How is the price of spot UV calculated?

The percentage of the surface covered with spot UV coating does not significantly affect the price. The cost remains the same whether you coat 1% or 50% of the area.

How to set up spot uv for print?

The first requirement is that the print artwork must be in vector format – so RGB image files (such as JPG) are never suitable as a direct source for creating spot UV files. However, you can create an additional layer in your design program where you draw the shapes or graphics in vector format. These shapes then form a 100% black SPOT area (which, according to industry standards, is understood by all print houses) that indicates where spot varnish, UV spot varnish or foil will be printed on the product.Print houses therefore need up to 4 PDF print files (saved as PDF/X‑1a), which include:A page with the layout image, showing the printed piece with graphic design and the applied effect or multiple effects (each effect adds a new page in this file).A page with the main print image/file (if there is one) – usually CMYK format for offset or digital printing.Pages where a 100% black SPOT area, with crop marks, matches the previous print surface exactly. This page shows the effect shape, and at the bottom of the page it must always be stated which effect is required on that specific page, for example “spot UV” or “foil”.Important: Remember that for every print effect you must create a separate additional page in the same PDF print file, following the same requirements.We definitely recommend using the help of specialists and/or design programs like Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW, because files created in Canvas are never suitable for printing (that program is meant for creating graphics for online media).At the same time, our website explains the process step by step if you want to do it yourself and save money:Visit our "Print Guide" page. However, there is often a big difference between one print file and another, depending on the creator’s experience and skills. So if you’re doing this yourself for the first time, the result may not look as good as the best examples shown on our website.

Spot UV Varnish Printing

Spot UV coating is a popular choice when you want to emphasize or highlight a specific part of a printed piece, such as a book title, logo, image, or a background with a spot UV pattern.

In our production, we offer both screen-print and digital-technology-based spot UV coating. By now, a huge variety of different solutions has been developed, which you can explore below.

Max. sheet size 520 × 720 mm

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Spot UV coating is one of the oldest and most common print effects. With it, certain parts of the printed surface can be made glossy, matte, raised and glossy, or given a textured finish, etc.

Technologically, spot UV coatings are divided into screen-printed spot UV and digital spot UV. There are also offset spot UV coatings. Offset spot coatings have a duller gloss because they are water-based.

Raised digital spot UV coatings fall into two categories: laser-based technology (also with a more subdued gloss) and pixel-based spot UV coating, which is the glossiest of all the options mentioned above and allows for the greatest thickness (relief). 3D varnish is also included in this category.

Spot UV Guide

Spot UV coating is not recommended on areas that are too small, as the effect may remain invisible to the end user or fail to achieve its purpose.

Screen-printed spot UV is the best option for achieving a glossy result on offset prints. It can also be applied directly onto uncoated papers.

Note: Because digital printing can vary, screen-printed spot UV and its subtypes cannot be used on digitally printed pieces (except when they do not overlap with the underlying print. Even then, the digital print must be covered with lamination to avoid chemical reactions).

In addition, there should usually be a laminate layer between digital printing and spot UV coating, because digital ink is chemically very active and, during drying, waxes can form on the surface.

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FAQ

The first requirement is that the print artwork must be in vector format – so RGB image files (such as JPG) are never suitable as a direct source for creating spot UV files. However, you can create an additional layer in your design program where you draw the shapes or graphics in vector format. These shapes then form a 100% black SPOT area (which, according to industry standards, is understood by all print houses) that indicates where spot varnish, UV spot varnish or foil will be printed on the product.

Print houses therefore need up to 4 PDF print files (saved as PDF/X‑1a), which include:

A page with the layout image, showing the printed piece with graphic design and the applied effect or multiple effects (each effect adds a new page in this file).
A page with the main print image/file (if there is one) – usually CMYK format for offset or digital printing.
Pages where a 100% black SPOT area, with crop marks, matches the previous print surface exactly. This page shows the effect shape, and at the bottom of the page it must always be stated which effect is required on that specific page, for example “spot UV” or “foil”.

Important: Remember that for every print effect you must create a separate additional page in the same PDF print file, following the same requirements.

We definitely recommend using the help of specialists and/or design programs like Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW, because files created in Canvas are never suitable for printing (that program is meant for creating graphics for online media).

At the same time, our website explains the process step by step if you want to do it yourself and save money:

Visit our "Print Guide" page.

However, there is often a big difference between one print file and another, depending on the creator’s experience and skills. So if you’re doing this yourself for the first time, the result may not look as good as the best examples shown on our website.

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