Finishes
Lamination, spot UV, foil, emboss/deboss, letterpress, coatings and edge painting — what each does.
Tools
Reference
Aqueous coating explained
Understand how water-based varnishes protect print, their environmental profile, and how they differ from UV finishes.
Emboss and deboss explained
Learn the difference between embossing and debossing, including how blind and foil-stamped finishes affect the tactile feel of business cards.
Foil stamping explained
Understand how foil stamping works, including the role of heat, pressure, and die types in creating metallic accents on paper.
Letterpress explained
Understand how letterpress printing works, including relief principles, paper deformation, and the tactile depth of the impression.
Matte vs gloss vs soft-touch
Compare matte, gloss, and soft-touch lamination finishes for business cards, including visual, tactile, and maintenance differences.
Soft-touch lamination explained
Understand how soft-touch lamination works, its tactile benefits, and how it interacts with foil and spot UV on business cards.
Spot UV on black cards
Learn how spot UV interacts with black stock, including visibility, contrast, and finishing trade standards.
Spot UV vs foil stamping
Compare spot UV and foil stamping for business cards: mechanisms, tactile results, and design considerations for print finishing.
Spot UV vs matt lamination
Compare the tactile and visual differences between spot UV and full matt lamination for business card finishing.
Thermography explained
Learn how thermography printing creates raised, inked text and logos on business cards using heat and powder.
UV coating explained
Understand how UV coating works in print finishing, including gloss, matte, and spot applications for business cards.
Glossary
Aqueous coating
A water-based surface layer applied to printed sheets to provide gloss, matte, or protective finishes.
Deboss
A finishing technique that recesses a design into the card surface using heat and pressure.
Edge painting
A finishing technique where the raw edges of a card are dyed to create a colored border.
Emboss
A finishing technique that raises design elements on a card's surface using heat and pressure.
Foil stamping
A finishing technique using heat and pressure to transfer metallic or pigmented foil onto a substrate for durable, high-contrast accents.
Gloss lamination
A protective plastic film applied to card stock that adds a shiny surface and enhances ink vibrancy.
Letterpress
A relief printing method where raised surfaces transfer ink to paper under pressure.
Matt lamination
A thin plastic film applied to a business card surface to provide a non-reflective, smooth finish.
Soft-touch lamination
A matte film finish that provides a velvety, low-sheen surface with a distinct tactile feel.
Spot colour
A pre-mixed ink applied separately from process inks to achieve specific, consistent hues.
Spot UV
A glossy clear coating applied to selected areas of a card, usually over matt lamination, for contrast.
Thermography
A heat-activated finishing process that raises ink to create a tactile, letterpress-like texture on paper.
UV coating
A clear, ultraviolet-cured varnish applied to print surfaces for protection and gloss.
Answers
Should my business card be matte or glossy?
Choose matte for a professional, tactile feel or gloss for vibrant, high-contrast visuals.
What is foil stamping?
Foil stamping is a heat-based finishing process that transfers metallic or coloured foil onto a substrate using pressure.
What is matt lamination?
Matt lamination is a protective plastic film that gives a card a smooth, non-reflective surface finish.
What is soft-touch lamination?
Soft-touch lamination is a matte film with a velvety hand-feel that provides a premium, non-slip surface finish.
What is spot UV?
Spot UV is a clear, glossy coating applied to specific design areas to create tactile and visual contrast.
What is the difference between emboss and deboss?
Embossing raises the design above the paper surface, while debossing recesses it below the surface.