If you have an idea to create a similar custom set, do not hesitate to contact our associates. The possibilities are practically endless: anniversary autobiographical editions, thematic professional sets, gift sets.

All of them will be completed by hand in all sorts of possible combinations of items: luxury books, catalogs, magazines, brochures, photographs, posters, advertising materials, music media and much, much more. They can be made with a wide range of media and will have perfectly applied impressive effects.

Putting together a custom set with products in any combination.

Packaging (by machine and/ or manually) of boxes, magazines, books, T-shirts, music media, etc.

Production of custom boxes, beautiful, durable and easy to use.

Adding music media – discs, records.

Adding a non-printed product of your choice – sent by you or even purchased for you directly by us.

Creating custom stickers and applying them by machine or manually.

Adding personalized information about recipients (names, addresses, messages).

Check our price: it’s free and it only takes seconds!

So it was with the book about little Agnes. In the beginning, it was a typical print request for a nice full-color children’s hardcover book.

We cut out a perfect circle so that Agnes could look and smile through the window on the cover of the book.

We then laminated the cover with an anti-scratch coating so that the story of little Agnes can handle as many playful children’s hands as possible.

The Christmas holidays were approaching (as they are now). The client asked us for a few extra things. (1) We committed to manually wrapping almost all the books in circulation (nearly 2000) in gift wrapping paper.

The client chose and bought an elegant 45-gram paper, which he sent to us so we could go ahead and turn part of our printing house into Santa’s workshop.

While we waited for the wrapping paper, we wasted no time and (2) printed 1000 greeting postcards, with motifs from the book, which became part of the holiday set.

As soon as the paper arrived, we carefully wrapped the books and cards. In order for Agnes to “see” what is happening on the way to her recipients in France and to have a well finished look of the set, (3) we made round stickers with the image of the heroine, which we hand-glued on each set.

The customer wanted (4) to prepare the kits to be sent to 100 different addresses in France.

For this purpose, we utilized our digital printing machine to print the so-called variable data so that we can place a sticker with the contact information of each individual recipient on each envelope.

(5) We transported the books with our trucks to various post offices in France, from where all individual shipments went on their merry way to the desired final destination!

And so the book about little Agnes arrived on time at every address she was promised. The holidays could now begin without having to wait on us.

The possibilities with which you can surprise your customers, partners and friends are practically endless. We can help you with printing, advice, ideas, organization and logistics, and … if you wish, we can also gift wrap your products, assemble complete sets, place stickers on them, and prepare them for shipping. Despite the difficult period we are going through, there is always a way to make sure that the people we are in contact with receive the attention they deserve. Especially on the eve of such nice traditions. Let’s not delay the joy of the holidays!

Our dedicated team will work together with you to come up with a unique design tailored only for you, to outline your individuality and elegance. Start creating today!

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Pulsio Print is just such a company. Our workforce constitutes your bespoke printing and binding specialists. Our wide range of printing techniques and binding methods ensure that all possible premium options are available for whatever extra touches of luxury you might require. Experience, expertise and advanced technology make Pulsio Print’s craftsmen experts in the production of high-end premium-quality printed end products.

Find the ideal combination of sophistication and finish in your print project with specialist materials and presentation, such as suede and cotton card stocks, white ink on black paper, coloured foil, edge painting, holographic effects, and much more.

We are a creative studio and print factory of 150 people, all with a passion to offer you a unique service and make you and your clients feel special. Museums, art galleries, renowned photographers, fine art publishers, design and creative studios, literary authors – these are our demanding customers, and we take pride in giving them masterpieces. In the world of luxury printing, making an immediate and lasting impression is crucially important, and our goal here at Pulsio Print is to surprise our clients with just how good the finished products that we deliver are.

The secret to a great bespoke product is doubling down on the quality and uniqueness. Standing out from the crowd can give you an edge over your competition. Create hardcover or paperback books, catalogues, custom notebooks, and other high-quality print products, all tailored exactly to your needs and with attention to the smallest detail.

The making of luxury illustrated editions can be expensive, but we guarantee you the most competitive possible price for the quality that such a project needs. Remember, you are in full control of your budget, and you have all the information that can help you to make the right decision. Check it out yourself by getting an online quote, using our user-friendly online calculator, or simply request a personal quotation.

