SPOT UV PRINTING - IRRESISTIBLY EYE-CATCHING
For a touch of class that's impossible to ignore, Spot UV printing is a winner! It simply means that you can highlight specific areas with a high-gloss varnish that always grabs attention.
Similar to embossing, spot UV printing is as effective at picking out images or logos as it is as a random 'blind' pattern that doesn't follow the lines of the printed area beneath. You can let your creative juices flow and actually, we'd really recommend it; check out this example here. Nothing like a good bit of 'wow, that's clever' to make your customers realise you're special.
Its full name is Spot Gloss UV Varnish, but mostly that’s a bit long-winded. It does help to explain what it’s all about though. For a really in-depth discussion, check out our Swot Spot section below, but here’s a quick overview:
Spot UV varnish covers specific areas with a slightly raised, clear gloss varnish. It’s absolutely ideal for picking out logos, important text and images, or for more subtle design features.
Not only does it highlight your important information, it also provides a stunning contrast, especially when used with matt lamination. You’ve probably noticed when reading books that you’re subconsciously fingering the cover, feeling the contrast of the glossy Spot UV against the smooth matt lamination.
This is exactly the reaction your customers will give; not just because of the highly visual, eye-catching reflections of the gloss but also the tactile element. It’s this multi-sensual experience that makes Spot UV - and indeed all of print - so effective and unique.
How can you use Spot Gloss UV Varnish printing as part your marketing?
- Direct mail, brochures, calendars, catalogues, folders
- Highly creative, luxury promotional materials
- Try using it in subtle patterns over the top of your print for added wow factor
- Consider a high-build Spot UV for an even more tactile finish
- Use on imagery to really bring out the colours and clarity
SWOT SPOT
To create the spot UV effect, the gloss varnish is applied to a printed sheet in an area that has been pre-specified with a piece of artwork which is then converted to a film. This varnished area is then placed under a UV lamp to cure it so that it dries instantly.
It can be defined to very fine lines but don’t go too thin (below 0.5mm) for areas that are critical, as the varnish may not be able to hold.
Our print experts on what to look out for with Spot Gloss UV Varnish:
"Spot UV is a secondary process after print and as long as your artwork is set up right, the end result will look stunning as we work hard to make sure the registration is bang on. It’s difficult on short runs that are printed digitally though because of the registration issues with digital print, so we tend not to recommend it in this scenario."
Our marketing wizards have a word for you too:
"We love Spot UV because it can make such a different to a piece of print. The most obvious use for it is to pick out a logo or image. For the best impact though, you should consider using it as an overlay so that it doesn’t follow the lines of the print below. For example, having your logo in Spot UV as a ‘watermark’ can be incredibly effective.”
If you need to chat spot UV through with one of us we'd love to hear from you.
