Imagine you have just designed a perfect and attractive brochure that has vibrant colors, exceptional images, and bold headings. But when it comes to you after printing, the surface looks simple and flat, scratches easily, and you feel your hard work gets ruined. You probably get frustrated in this situation.

But what if we told you that there is a solution to this problem? Sounds good, doesn’t it? The solution is UV coating, which changes everything. You can add gloss UV finish, matte UV finish, or even spot UV coating to protect your design carefully, and the colors pop immediately.

The article includes the complete explanation of what is UV Coating, how it works, types, and much more. You will get to learn every piece of information regarding UV coating at the end of this article.

What is UV Coating? How does the Process Work? 

UV Coating is the clear liquid finish that is coated on various printed materials, including brochures, Business Cards, or packaging. It will enhance their appearance and protect surfaces from scratches, scuffs, and moisture. When you apply the UV Coating, you have to cure it through ultraviolet light to convert it into a strong and smooth layer immediately.

The process of UV Coating includes the coating being applied through a roller, blanket, or screen to the print sheet. The formula of UV Coating contains oligomers, monomers, and photoinitiators. These are the special compounds that react under UV light to create a strong and glossy or matte film. 

There are two main curing technologies: Mercury UV or LED-UV. Mercury UV is the old standard, and it uses more heat and energy. While LED-UV curing is cold, energy efficient, and perfect for the USA's Sustainability goals.

If we talk about the finishes, then we can choose from different options. The Gloss UV finish for rich, vibrant colors, matte UV finish for a soft, non-reflective look, or soft-touch UV coating for a velvety feel. The thickness is normally measured in microns, and gloss level is measured in Gloss Units (GU). 

The coating is dry instantly so printing businesses in the USA want fast production, lower smudging, and long-lasting, durable print finishes that help marketing materials stand out and perform in competitive markets. 

What are the Types of UV Coating?

Let’s take a look at the six key types of UV Coating, which help you to know and understand which is the best and suitable for you. 

Gloss UV

As the name suggests, this type offers the glossiest of all coatings. If you want valuable and superior gloss with attractive patina, this type is a better option. In order to not create highly reflective surfaces like less legible and over-the-top shine, you can go with spot UV printing instead of Gloss UV. 

Matte UV

The purpose of Matte UV is to provide an elegant and luxurious finish. It can be applied to the areas that you want to highlight. The alternative option for this type is flood protective UV that covers the overall sheet and provides a rich and vivid effect.

Pearlescent UV

It gives a lustrous pearlescent glow. This type combines Gloss UV coatings with the metal flecks in various colors to get the elegant effect. The Pearlescent UV gives you an iridescent finish, which is normally used for Cosmetics Packaging. 

Orange Peel UV

It is the combination of the raised design with the textured finish. The orange peel UV creates a visual interest and a unique tactile experience. On the other hand, the textured finish will add a sensory element to your packaging, which is attractive and easy to handle.  

Soft-touch UV coating

This type produces a superior texture that feels luxurious to the touch and maximizes the sensory experience. It is used for high-end packaging and premium print materials.

Raised UV 

It includes the selected design elements to create a dimensional and embossed-like effect. This type of UV coating is applied as the spot UV coating for text and logo highlights. 

What are the Benefits of UV Coating? 

Stunning and Shine Finish

UV Coating has a very high shine finish. When it is used on rich colors, like blues and black, the outcome will be a wet appearance. It will be highly effective with the product catalogs and photography brochures. The shining finish will tell you why it is popular for the specific designs and products.

Better Resistance

If your printed design is sent through the mail or handed out to someone, then the combination of the visually appealing piece and the durability makes the UV Coating perfect for business cards, brochures, and postcards.

High Clarity

The UV coating will make your details on the design more popular and highlighted. This will be perfect for the photographic images and company logos.

Environmentally Friendly

UV Coating does not release any dangerous gases like VOCs and does not use harmful solvents when they are dry. The UV-coated paper will still be recycled with the normal paper.

Dries Instantly Under UV Light

The UV coating will dry immediately under the UV light. It will boost the production time, so products can be shipped and delivered on time.

Cons of UV Coating

As there are pros to anything, there must be cons as well. Below are the various situations where UV coating is not recommended.

• Not suitable for metallic inks
• Avoid on thin paper under 100#
• May not work well with foil stamping
• Not good for surfaces that need writing
• Avoid the address area of mail pieces

Conclusion

The overall article provides complete information regarding what is UV coating, its types, and its advantages and disadvantages. The selection of the right and accurate UV coating depends on your brand’s identity, product, and the design of the product.
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