Here is a brief presentation of the printing techniques we provide. You can choose between a wide range of printing methods among which you can find the perfect one for your product, starting with traditional Offset lithography printing, digital printing but also direct UV printing via UV-LED printer, large format printing, volume stickers, direct / UV printing, pad printing, solvent printing, transfer printing, flex, flock, DYE sublimation printing, heat transfer, direct to garment printing (DTG), screen printing. At Pulsio Print, we aim to offer you a 100% quality end product. This means that we work with the best hardware and software to give you consistent colour accuracy (read the full story about consistent, repeatable colour accuracy), the quality materials and the most passionate professionals to deliver the perfect product for you.

First, we present you the offset printing and the new H-UV luxury offset printing technology. We use the latest Komori H-UV offset printer to ensure consistent colour accuracy and more upscale feel of the final product. This printing technology provides an impeccable rendering and superior brightness and sharpness compared to conventional offset printing.

Traditionally, the offset printing is suitable for larger runs, specialty ink, paper or larger paper size and if you don’t need your printed projects right away.

On the other hand, if you need a small number of copies, need your printed projects quickly, and special features like color, ink, paper size, and paper type don’t really matter, you should opt for digital printing for which we use 2019 Xerox B&W and Color printers.

If you want to know more about the differences between Offset and Digital printing, you can consult our article.

This technique is known by many names – screen printing, serigraphy, silk printing. They all refer to the same thing – a millenary method that consists of using screens to transfer colours. It offers good clarity of details, vivid colours, and exceptional coverage of the print. You can print on materials of any shape, thickness and size. The price lowers in the long run prints.

There are different types of screen printing, depending on your project. This technique is most commonly associated with different goods like T-Shirts, lanyards, balloons, bags and others.

This method specializes in highly detailed short production run prints on cotton fabrics. DTG has many benefits over other traditional printing techniques. Its large range of colour options means that you don’t have to compromise as with other printing methods. It is perfect for one-time production runs. The process is entirely eco-friendly, which can be a huge factor when advertising to specific audiences. DTG can also be associated with other printing, cutting and finishing techniques.

Heat transfer can be done using either screen or digital printing, and in specific cases even using both. This is one of the best-known ways of fabric decoration. The process is fast for bulk quantities and becomes inexpensive with the long runs. Heat-transfer printing adapts well on paper, but it is also perfect for applying images to a range of materials including garments, textiles, physically hard objects like mugs. Heat-transferred images are durable, heat and water-resistant.

Sublimation printing is characterized by a process in which a substance is converted from solid to gaseous state without passing through a liquid phase. Changing the solid ink particles into a gaseous state, it is a fun and cost-effective way of personalizing your products. The high-quality end products of this printing method have seen their popularity increased due to their thickness and robustness. You can choose between a full range of colours for your project. You can use the sublimation printing technique on a number of materials such as poly cotton and polyester textile, polymer, ceramic, PVC, coated aluminum, polymer-coated metal and plastic and more. However, it is not suitable for 100% cotton materials or other natural materials.

Flock printing or also called flocking, is a printing method in which short fibers of natural or synthetic material are applied to an adhesive-coated surface. This is one of the only screen-printing methods that alter the texture of the print itself, adding a velvet or suede-like texture to the surface in bright and vivid colours that won’t get washed out. Due to the way flock is printed, the finished printed design is slightly elevated from the garment that shows off an air of professionalism and style. It comes in a basic range of colors that you can combine together.

With flex printing, the design is cut from a colored foil and then pressed onto the surface under high temperature. The possible colors are limited, but are very vivid and don’t get washed out. Flex printing is perfect on thick fabrics and materials. It adapts well on natural and synthetic materials. This method has the best result on big printing surfaces. Detailed designs are not possible with flex printing. It is suitable for small runs.

Transfer printing can reproduce high quality and complex images. It consists of printing your design in full colour, after which it is transferred to the desired surface. This is one of the best methods to use for full-colour prints. This is why it’s more interesting to use it for designs with 4 or more colours, including designs with a photograph.
This printing method adapts perfectly on glass surfaces and synthetic materials such as promotional bags, backpacks, umbrellas, hats, etc.

