UV coating is one of the most popular finishes for packaging and printed products. It protects, adds gloss and can highlight individual elements. But what exactly is UV coating, and when does it pay off? Here are the answers.
What is UV coating?
UV coating is a varnish that cures under ultraviolet light within a fraction of a second. It is applied to the finished print and forms a hard, durable layer. It is either glossy or matt and is applied all over or only to parts of the surface.
Important: UV coating is not the same as UV printing. UV printing uses UV-curing inks, whereas UV coating is a finish. Read more about the printing process in our article UV printing.
Full or spot coating?
- Full UV coating: covers the entire surface. It creates high gloss or an even matt finish and protects the print all over.
- Spot UV coating: is applied only to selected areas, such as the logo, product name or image. On a matt surrounding, this creates a strong gloss contrast that you can see and feel.
The benefits of UV coating
- Brilliant gloss: colours look more vibrant and deeper.
- Targeted accents: spot coating draws the eye to the most important elements.
- Protection: the cured layer protects the print against abrasion, scratches and dirt.
- Tactile: particularly thick coating creates raised effects. More in our article Raised varnish and embossing.
- Economical: UV coating achieves a big impact at comparatively manageable cost.
Popular combinations
- Matt film or soft-touch + spot gloss coating: the classic for an elegant matt-gloss contrast. More in our article Matt or gloss.
- UV coating + hot foil: glossy areas and metallic accents in one design
- Drip-off coating: a combination of matt and gloss varnish created in a single pass in offset printing. It is economical for larger runs.
UV coating or water-based coating?
Water-based (aqueous) coating is often applied as a protective layer directly in the printing press. It is economical and reliably protects against abrasion, but it does not reach the intense gloss of UV coating. UV coating is the better choice when gloss and accents are the priority.
Applications
Things to bear in mind
- Set up spot coating areas as a separate layer or spot colour in the print data.
- Food packaging has special requirements for coatings. We will advise you on suitable systems.
- On uncoated papers or kraft board, coating soaks in more and shines less. Smooth, coated or laminated surfaces are ideal.
Would you like to finish your packaging with UV coating? Order our free sample pack to see the effect for yourself. You will receive a binding quote within 24 hours.
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