Creating a spot UV or spot varnish is the process of adding a UV coating to your artwork – but only in certain parts that you define. This is the difference between a spot varnish and a regular varnish. By taking more control of where the coating goes you can create unique effects and really make parts of your artwork pop.
The UV coating is applied to areas of your already printed artwork as a separate ink. When exposed to UV light it then creates a hardened surface, coating your artwork with a high gloss varnish. It’s great for adding that extra sheen to a logo or company masthead, or an added visual element to the front of a presentation or magazine by creating a variety of textures on a single printed surface.
You can also apply spot UV to a plain background, or part of the artwork where nothing is printed, in order to create a very subtle optical effect. For example you could print your company logo or catalog headline in just the varnish so that it is only visible from certain angles.
Spot varnishes work best on matt backgrounds where you are able to get a strong contrast. We recommend selecting the spot UV/matte laminate combination for the most striking effect.