So we brought the format back, but this time we’re finding out which print finishing technique matches your personality. (You might even discover a finishing technique you didn’t know you needed – so this is basically professional development.)
1. Your coworkers are ordering lunch. You:
A. Get on Instagram to scope out the vibes.
B. Spend 15 minutes reading every menu option
C. Ask around the office to see if anyone else wants anything.
D. Respond “Whatever is easiest!”
E. Reference your list of local restaurants to try.
F. Pick the place with the highest reviews.
2. Pick your biggest workplace pet peeve.
A. They have no sense of fun.
B. They don’t proofread anything.
C. They never think ahead about what could go wrong.
D. They can’t figure out how to do basic things.
E. They don’t care about working as a team.
F. All they do is complain to you.
3. What’s a must-have in your workspace?
A. All of your favorite trinkets.
B. A notebook with very satisfying paper.
C. The office emergency kit you keep stocked with snacks, Advil and chargers.
D. Whatever pen happens to be closest.
E. Your color-coded planner.
F. A very expensive pen that makes you feel more important when you use it.
4. You have an unlimited print budget for one campaign. What are you most tempted to do?
A. Make something ridiculously eye-catching.
B. Obsess over every tiny finishing detail.
C. Make something people can use over and over.
D. Finally make the weirdly specific piece you’ve been envisioning.
E. Create an entire collection of pieces that work together.
F. Make something that looks like it belongs on a coffee table.
5. Your most-used Slack emoji is:
A. ✨
B. 👀
C. ️❤️
D. 👍
E. ✅
F. 💯
6. Which font speaks to you?
A. Impact
B. Playfair
C. Montserrat️
D. Times New Roman
E. Arial
F. Georgia
7. You're running late to a meeting. You:
B. Get the notes from your coworker about what you missed.
C. ️Text someone to make sure they know you’re on your way.
D. Slip in quietly – you’ll get caught up later.
E. Send a message to everyone with your ETA and the updated agenda.
F. Reschedule the meeting to accommodate your new arrival time.
8. You're building a new marketing campaign. Your number one goal is:
B. Confirm all the copy is accurate.
C. Create something useful.
D. Figure out what needs to get done.
E. Get aligned with your sales and operations teams.
F. Make it feel premium and polished.
Mostly A’s: Foil – The Spotlight Seeker
You understand the value of a good first impression. If you’re going to print something, you want people to notice it.
You probably say:
- “Can we make this pop?”
- “Needs more glitter.”
- “I want people to stop and look at it.”
Your strengths:
Bold, memorable, confident, creative.
Foil adds a reflective metallic finish that catches the light and draws attention to specific elements of a printed piece. Foil works best on invitations, business cards, packaging, direct mail, event materials, premium collateral… or anything else that needs to stand out from the pack.
MOSTLY B’s: Corner Rounding – The Perfectionist
You notice things other people don’t. You believe the little details add up, and you’re willing to spend an extra 10 minutes making something look juuuuuuust right.
You probably say:
- “Is that centered?”
- “I don’t know, something just feels off.”
- “It’s a small thing, but…”
Your strengths:
Thoughtful, observant, polished, detail-oriented.
Rounded corners are a small finishing detail that can soften a piece, change its feel and make it look more intentional. We love to see them on business cards, invitations, cards, tags, direct mail or wherever you want a softer or more distinctive shape.
Mostly C’s: Laminate – The Protector
You think about what happens after the project leaves your hands. You want things to look good, but you also want them to survive whatever people throw at them.
You probably say:
- “Let’s think about how people are actually going to use this.”
- “Can we make it a little more durable?”
- “I have exactly what you’re looking for.”
Your strengths:
Prepared, dependable, realistic, thoughtful.
Laminate adds a protective layer to printed pieces, helping them stand up to handling, moisture and general wear while also changing the look and feel of the piece. Perfect for menus, signage, stickers, event materials, frequently handled pieces and anything that needs a little extra staying power.
Mostly D’s: Baum Drill – The Utilitarian
You value function over fuss. You don’t need bells and whistles. You need the right tool for the job, and you need it to work.
You probably say:
- “Why are we overcomplicating this?”
- “We can make it work.”
- “There’s probably a simpler way.”
Your strengths:
Efficient, practical, resourceful, no-nonsense.
A Baum drill creates small, precise holes in printed pieces. It’s a basic finishing capability that can be incredibly useful for hang tags, tags, cards, and other pieces that need to be attached or hung.
Mostly E’s: Saddle Stitch – The Team Player
Heyyyy, project manager. You connect the dots, get everyone on the same page and somehow make a bunch of individual pieces work as one.
You probably say:
- “I’ll take notes for us.”
- “Let’s get everyone on the same page.”
- “Okay, here’s the plan.”
Your strengths:
Organized, collaborative, dependable, practical.
Saddle stitching is a method of binding where a group of pages is held together with staples along the fold. It’s ideal for shorter multi-page pieces where the pages need to function as one cohesive piece – like programs, brochures, booklets, or reports.
Mostly F’s: Perfect Bound – The Sophisticate
You care what people think. And you have excellent taste, so that’s fair. You’re drawn to polished presentation, good design, and anything that feels a little more high-end.
You probably say:
- “Let’s make this feel premium.”
- “Can we use this specific stock?”
- “The presentation matters.”
Your strengths:
Polished, thoughtful, sophisticated, design-minded.
Perfect binding is a method of binding that creates a clean, square spine by gluing the pages together. It gives multi-page pieces a more substantial, book-like feel – perfect for lookbooks, catalogs, presentations and higher-end marketing pieces.
