What is spot UV?
Spot UV is a glossy varnish applied only to selected areas of board and cured with ultraviolet light. On a matte background it makes areas such as a logo or pattern shine, creating contrast and a faint raised feel. The shape of the area needs separate preparation.
With spot UV the varnish goes on a defined shape rather than the whole surface. It is usually combined with a matte or soft-touch background: the background absorbs light while the varnished area shines and becomes visible depending on the viewing angle. It is an effective way to add depth to a design without printing anything extra.
The range of uses is wide. A logo accent, a pattern, a glossy photo area or a text layer can be highlighted with spot UV. It differs from foil in this way: foil transfers a metallic film, while spot UV is a clear glossy coating; used side by side they give two different kinds of shine.
Points to watch: very fine details and small text can break up through shifting or overflow. Varnished areas close to a fold line can be more likely to crack, so keep them away from the fold and ask your printer. The more complex the area, the more registration accuracy matters.
In the file, the spot UV area is marked as a separate color or layer from the print graphics, so the printer reads clearly which areas are to be varnished. It should not be confused with general surface coatings such as aqueous varnish, which are applied to the whole surface.
How you do this in Grapxo
In Grapxo, finish areas such as spot UV sit on a separate vector layer. Your printer's minimum line width and spacing spec comes first.
For more, see Hot foil, emboss and spot UV.
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