Solvent printing is perfect for your project if you need vivid colors and pixel-sharp image reproduction. At a microscopic level, solvent actually bites into the print media, ensuring an exceptionally strong, wear-resistant bond. You can choose to print on wood, glass, metal, plastic, fabric, ceramics and many other materials.
This printing technique offers photorealistic print quality, and offers features like glow effects, gradients and others that cannot be achieved with other more traditional methods.

Pad printing, tampography or tampo printing, is an indirect offset printing process. This technique works on the principle of gravure printing, meaning that the printing surface is embossed. It offers the possibility to print on some of the most unprintable products imaginable, turning the pad printing process into a well-established technology. This printing technique is excellent for delicate products. It provides perfect clarity on detailed designs or smaller surfaces such as barcodes and labels.

UV printing is a type of digital printing that uses ultraviolet lights to dry the ink as it is printed. Because there is no absorption on to the printing medium, the dots of wet ink do not get a chance to spread out once printed, resulting in much finer detail and sharper colours. What is more, UV dried inks offer increased resistance to fading. This type of printing is eco-friendly because no solvents are being released into the air. You can print on a number of materials including nonporous materials like plastic, glass and metals.

Sticker printing is a cost-efficient way to promote your business and boost brand recognition. They have a wide range of applications, as the customer can mount them on various surfaces such as metal, wood, leather, plastic, glass and more. Doming stickers are UV resistant and do not turn yellow. The polyurethane coating preserves the brightness of the colors so they will remain bright and vivid. Thanks to their exceptional flexibility and elasticity, they can also adhere to slightly rounded and contoured surfaces. A three-dimensional sticker will be noticed much faster than a simple, flat sticker. It will give your offer a much more upscale feel.

Large format printing is used to produce large graphics for marketing, branding, and advertising purposes. It can take many forms, but things such as construction site hoarding graphics, fleet and vehicle vinyl wraps, and printed retail graphics and displays tend to be some of the most common uses for the format. It involves the use of specialized equipment, and much bigger printers than standard commercial modules. You can choose to print in small or bigger quantities. This technique offers the possibility to print on different types of materials such as paper, PVC, self-adhesive foil, vinyl, canvas, fabrics and many others.

UV-LED printing is an easy way to create your customizable products. Cost-effective, it offers an outstanding image quality, higher customer margins on finished goods and high resistance to external weather conditions. UV inks are highly resistant to scratches, wear and tear, and sun exposure than the other traditional printing methods, ensuring a long life of printed images.

UV-LED printing is a one-step process where the ink is directly applied to an object and instantly cured by UV light. It offers the possibility to print on items with texture and dimension, including ADA-compliant signage with Braille, PVC, plexiglass, glass, wood, metal, leather, carpets and other non-standard materials.

There are many beautiful examples of the very finest paper available. You are sure to get incredible results with our range of specialty papers. There are several factors to consider when choosing paper, such as the product type and the printing technology being used, as well as the feel of the paper, its transparency, and its weight. To help you with your selection, here are the features of the most commonly used papers:

We offer the widest range of art designer papers such as Fabriano/ Fedrigoni, Arctic Paper/ Munken, Antalis/ Arjowiggins, Sirio Black Black/ Fedrigoni, Mirage suede/ Ratchford, Century cotton wove/ Fedrigoni, Imitlin/ Fedrigoni, Murillo/ Fedrigoni, Splendorlux mirror/ Fedrigoni, Symbol pearl/ Fedrigoni, Aquerello/ Fedrigoni, Cocktail/ Fedrigoni, Constellation Jade/ Fedrigoni, Ispira/ Fedrigoni and much more. Popular choices are a pearlescent luxury texture or highly tactile printing paper with a hammer effect felt mark; either way, you won’t believe the incredible results you obtain with high-quality paper and our luxury printing solutions. However, if you want to double the creativity you can opt for different printing materials: cloth, textile, plastic, ceramics, metal, wood, etc.

Black paper
Black paper is available with Spot UV, colored foil, or even white ink, printed in either matte or glossy finish. This is a bold choice compared to regular white and off-white colored paper that will surely leave a lasting impression.

