If you want your printed designs to look more refined and professional, Spot UV printing is worth a try.
Spot UV printing is a post-print process that adds a clear, glossy coating to specific parts of a printed design.
The "spot" part just means you only put it on certain areas of your design. You can use it to highlight your logo, create a pattern, or make a photo look wet.
You've probably seen a business card where the logo shines while the rest stays matte. That's the Spot UV effect.
In this guide, we'll explain how it works, where it's used, why it's popular, and how you can do Spot UV printing yourself.
How Does Spot UV Printing Actually Work?
It's helpful to know what the machine is actually doing. Think of it like a very advanced inkjet printer.
- First, the machine uses special print heads to jet a clear liquid polymer (the varnish) onto only the specific "spots" you defined in your design file.
- Then, the sheet immediately passes under a strong ultraviolet light. This light "cures" or hardens the liquid polymer instantly, turning it from a wet liquid into a solid, glossy layer.
- The result is a shiny, slightly raised texture that sits right on top of the paper.
Benefits of Spot UV Printing
1. Makes Designs Pop
Spot UV adds contrast and depth. By highlighting logos or text, it helps your design stand out and guides the viewer's focus.
A classic trick we've seen is to create a "black on black" effect. You print a logo or pattern in clear Spot UV directly onto a solid matte black paper. You can only see the design when the light hits it just right. It's a very cool, subtle look.
2. Adds Texture You Can Feel
The raised coating creates a tactile surface. When someone holds your card, they'll notice the glossy smoothness against the matte background.
3. Affordable Premium Look
It's more cost-effective than embossing or foil stamping, yet still gives your print a high-end finish.
4. Long-Lasting Protection
The cured UV layer resists scratches, moisture, and fading, keeping your print fresh for longer.
5. Works with Many Materials
It can be applied to coated paper, recycled stock, and sustainable materials. Plus, UV curing releases fewer emissions, making it a greener choice.
Can I Do This at Home or Do I Need a Print Shop?
There are two main ways to get Spot UV on your projects, and this is important for DIYers.
Option 1: Use a Professional Print Shop
This is the most common method. For large runs or if you want the highest quality, send your files to a commercial printer. They have the large machines needed for Spot UV. You just need to provide the files set up correctly.
Option 2: Use a Desktop UV Printer
In recent years, smaller desktop UV printers like the eufyMake E1 have become available for makers and small businesses. With these, you can print your color design first.
Then, in a second pass, the same machine prints the clear varnish layer on top. This works well for one-off prototypes or small batches made in your studio.
How to Set Up a File
This step often confuses people, but it's easy once you try it. If you're using a pro print shop, you need to provide two separate files:
- Color Design File: This is your main design file, like a PDF or Illustrator file. It has all your colors, text, and images as you want them printed.
- Mask File: This is a second file, usually black and white, showing only the areas where the Spot UV coating goes.
Here's how you make the mask file:
- Make a copy of your design file.
- Delete everything except the parts you want to be shiny.
- Change the color of those parts to 100% solid black (in CMYK, that's C=0, M=0, Y=0, K=100).
- Make everything else pure white.
The black areas tell the machine "put the gloss UV ink here." The white areas tell it "put nothing here." These two files must line up perfectly.
A quick tip we learned: Don't use Spot UV on super tiny text or very thin lines. The liquid varnish can "bleed" or smudge a little, and you'll lose the sharp detail. It works best on logos, bold text, and graphic shapes.
How to Do Spot UV Printing with a UV Printer
With a eufyMake UV printer, you can achieve the Spot UV effect in a few simple steps:
Step 1: Prepare Your Design Files
You'll need the two design files we just discussed: your Base Design File (the full artwork) and your Gloss Area File (the black-and-white mask file).
Step 2: Print the Base Image
Print the main design first. Make sure the material is flat and aligned so the gloss layer will match perfectly.
Step 3: Apply the Gloss Layer
Next, print the gloss area file. This file contains only the parts to be coated, such as a logo or text. Use gloss UV ink only for this pass. Once printed, the ink cures instantly under UV light, forming the raised glossy finish.
Step 4: Finishing Touches
Trim or cut your printed piece as needed. The final result combines matte and glossy textures for a polished, professional look.
Common Uses of Spot UV Printing
You can use it on almost anything, but we see it most often on projects where you want to make a great first impression.
Business Cards and Brand Materials
This is the most popular use. "Spot UV business cards" with a glossy logo on a matte card are a classic. It's the first thing people touch, and that textural difference makes your brand feel high-quality.
Book Covers and Zines
Spot UV is perfect for making the title or an illustration jump off the cover. We've seen DIY zine makers use it on just the title to make it look as professional as a book from a major publisher.
Custom Product Packaging
If you sell your own products (like candles, soap, or art prints), adding Spot UV to your boxes or labels makes your brand look very high-end. You can create subtle, shiny patterns on a matte black box or just make your logo pop.
Invitations and High-End Postcards
For projects like wedding invitations or a gallery opening postcard, Spot UV adds a layer of elegance. You can highlight the couple's names or add a glossy pattern to the border.
Final Thought
Spot UV is one of those print finishes that looks complicated until you try it. The best way to understand its effect is to get some samples or, if you have the gear, run a small test print. Once you see that mix of matte and gloss, you'll start thinking of all the cool ways you can use it in your own projects.
Go make something cool. Happy printing!
FAQs
Can I do Spot UV on uncoated paper?
Yes, but the gloss will appear softer since uncoated paper absorbs more varnish. Coated paper gives a sharper effect.
What’s the difference between Spot UV and Full UV?
Spot UV adds gloss only to selected areas like a logo or title, while Full UV (or Flood UV) covers the entire surface. Spot UV gives contrast and texture, but Full UV creates an even glossy layer across the whole print.
What's the difference between Spot UV and Blind UV?
Spot UV highlights printed areas, while Blind UV adds glossy designs to blank areas of the surface.
Is Spot UV eco-friendly?
Yes. It uses UV curing instead of heat or solvents, producing fewer emissions and using less energy.
