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Spot UV Printing for Packaging Design: A Guide to Adding a Touch of Luxury and Pop!


Spot UV printing on custom packaging
A spot UV with no ink color below is called a "blind spot UV"

Spot UV printing is a printing technique that uses ultraviolet (UV) light to cure a clear, glossy coating onto specific areas of a printed piece. This creates a contrast between the glossy and matte areas, which can be used to highlight important elements of the design or add a touch of luxury and professionalism.


Spot UV printing is commonly used on a variety of packaging materials, including boxes, bags, and labels. It can be used to enhance the appearance of a product's logo, tagline, or other key elements of the design. Spot UV printing can also be used to create a variety of interesting and unique effects, such as simulating embossing or debossing.


Benefits of spot UV printing for packaging design:

  • Enhances the appearance of packaging: Spot UV printing can add a touch of luxury and elegance to packaging, making it stand out from the competition.

  • Protects packaging: Spot UV coating can also help to protect packaging from wear and tear, making it more durable.

  • Creates a variety of effects: Spot UV printing can be used to create a variety of interesting and unique effects, such as simulating embossing or debossing.

How to add spot UV printing to packaging design:


When designing your packaging, keep in mind where you want the spot UV coating to be applied. It is important to create a mask file, which is a colored image or shape that indicates where the UV coating should be applied. Here's how we mark spot UV locations for printing pre-press.


How to apply spot UV to custom packaging design
We add a colored pink mask layer to show the area that will have spot UV applied


Once you have created your mask file, you will need to submit it to your printer. The printer will use this information to create a plate or screen that is used to apply the UV coating to your packaging.


Spot UV printing can be applied to a variety of packaging materials, including coated, uncoated, and textured papers, as well as plastics and other non-paper substrates. The type of packaging material you choose will depend on the desired look and feel of your product.

Here are some examples of how spot UV printing can be used in packaging design:

  • Highlight your logo or tagline: Spot UV printing can be used to highlight your logo or tagline, making it stand out from the rest of the packaging.

  • Create a sense of luxury: Spot UV printing can add a touch of luxury and sophistication to packaging, making it more appealing to consumers.

  • Create a variety of effects: Spot UV printing can be used to create a variety of interesting and unique effects, such as simulating embossing or debossing.

If you are looking for a way to make your packaging stand out and add a touch of luxury, spot UV printing is a great option to consider.


Spot UV on custom packaging
Applying a blind spot UV for a subtle graphic effect

Here are some additional tips for using spot UV printing in packaging design:

  • Use spot UV printing sparingly. Too much spot UV coating can make your packaging look cluttered and unprofessional.

  • Use spot UV coating to highlight the most important elements of your design, such as your logo, tagline, or product image.

  • Use spot UV coating to create a variety of textures and effects. For example, you can use spot UV coating to simulate embossing or debossing, or to create a metallic or pearlescent effect.

  • Work with a professional printer to ensure that your spot UV printing is applied correctly.

With its ability to add a touch of luxury and elegance, spot UV printing is a powerful tool that can be used to create stunning and eye-catching packaging designs.


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