Suede paper
Hard suede paper is one of the best kinds available pushing the limits of how soft and luxurious a print can be. It is unique in every way. With a suede print you are sure that your clients will remember you. The suede is soft and luxurious to the touch and at the same time rigid and robust for durability. The textured paper has a soft, raised matte finish providing a strong appearance similar to velvet. It is available in a wide range of colours and patterns. An edge painting could be a very nice addition to the final product.

Cotton paper
Cotton paper gives a simple white paper stock a touch of elegance. It consists of pulp paper with cotton fiber creating a pillowy texture that reacts perfectly to 3D details. For an incredibly beautiful finished product, we can print either digitally or with letterpress stamping. Cotton paper is known for its purity, durability and permanence. It lasts longer and holds up better under repeated handling conditions making it less likely to discolour than some other types of paper. This product is perfect for artists who want to create a fine work of art that will last.

Recycled paper
To contribute to protecting the environment, Pulsio Print offers a wide range of recycled paper such as Arjowiggins, Cocoon and others. These papers are made with 100% recycled fibre, and have a natural design and authentic texture. Recycled papers are strongly opaque, with matt lamination without uncomfortable glare, ideal for printing high quality text and images.

Metalized paper
Silver/Gold: This type of finish is elegant and pleasing to the eye. It can be applied to any size and weight of paper, making sure your print job matches the high quality of your product.
Hologram/ fluorescent: Besides the classic solutions in gold and silver, we produce our own metalized paper and holograms.
Metalized hologram transparent film: We offer an almost endless variety that might make your choice very difficult: crystals, sequins, bubbles, water drops, hearts, flowers, diamonds…
3D Metalized paper: Give more boldness to your printed materials by using this impressive effect. The geometric shapes stand out with the contrasts of matt/gloss and shadow/light, combined with a metallic glint.
Metalized paper with glitter film: This technique adds a brilliant effect to your product for a daring printing solution.

The quality of the cover reflects the overall quality of the printed product. All of our available options for covers and bindings are designed with three things in mind: easy handling and storage of the printed product, optimal comfort while reading and protection from damage during use. Our binding facility is fully equipped for a range of different techniques and focused on improving the efficiency of order completion. Our aim is to offer you a variety of options that meet the purpose of your printed product, 100% of the time.

Depending on the type of product, which may be portrait or landscape, the binding can be done at the top or left in a range of standard or custom sizes. Products that can lie flat or fold fully right around when opened is extremely important in many contexts.

The main binding methods are glued (perfect bound), sewn, stapled (for low page counts), spiral, Japanese stab binding, screw binding and case binding.

Add more value to your printed products. Make them more attractive by choosing from the various laminates, varnishes or special finishes we offer! Take advantage of the unique expertise and creative technology that we have developed through years of producing art books, catalogues and graphic novels. These are some of the finishes you can opt for when printing your premium products:

Die-cutting gives your book a completely unique look and makes it stand out from any other product. The process is used to cut shapes out of the inside section of the material, rather than trimming the edges. Laser cutting is a similar technology, used for the same purposes, but with even finer results, and is a non-contact method of paper-cutting. Pulsio Print offers both methods of cutting depending on your project, budget and preferences. Read more about this technique.

Different types of varnish offer a more economical alternative to lamination, or as a compliment to it. Varnishes increase the strength and durability of the printed product, while also adding an aesthetic sheen. There are UV, UV spot, raised, glitter and micro relief varnishes.

This is a flexible process using foil that allows you to mark a variety of different materials including plastics, rubber, leather, fabrics, paper and others. It gives your product a luxurious finish. With the possibility of being printed on stocks of dark color such as black paper, coloured foil will give your artwork a shimmer and glow, which is perfect for logos and bold fonts.

Edge painting gives life to your prints on all edges with different colours. This technique gives the perfect touch of elegance and helps your products stand out from the rest. The surest way to give it an out-of-the-ordinary look is to make its outer edges different from those of other books, either by colouring, by gilding, or with a pattern. Popular choices include business cards with painted edges.

Embossing and debossing are two techniques that create a three-dimensional image which is either impressed onto or depressed into the paper. These fashionable print options are ideal for giving a new, contemporary look to your print. They can be combined with other effects, like foil stamping, to transform a great product into a luxury one.

