Finishing Options Guide

Print finishing is what separates a good result from a great one. The right finish can make a business card feel premium, a brochure feel considered, and a packaging sleeve feel retail-ready. This guide covers every finishing option we offer, what it looks and feels like, what it suits, and what to watch out for.

SPOT UV

What it is A high gloss coating applied to selected areas of a printed surface over a matt base. The gloss elements catch the light while the matt base stays flat, creating a striking contrast between the two surfaces.

What it looks and feels like The gloss UV elements have a distinct sheen that is immediately visible when light hits the surface at an angle. The contrast between the flat matt base and the gloss UV areas is the defining visual effect. The surface feels smooth rather than raised.

Best for Business cards, booklet covers, brochure covers, packaging, and any product where you want a premium finish without the cost of foiling. Works particularly well on dark designs where the gloss elements really stand out against the matt base.

What to watch out for Spot UV needs bold, simple design elements to work properly. Fine lines and small text do not reproduce cleanly in spot UV. The matt laminate base is what makes the contrast work. Always specify matt laminate when ordering spot UV.

Setup cost No die or block required. Spot UV is applied digitally which means no setup cost and short runs are practical.

HIGH BUILD UV

What it is The same principle as spot UV but built up in multiple layers to create a raised tactile surface. You can feel the design as well as see it. High build UV takes the visual contrast of standard spot UV and adds a physical dimension.

What it looks and feels like The raised UV elements are visibly three-dimensional and clearly tactile. Running your fingertip across the surface you can feel the depth of the raised areas. The effect is more dramatic than standard spot UV and immediately noticeable.

Best for Premium business cards, luxury packaging, high-end booklet covers, and any product where maximum impact from a single finishing technique is the goal. High build UV is one of the most impressive finishes available at a mid-range price point.

What to watch out for Same design rules as standard spot UV. Bold, simple shapes only. Fine detail does not build up cleanly. Matt laminate base is essential for maximum contrast.

Setup cost No die or block required. Applied digitally. No setup cost and short runs are practical.

FOILING

What it is A metallic or pigmented foil is bonded to the printed surface using heat and pressure through a foil block. The foil catches light in a way no other finish does. Applied to key design elements it creates a result that people notice and tend to keep.

What it looks and feels like Foil has a distinct metallic sheen that shifts as the angle of light changes. Gold foil is warm and classic. Silver is cool and clean. The other available colours each have their own character. The surface feels smooth and slightly raised at the foil edge.

Foil colours available Gold, silver, rose gold, copper, green, blue, purple, black, white, and holographic. Get in touch to confirm current availability and see samples before committing.

Best for Premium business cards, wedding invitations, luxury packaging, high-end booklet covers, certificates, and any product where the foil finish is part of the brand story. Works best with restraint. A logo, a name, or a single graphic element. Too much foil loses its impact.

What to watch out for Foil needs bold, simple shapes to transfer cleanly. Fine lines and small text do not foil reliably and the detail gets lost. Dark base stocks show foil most dramatically. Light base stocks can work but the contrast is less striking.

Setup cost A foil block is required for your design. The setup cost applies once and every reorder uses the same block at no additional charge. We quote the setup cost upfront before you commit.

EMBOSSING

What it is A metal die presses the stock from below, raising the design above the surface to create a tactile raised impression. Blind embossing means the raised area carries no ink or foil and relies entirely on the shadow and depth of the impression to be visible.

What it looks and feels like Run your thumb across an embossed surface and you feel the design before you see it. The raised impression is subtle in flat light but dramatic in raking light where shadows reveal the depth of the impression. On premium uncoated stock the effect is particularly impressive.

Best for Premium business cards, corporate stationery, hardcover book covers, certificates, and anything where a tactile finish communicates quality and craft. Suited to professional services, luxury brands, and any brand that values considered detail.

