If you want your marketing tools to leave a lasting impression, then you need to invest in UV-coated paper products. A glossy coating makes your prints, like business cards and postcards, look sleek and sophisticated. UV coating, also known as ultraviolet coating, is a printing method that provides an extra layer on top of the paper. This results in a lustrous, glossy appearance that reflects light and protects your paper. Anyone looking for a simple way to improve the quality of their paper products, like custom business cards, should start with UV coated paper.
Here’s everything you need to know about High Gloss UV coating.
What is High Gloss UV Coating?
Visually, the glossy finish is the most obvious benefit of UV coating. After your product is printed, a UV coating machine adds a gloss coat to the surface. The clear coat is a liquid layer applied to the paper and cured (hardened) with ultraviolet light. Fast curing creates a protective finish that provides abrasion resistance.
There are several benefits to this method. The colors in your design, whether they’re colorful or dark, will appear rich and deep thanks to the gleaming reflection. It also ensures your print goods, like flyers and table tents, will last a long time. The protective coating shields your design from wear and tear. Not only does the veneer fortify your design, but it also introduces a luxurious texture. The smooth finish provides a professional feel that physically demonstrates the quality.
What’s the best paper type for UV coating?
UV gloss coating is added to the color sides on 14 pt. Gloss Cover print products. This is the most popular paper stock for business cards, since the thick cardstock is sturdy and shiny. The high-quality material instantly conveys excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail, making it ideal for business networking. The durable paper is sure to impress everyone you hand a business card to.
What products can you print with UV coating?
When you know your prints will go through heavy use, then you should utilize a UV-coated card stock. Besides business cards, UV coating is popular for marketing materials like postcards, greeting cards, bookmarks, flyers, and door hangers. Some of these products, like custom flyers, need to withstand several people’s hands. Direct mail postcards need to look good after passing through the post office, all the way to people’s mailboxes. Other prints, like custom door hangers, are left outdoors and need protection against general wear.
Your business card design or other custom prints will also determine if the UV coat is necessary. Some artwork is improved with a shiny coat. Anything with bright, vibrant colors benefits from the glossy coat, since it creates an eye-catching sheen that deepens the shades. Photographs and detailed logos are elevated by adding a polished appearance.
What is the difference between UV coating and aqueous coating?
UV isn’t the only type of coating available on paper products. Some paper stocks, like 16 pt. Premium Matte and 100 lb. Matte Cover, add aqueous coating. As the name implies, this printing method uses water-based liquid. It results in a coating that is less glossy than UV and instead has a matte appearance. Like UV coating, an aqueous coat is a layer added outside your business card, but it is less protective than UV coating. Aqueous materials help prevent fingerprints and other rubbed markings. However, the material does not safeguard against more serious damage.
How can you make Raised UV designs?
A UV coating doesn’t have to cover the entire print design. Get creative by adding an extra layer to specific design elements, like a logo or text, with Raised UV. While the rest of the design is matte, the UV design portions are shiny and eye-catching. The raised element adds a tactile, multi-dimensional texture to your prints. The specialty finish introduces an extra level of professionalism that will help you stand out against your competition.
UV coating isn’t your only option for sturdy prints that are made to last. GotPrint’s ultra-thick, triple-layered Trifecta paper stock is high-end paper that is smooth to the touch. The woven layers make it difficult to bend and will leave a lasting impression. It also features a vivid core that comes in green, red, black, and blue, so your prints can have a fun pop of color.
For products like flyers and door hangers, there are other glossy paper stocks to choose from, like 100 lb. Gloss Book, 80 lb. Gloss Book, and 100 lb. Gloss Cover. These papers all feature the shiny appearance and smooth feel of UV coating. Gloss paper and UV coated paper do not have a writable surface, so you cannot add any handwritten notes. If that’s what you’re looking for, go with a matte or uncoated paper stock. However, the 14 pt. Gloss is the most affordable paper stock, so you know you’re getting high-quality prints at a low cost.