Embroidery doesn’t require any printing. Instead, a design is stitched into the fabric by a machine, achieving a 3D effect. This is one of the most popular methods for long-lasting garment branding due to how professional it looks. It resists very well to cleaning and sunlight.

You have an unlimited choice of colors and combinations. Possibility to work on ready-made clothes, hats, bags, gloves and other products made out of cotton, polyester, viscose, lamella.

In addition, you can provide us your logo, which can be additionally sewn or glued to the desired item. It is suitable for small quantity orders.

Laser cutting and engraving open up unlimited possibilities for paper finishing. Cut out and make bespoke items with our laser cutting machines. Pulsio Print is able to cut and engrave complex contours and designs, fast and with extreme precision.

From spot varnishing, intricate cut-outs and letterpress to silkscreen, hot foiling and embossing there is a range of solutions to help your prints stand out from the crowd. The combinatorial options available for luxury printing create an exponential number of effects that can be generated for all kinds of applications. We offer a full range of luxury printing solutions, plus you can choose between a number of materials and finishes to further enhance your product. Our professional approach allows us to give each of our clients detailed personal attention. We are able to achieve efficiency and speed using the latest technology combined with time-honoured printing methods. Our print works can be delivered all over the world!

For your unique product with your personal artistic vision you need the perfect execution: impeccable printing on a high-quality material accompanied with flawless binding…

Our dedicated team will work together with you to come up with a unique design tailored only for you, to outline your individuality and elegance. Start creating today!

Check our price: it’s free and it only takes seconds!

There are many options to choose from when designing the cover of your book. Hardcover books can feature hot stamping, embossing and debossing. We truly believe that great printing should be more than just ink on paper. These techniques will help you to enhance a person’s experience of your printed material by making the text or image really stand out to the eye as well as to the touch.

Hot stamping also known as foil stamping or hot foil stamping is a simple recipe of three main ingredients – heat, pressure, and the correct foil for the job. It consists of applying the pigmented or metallic foil to a surface using a heated die and enough pressure to seal a thin layer of foil. To build the final design, each color is added individually through multiple press runs.

On the other hand, embossing is a technique that creates a raised or 3D image. As for debossing, the image is depressed (meaning lowered) instead of raised. Both are typically accomplished with a combination of heat and pressure on the paper. When combined with hot stamping, it can create a very striking 3D image. However, hot stamping is a technique that can be used on its own.

More generally, hot stamping is an artistic and creative technique used to bring more visibility to your products by working on the aesthetic finish. It is a long and laborious process, but one that gives an amazing result for your product.
The popularity of hot stamping continues to grow and although it has been around since the late 1890s, it is still a favorite method of adding color and definition to a variety of materials and products. As experts in hot stamping, we thought we would provide a rundown of hot foil stamping, its many uses, and incredible benefits.

Hot stamping is favored compared to other stamping services because of several advantages:

It is environmentally friendly
The hot foil stamping process is quick, clean, environmentally friendly and cost-effective. Use hot stamping to create astonishing book covers, creative complimentary samples or amazing packaging in order to heighten brand awareness and attract attention to your brand. It is entirely possible to create show-stopping designs to distinguish your brand and be safe in the knowledge that it will not affect the environment negatively. Paper products decorated using the hot stamping technique are suitable for recycling.

It is flexible
It can be used in any type of material. Products such as paper, fabrics, and leather are but a few of the outputs of the process. In our workshops, we work on many supports and more regularly on paper and cardboard. Other than that, Pulsio Print works with finished objects in rubber, plastics, and many more materials. With hundreds of custom printing options to choose from, we are here to ensure that your project comes out just as you thought it would. The object must, however, meet certain size and rigidity constraints that must be submitted to us.

Hot stamping does not use any ink. As a result, the color of the foil will not change, based on the color of the paper you are printing on. Using a metal die in the process will allow for branding, meaning the brand name will remain if the color ever fades out. This makes it more of a permanent process. With this, the output is said to be able to adapt even to the toughest of conditions.

Hot stamping and gilding dress up a book, catalog, or card set in a classical and timeless way. It plays with the light, bringing the customer’s attention to the information you want them to focus on. We have seen foil gilding make a major comeback in recent times, and it is no longer a finish reserved for books bound to leather cases. Gilt elements on a book, catalog, or card speak of prestige, trust, and quality. With its distinctive and eye-catching appeal, it helps make your printed piece stand out from the crowd.

