiction and trade paperbacks.

06

Shrink Wrapping

Individual copies or bundles shrink-wrapped in clear film. Ideal for retail presentation, gift sets, and protection during transit.

Book extras

The details that
make the difference

07

Head & Tail Bands

Traditional woven ribbon bands at the head and tail of the spine — a classic finishing detail for hardback books, available in a range of colours.

08

Marker Ribbons

Sewn-in ribbon bookmarks in the colour of your choice. Added during binding and trimmed to length. A small detail that significantly elevates perceived quality.

09

ISBN Barcodes

We can generate and print ISBN barcodes on your cover file. Useful for self-publishers and small publishers without existing barcode generation tools.

Why in-house matters

Every finish applied
by our own team

Unlike most book printers who outsource finishing to third parties, every foil block, every emboss, every lamination is applied by our team at our Exeter facility. This means tighter quality control, faster turnaround, and a single point of contact for your entire order.

If anything doesn't meet our standards, we redo it at no cost or delay to you.

Finishing options at a glance
Foil blockingGold · Silver · Copper · Colours
EmbossingRaised & recessed
Spot UVAny area of cover
LaminationGloss · Matt · Soft Touch Matt
French flapsAny paperback size
Shrink wrappingIndividual or bundled
Head & tail bandsHardback only
Marker ribbonsHardback only
ISBN barcodesAny book type

Add the
finishing touch.

All finishing options are included in our instant quote calculator — see exactly what your book will cost.