Postpress—also known as print finishing—includes all production steps that happen after the printed sheet comes off the press.
These processes transform printed sheets into final products with durability, precision, and visual impact.
Whether we are producing premium packaging, commercial print, books, labels, or marketing materials, postpress defines the final quality our clients see and feel.
What Is Postpress?
Postpress is the stage where printed sheets are cut, folded, bound, laminated, coated, glued, die-cut, or otherwise finished to meet final product specifications.
We can say that it represent the bridge between printing and the final consumer-ready product.
Today’s postpress operations combine:
- Precision engineering
- Automation
- Digital quality control
- Specialized materials and coatings
This makes them one of the most important value-adding parts of the printing workflow.
Coating as a Value-Adding Postpress Step in Offset Printing
Coating is one of the most important value-adding postpress processes in offset printing.
Beyond basic protection, coatings improve visual appeal of the product, tactile experience, durability, and perceived product quality—often determining whether a printed piece feels standard or premium.
In today’s modern offset printing production, most printed sheets already leave the offset press coated with an aqueous (AQ) varnish via an inline coating unit.
This baseline coating protects the ink and stabilizes sheets for further postpress operations.
From this standard starting point, printers apply additional or specialized coatings as postpress steps when greater visual impact, durability, or uniqueness are required.
Why Coating Is Applied After Offset Printing
Coatings that can be applied inline or offline are served for multiple purposes:
- Protection against rubbing, scratching, moisture, and fingerprints
- Faster handling and reduced set-off
- Improved color depth and contrast of printed design
- Added tactile and visual differentiation
- Higher perceived product value
- Better performance in folding, die cutting, and binding
In commercial and packaging printing, coatings are no longer optional choice — they represent a strategic finishing choice.
Aqueous Coating (AQ Varnish)
Aqueous coating is a water-based varnish usually applied inline on offset presses through a coating unit.
It is the most widely used coating in offset printing.
It can be also applied offline on a separate coater when heavier coverage or special effects are required.
Key characteristics of AQ Varnishes are that they have fast drying, low VOC emission, they are odourless, recyclable and cost effective.
AQ coating is often the base protective layer that allows:
• Clean folding
• Reliable die cutting
• Reduced marking during stacking and transport
In practice, many printers consider AQ coating a standard output condition of offset printing rather than a premium finish.