Like all other artwork produced for your book, the price of the final product will vary depending on the number of elements that you choose to put. You can use hot stamping on the dust jacket to highlight the title or on the spine to identify the book without the jacket and for libraries that remove the jackets. Also, you can emphasize a main element on the front or back cover with embossing or debossing to add more “finish”. Here below, you can find a table with guideline prices:

* The technical details, which make each process more or less difficult to apply, but which do not directly concern the customer (for example: the inevitable elaboration of a matrix for the embossing, change of machines, sheet yield used for cushioning) are indicated and translated in the table as differences in “turnaround time”.
** Dimensions for hot stamping/ embossing/ debossing of 100 x 100 mm, on cover A5, print run 1000 copies.

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Omaké publishing house, a company specializing in new and original publications, chose Pulsio Print to showcase Jackie Chan’s exciting life story.

Jackie Chan’s boxed set is a luxury collector’s edition, containing an autobiography, a photo album with nearly 160 photos commented on by the author, three exclusive photo cards, an exclusive poster and most importantly a numbered certificate limited to 1000 copies, giving the publication a highly selective character.

To ensure a high-value collector’s item, the entirety of the set, the box itself and all its contents, need to be of superb quality, distinctive and unique, in order to give the look and feel of value in the hands of the purchaser. To this end the box is laminated with a gradation of colours, mixing gold with khaki, giving the impression of having a precious object in your hands.

The cover of the book is hardback with a glued square spine, with a glossy lamination that gives a beautiful sensation to the touch. The interior of the work is printed on a white bulky paper that gives both thickness and lightness, while also facilitating the clarity of the photos that occur in the book.

Jackie Chan’s photographic memories allow readers to see the author’s journey with their own eyes. The laminated hardcover lifts the publication and gives it the true feel of a collector’s item. The photos are printed on coated paper highlighting the colour shades, designed to stand out and catch the reader’s eye. The comments that accompany each photo play a crucial role in understanding the actor’s life.

In addition to the photo album, there are also three Jackie Chan photo cards printed on Zenith coated paper with glossy lamination and an exclusive poster printed on Condat coated paper.

And, last but not least, as a part of this magnificent collector box, the real Jackie Chan fan will find a numbered certificate of authenticity. The certificate confirms that the set is limited to only 1000 copies.

“Never Grow Up” is the result of collaborative work that combines the publishing quality of Omaké and the expert professional know-how of Pulsio Print. This collaboration once again shows that listening to the publisher and realising their dreams with care and attention are essential to the success of such a premium product.

If you have a printing project that needs a slipcase or presentation box to make it stand out in quality and value, don’t hesitate to contact us. The Pulsio Print team is here to bring your ideas to life.

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Whether called slipcases, presentation book boxes, or collector book boxes, they can make the difference both to single publications and to sets or series of books. They give a unique look and feel and can be customised to either showcase original artwork or give the impression of old-fashioned elegance or of a luxury gift. A boxed set makes an ideal present and looks great on the shelf.

Slipcases and book boxes also protect books from damage and general wear, and that in itself says that a book in a slipcase is a good one and worth taking that extra time and care to protect. Books in cases or boxes will last a lifetime and more, while being at the same time very attractively displayed.

Slipcases and presentation boxes can also be used very effectively for corporate presentation. Giving your clients or business colleagues a company portfolio presented in its own specially designed slipcase, with the corporate image and company logo prominently displayed, will immediately lift your image and make you stand out as a high-end, high-value organisation.

To make that high-end impression, whether in book publications or corporate presentations, you can lift the experience to a new level with special effects such as foil stamping, embossing, spot varnishes, die-cutting or gilding. This can be very effective when the cover of the book inside the collector book box is also enhanced with the same effects, but it can also add value as speciality outer packaging to a simple, classic book cover inside.

To make your book boxes really stand out, they can also be covered with cloth, suede, leather or the material of your choice. Finishing options can include ribbon pulls. Your boxes or slipcases can be as clean and simple or as embellished and decorative as you want!

