Print finishing is a graphic production stage in which the graphic products receive the final shape and use value. The goal of this course is to train students for the selection and application of the appropriate technological process for the production of graphic products of different complexity of production, as well as for the development of a new solution for technological development according to the requirements of specific graphic products. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to explain the basic concepts of print finishing, elements and types of characteristic bookbinding products, operations, equipment and systems for the realization of these products, the influence parameters of processing operations and quality control techniques.

After the successful completion of the course, students will acquire the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge on the basic elements of bookbinding products of different complexity, their technological processes of production, the ways of developing new technological processes, the necessary tools, equipment and systems for realization of the production of graphic products, the influence parameters of processing operation, quality control techniques (input, process and final control), types and characteristics of various bindings of books and brochures, specificity of the production of bookbinding products with sort-run, as well as techniques for processing digital prints. In addition, students will be introduced to basic packaging products and paper processing products, the historical development of books, as well as the operations of rewinding and restoring old books and other bookbinding products.

Basic concepts of print finishing. Bookbinding products, books, brochures, blocks, maps, prospectuses and other products. Packaging products. Paper processing products. Historical development of books, interlacing and restoring old books. Manual bindings and their modern application. Industrial bindings. Basic operations for the production of bookbinding products with different complexity. Cutting, aligning, perforation, die-cutting, folding, creasing, gathering, joining, thread-sewing, wire-stitching and thread-sealing, gluing, perfect binding, sealing, pressing, rounding and backing of book blocks, assembling covers, hot foil embossing and blind embossing, embossing with high frequency, rounding covers and other operations. The basic structure and types of books and brochures. Covers for brochures. Hardcovers for books (with one-piece and two-piece binding cloth). The basic technological processes of book and brochure productions. Development of new technological production processes for specific products. Phases of hardcover book production. Forwarding processes. Assembling and processing of the book block. Hardcover book finishing operations. Quality control of the graphic products. Input, process and final control. Pull and flexo tests. Bookbinding materials, sewing materials, bookbinding adhesives. The technological process of sort-run products. Print finishing of digital prints.

Teaching is done with modern didactic means and methods, interactive in the form of lectures, computer and laboratory exercises. In order to facilitate the understanding of subject matter in lectures with the help of PowerPoint presentation, the theoretical part of the material is presented with video attachments and animations, as well as real samples of bookbinding materials and products of different complexity. Computer exercises are organized in a way to supplement the knowledge from the theoretical bases with the elaboration of the solution of the technological process of producing specific graphic products, while in laboratory exercises practically apply the acquired knowledge on the available laboratory equipment. In addition to lectures and exercises, regular and pre-examination tutorials are also regularly held.