What the *$%! is Spot UV?
Not sure what spot UV is? It’s cool..We know, and we’re going to share with you. Spot UV is a process in which an extra layer of clear ink is added during printing. There are a lot of uses for spot UV,
mainly to accent specific elements within a design. It adds that extra little “POP” of gloss to otherwise matte or dull papers. In this post we’ll show a few examples and hopefully clear up any confusion.
Spot UV is applied after ink printing, and then cured with ultra violet lights which dry the coating instantly. This means the coating sits on top of any ink, and since it’s dried instantly the detail can be almost as good as the printing itself.
Historically UV coatings have been known to be difficult to recycle and not decompose in landfills. However modern technologies have mellowed out the environmental impacts and made recycling much safer. In fact, using a heat based laminator is often more harmful to the environment because the lamination material is plastic and usually petroleum based. The E.P.A. doesn’t classify UV coatings as hazardous, and the materials are safe for workers to handle.
Ok, now that we know we’re not causing mother nature a slow death, we can focus on some of the benefits of using a Spot UV in your print materials.
Attract More Readers – Spot UV tends to guide a users eyes better than traditional printing. Thus if your print is sitting on a desk, it is more likely to be looked at.
Protect Your Print – Having a coating on a specific area can keep ink for smudging or scratching.
Less Waste – Since your printed pieces are protected better, you’ll throw less away due to damage.
Talking Points – From a Marketing prospective, people will notice and comment about your awesome Spot UV printing. (Opening a dialogue will give you an opportunity to sell your service or product)
What type of products is Spot UV used for?
- Packaging
- Business Cards
- Brochures
- Greeting Cards
- Book Covers
In conclusion, spot UV is all around us every day and it’s a great way to spice up any printed material. Images courtesy of thebusinesscarder.com.