At Pulsio Print, designing, manufacturing and printing high-end presentation book boxes and slipcases are a speciality. Our cutting-edge technology, high-end equipment and experienced, knowledgeable and professional experts combine to make beautiful, high-value presentation boxes and slipcases to showcase the beautiful and high-value books inside, at an equally attractive price.

Pulsio Print is renowned across Europe for producing some of the finest book boxes available today – at a great value.

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The word “edge painting” means work that consists of making patterns, imitations of marble effects on lacquered wall panels or on metal, on the edges of a book. In Volume 4 of another important work, ‘Necessary Knowledge for a Bibliophile’, we discover that at the end of the 17th  century, and throughout the 18th, edge painting was also used on leather intended for bookbinding.

Marble is a metamorphic rock that can have several appearances: speckled, banded, red (or oriental), red spots on a green background, black (from Sicily), etc.

Of sedimentary or volcanic origin, it is therefore a transformational substance, sometimes classified as a mineral, sometimes as rock, depending on or its levels of impurities. Its most important characteristic, besides its widespread occurrence, is its wide range of natural colours.

No colour is impossible for marble, which allows us to give its name to all kinds of different surfaces with varied patterns and hues.

Volume VIII of ‘Descriptions of Arts and Crafts’, which came out in 1777, gives techniques for the application of all manners of embellishment for book edges.

The Methodical Encyclopaedia teaches us that “our old books of the sixteenth century […] almost all, are aged at the edges”. Aging the edges is done “if you want to push individuality and magnificence as far as possible”.

The aesthetics of the time imposed ornamentation of book edges as an integral part of the appearance of a book. Its importance was such that according to ‘The Art and Practice of Bookbinding’:

“There are usually special workers who can pattern, marble or gild, but it is useful for a bookbinder to know about the processes that are used, so that they can achieve the same results, if necessary, without the help of specialists, especially if they live in a small town.”

And while the ‘Methodical Encyclopaedia’ spoke about a red colour applied to book edges, a hundred years later ‘The Art and Practice of Bookbinding’ described all the colours available and gave in minute detail methods for ink preparation both for uniform colour and for marbling.

The demand was there, and so new techniques developed. Edge painting became almost a fashion trend, with in-house models kept by the major printing companies of the time. ‘The Art and Practice of Bookbinding’ gives us an idea of some of the models of printing house A. Scherf, 19, rue Saint-Séverin, Paris.

But preparing the edges (our edge painting today) doesn’t just serve to embellish a book. The practical usefulness of this process should not be neglected. According to the author of the article about it in the Encyclopaedia already quoted:

“Although these colours and ornaments seem merely to add charm, and it seems that they do not add any merit or real advantage to a book, I do not think they are completely useless, since they prevent the pages from wearing out as quickly as they might, and prevent marks from appearing as visibly as if the edge remained in the original colour of the paper; at least this seems so certain to me that certain books that are used a lot, such as, for example, church books, stay clean longer when they are gilded on the edges than when they are simply reddened or marbled, as is the normal practice for books sold by booksellers.”

So, in an age when print runs were limited and books passed from hand to hand, edge painting was also used to ensure their longevity.

Today, edge painting has lost its role of protector. But the passage of time has meant that, contrary to the opinion of Methodical Encyclopaedia, it can add real benefit to a book. A book with edge painting stands out from a distance. It attracts attention. At first, it’s the edge painting’s individuality that catches the eye, but then on reflection we see that the printer did something more for this book besides printing and binding, and this effort deserves our attention.

We are no longer in the era of ‘The Art and Practice of Bookbinding’; most printing and binding processes are now industrialised. Edge painting is no exception, and this sometimes allows us to add edge painting to large print runs. But the quality work that impresses most and adds maximum value to a book is always done by hand.

Often the films (or foils) for metallic marbling (gilding the edges) come from the same suppliers as those intended for hot stamping. The world market leader is undoubtedly the German company Kurtz. To colour the edges, we use aerosols or special stamps.

Armed with its long experience, Pulsio Print is able to bring to fruition all your ideas for embellishing the edges of your books.

