What is Spot UV?
Spot UV (also called spot varnish or spot gloss) is a finishing technique where a clear, glossy coating is applied to specific areas of a printed piece, not the entire surface. The UV refers to the ultraviolet light used to cure (harden) the varnish instantly.
What Does It Look Like?
Imagine a matte black business card where just the logo shines with a mirror-like gloss. Or a book cover where the title text is raised and catches the light. That is spot UV. The contrast between the matte background and glossy elements creates a striking visual and tactile effect.
How Does It Work?
After the main printing is done, a UV-curable varnish is applied to specific areas using a separate plate or screen. UV lamps then instantly cure the varnish, creating a hard, glossy layer. The precision of this process allows for detailed patterns, text, and even full images to be highlighted.
When to Use Spot UV
Spot UV works best on matte or uncoated stock. The contrast is what makes it special. Top applications include: Business cards (the number one use case, a matte card with spot UV logo is the standard for premium brands), Book covers (highlight the title and author name for a professional look), Packaging (make product names and brand elements stand out on boxes and labels), Brochure covers (add a premium touch to marketing materials), and Certificates and invitations (elevate special documents with a refined finish).
When NOT to Use Spot UV
Do not use it on already-glossy stock because the effect disappears. It is also not ideal for large solid areas (full-bleed gloss coating is better for that). And it adds cost, so it is not worth it for disposable items like flyers or price lists.
Forme Spot UV Capabilities
We do spot UV in-house at Forme, which means faster turnaround and tighter quality control. We can handle fine-detail spot UV (thin text, intricate patterns) and pair it with other premium finishes like foil stamping and embossing. Just tell us what you want to highlight, and we will handle the rest.