Description
What are Spot UV Business Cards?
Whether you are aware of it or not, you have undoubtedly handled a business card that featured a full wash of UV gloss coating. That is because high gloss UV business cards are the most commonly produced type of card in the world.
Spot uv, as you might have guessed, means that the UV coating is only applied to certain areas or “spots” on the business card. This is generally utilized in order to create a desirable visual and tactile contrast between gloss and matte or uncoated mediums.
When submitting a spot UV business card order, you or your graphic designer must provide what we call a “spot mask” along with your regular CMYK print file.
The spot mask file is simply a black and white PDF, where anything that is shown in key black (100% K) will get coated with UV and anything shown in white will not. Make Sense? If not, please check out the file preparation tab.
Since “spot uv” means applying clear gloss to certain spots on the card, the base stock must have a matte finish in order to create that beautiful contrast that this finish is known for.
If the card was already fully coated with gloss, the spot-treatment would be pointless.
Spot UV FAQs
Example Uses: In the video depicted above, spot UV is used to create a repeating background pattern that provides just the right depth in order to make the logo jump right off the card. Other uses might include using spot UV to highlight a logo or employee name.
Often, good design is about creating contrast, it’s about guiding your viewer’s eyes and telling a convincing story by combining shapes, photos, color, and typography.
Spot UV business cards are an excellent choice for businesses that wish to really create visual emphasis. Spot UV also serves to create a textural or tactile contrast as well.
When your prospect runs their finger over your card for the first time, the variable sensation of smooth flat matte stock and the sleek of UV gloss will let them know that you are someone who pays attention to detail.
Spot UV Business Cards Resources:
If you’re looking for more information on how to use spot UV creatively with your new business card design, check out the links/articles below:
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Please set up your files with the following specs:
- Bleeds: all files must have a 1/8″ bleed on each side
- Safe Area: keep all critical text and artwork inside the trim
- Colors: supply your files in CMYK color mode if you are printing 4-color process
- Colors: supply your files with correct Pantone (U or C) colors selected in file.
- Resolution: 300 dpi
- Fonts: fonts must be converted to curves/outlines
- Transparencies: flatten all transparencies
- File Types: Preferred: PDF, EPS | Also accepted: TIFF or JPEG
- ICC Profile: Japan Coated 2001
Download: Art Guides PDF
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The order was fill full and looks great!!
The card came out great! Everyone loves them!
Beautiful quality and for a great price. The ordering process is a little cumbersome but we are always happy with the product.
When my clients needed to order more business cards, I knew I wanted to convince them to try Print Peppermint. I had been using them for a while with other clients and was always pleased with the final product. Since this client was on a tight budget, I wanted to see the difference in cost between Print Peppermint and Vistaprint (the company they used for their last cards). With the new customer discount, we got the Print Peppermint cards for LESS than what we would have paid at Vistaprint. And let me just say, the product is SO much better and the clients were ecstatic. In case anyone is wondering, it's not just the product that is amazing but the people who work there and the customer service is TOP NOTCH.