Put them in a class of their own with gold or a solid colour:

Give them extra style by replicating one of the colours of the cover on the edge:

Or create something fun with vivid colours that correspond to the content of the book:

If you have other ideas and wishes for edge painting, other designs or artistic creations, do not hesitate to contact us. Together we will study them and find ways to implement them so that your books become remarkable and unique.

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Selective varnish

Matt lamination + selective varnish

Selective varnish with volume

Soft Touch + selective varnish with volume

This finish consists of applying a gloss varnish on particular areas of a printed medium to highlight them with a contrast effect. Added to specific areas of a cover or leaflet, selective varnish gives a striking 3-D effect to a title, a name, a logo, a graphic element or a photo. Adding real value, the great visual effect of this finish gives an item an obvious aesthetic appearance while also giving it a luxurious look and feel.

Considered a finish of choice, the application of a selective gloss varnish on matte lamination is a combination that delivers a sublime result. This exemplary process strongly accentuates the contrast between the matt rendering of the lamination and the gloss of the varnish, making the highlighted areas of varnish stand out, visible at first glance. To intensify the effect, it is advisable to use it on dark coloured backgrounds. This finish guarantees a significant visual impact and adds a new dimension to the printed document. Offering a high-quality and particularly luxurious rendition, it is recommended for leaflets, luxury magazines, book covers and works of art.

With a thicker texture, this selective varnish adds volume to the parts of the document to which it is applied. Giving an embossed appearance, it allows for the bringing into relief of an important element of a cover for example, and adds an element of vitality and a new dimension to the printing.

Combining the silky and agreeable feel of Soft Touch laminating with the 3-D effect of selective varnish with volume, this finish gives your prints appropriate protection while offering an original look, incomparable volume and a luxurious appearance. The combination of these two processes makes it possible to accentuate the gloss and impact of the typographic elements on which the selective varnish with volume is applied, thanks to a contrasting effect with the matte appearance of the Soft Touch lamination. Intended for highlighting text, logos or graphic elements, especially on covers, this very high-end finish is suitable for media with a minimum weight of 350g.

While adding value to your printing, selective varnish is nevertheless a technique which requires great precision and meticulous preparation. Two files need to be supplied, one in four-colour with cut lines, and the other separately, conceived as a fifth colour with 100% solid black on the elements to be varnished. Overlaying the two files will determine the areas where the varnish will be applied. It is advisable to make these files with professional DTP software such as Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign, to make sure that they are perfectly superimposed and comply with professional printing standards.

With its strong creative and technical know-how, Pulsio Print will accompany you in your quest and offer quality services appropriate to your needs. Our expert consultants are at your disposal to advise you and guide you in your search for the best option to add value to all your creations!

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Gloss lamination makes colours bright and vibrant. It’s flashy and attractive – this is why it adapts so well to advertising documents. It also gives a smooth, glazed effect to the medium, and helps to add value to photos and visuals. It’s a very commonly used lamination.

Matte lamination gives documents a more sober and refined look. More sensitive to scratches than gloss lamination, it’s very soft to the touch. It goes well with dark colours, and is good for printing company catalogues, invitation cards and books. If you’re looking to add elegance to your documents, matte lamination is the solution!

Tip
Don’t laminate a medium that you want to be able to write on, such as the back of a business card or a postcard, because the plastic film on the lamination prevents the ink from adhering.

Note
Laminating is applicable to all types of thick paper only (generally from 250 gr / m²), except recycled paper and opal paper, which can only be laminated on one side.

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The idea nowadays is to use art papers to accompany your message as much in substance as in form. Metallic, iridescent and pearl papers play with light, while tracing paper and transparent papers have the effect of surprise and are suitable for expressing your imagination. Marked grainy paper enhances intensity, vellum and silk papers impress with a touch of class, and hologram papers have that ultra-modern look.

While creative papers have a cost, their use is not necessarily reserved for the luxury sector. A high-end paper will help showcase a serious image.

Transparent paper juxtaposed with print can enhance a new product launch by creating the effect of surprise. Using coloured tracing paper will convey audacity and modernity. Using paper creatively serves the overall objective, with subtlety.

And why not play with the parallel between the paper chosen and the line of business? A marble texture effect will evoke banking or finance. Textured papers convey an image of tradition and quality, relating for example to arts and crafts, leather goods, or the wine sector.

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