What to watch out for Embossing works best on larger, simpler design elements. The larger the element, the deeper and more impressive the emboss. Fine detail and thin lines do not emboss well and the effect gets lost. Uncoated stock shows embossing most clearly.

Setup cost An emboss die is required for your design. The setup cost applies once and every reorder uses the same die at no additional charge. We quote the setup cost upfront before you commit.

DEBOSSING

What it is The opposite of embossing. A metal die presses the design into the stock from above, creating a recessed impression below the surface. Blind debossing relies on shadow and depth to be visible with no ink or foil in the recessed area.

What it looks and feels like Debossing is more subtle than embossing. The recessed impression is refined and understated, particularly on uncoated stock where the impression is caught clearly in raking light. It communicates restraint and craft in a way that embossing does not.

Best for Premium business cards, luxury stationery, hardcover covers, and brands that prefer understatement over impact. Well suited to professional services, legal firms, architects, and any brand where quiet quality is the message.

What to watch out for Same design rules as embossing. Larger, simpler elements deboss most cleanly. Fine detail gets lost. Uncoated stock shows the impression most clearly. The effect is more subtle than embossing so the design needs to be strong enough to carry it.

Setup cost A deboss die is required for your design. The setup cost applies once and every reorder uses the same die at no additional charge. We quote the setup cost upfront before you commit.

ROUNDED CORNERS

What it is The square corners of a printed card or sheet are cut to a smooth radius. Rounded corners can be achieved through die cutting or a dedicated corner cutter depending on the product and quantity.

What it looks and feels like Rounded corners give a card a softer, more considered feel in the hand. They prevent the dog-earing and deterioration that square corners develop with regular use. A business card with rounded corners feels noticeably more premium than the same card with square corners.

Best for Business cards, loyalty cards, gift vouchers, bookmarks, swing tags, and any card product that is going to be handled regularly. Rounded corners are one of the most cost effective finishing upgrades available.

What to watch out for Artwork needs to account for the corner radius. If your design has elements that run close to the corner, make sure they are positioned to allow for the cut. Standard corner radius is 3mm to 5mm. Larger radii are available on request.

Setup cost No die required for standard radii using a corner cutter. Die cutting is used for larger quantities or non-standard radii and a setup cost may apply. We will advise which method suits your job when you enquire.

DRILLED HOLES

What it is A clean hole drilled through a printed document or card using a precision drill bit. Used for ring binding, display hanging, swing tags, lanyards, and any application where a clean finished hole is required.

What it looks and feels like A drilled hole has a clean, smooth edge that is clearly machined rather than punched. On quality board stock the drilled edge is crisp and professional. Available in standard sizes with custom sizes on request.

Best for Swing tags, lanyards and ID cards, hang sell cards, bookmarks, calendar hanging holes, ring bound documents, and any product that needs a clean hole for display or attachment.

What to watch out for The hole position needs to be far enough from the edge of the stock that the material does not tear under load. As a general rule allow at least 5mm from the edge to the nearest point of the hole. Get in touch and we will confirm the right position for your product before artwork is finalised.

Setup cost No setup cost for standard hole sizes. A small additional charge may apply for custom sizes or very large quantities. We will confirm when you enquire.

QUICK COMPARISON

Finish Setup Cost Relative Cost Best For
Rounded Corners None (standard) Low Business cards, loyalty cards, bookmarks
Drilled Holes None (standard) Low Swing tags, hang sells, lanyards, calendars
Spot UV None Mid Business cards, covers, packaging
High Build UV Film required Mid-high Premium business cards, luxury packaging
Debossing Die required High Premium stationery, luxury brands
Embossing Die required High Premium business cards, certificates
Foiling Block required High Business cards, invitations, packaging

WANT TO SEE FINISHING SAMPLES?

The best way to understand finishing options is to see and feel them in person. Get in touch and we will send you samples of the finishes most relevant to your brief. If you are not sure which finish suits your project, we will talk you through the options before anything goes to print.

Get in touch