UV, or “Not” UV, That Is the Question:

Have you ever wondered what the term UV or No UV means in the printing 

industry?  Why would a project require, or not require UV coating?  

Before addressing that question, remember that your printed marketing 

materials allow you additional opportunities to get your customer's 

attention in today's increasingly competitive arena. This is your 

opportunity to stand out and be noticed!  That being said, why not 

make your print projects really shine, and capture their attention?

So what exactly is UV or Ultra Violet Coating? UV coating, or 

ultraviolet coating, is a very glossy, shiny coating applied to 

the printed paper surface and cured on a special machine using 

ultraviolet light. These special UV coatings harden, or cure when 

they receive ultra violet radiation. UV coating makes your printed 

piece eye catching, and is ideal for products such as business cards, 

postcards, flyers, presentation folders, and catalogs.

What are the Benefits of UV Coatings?  Ultraviolet coating has 

several advantages over other coating methods such as aqueous 

coating or varnish. 

They include:

    * Very high shine finish & Good abrasion resistance
         

	   o When UV is used on deep, rich colors, like blues and 

             rich blacks, the result is an almost wet appearance. 

             This can be highly effective with image-rich projects, 

             like catalogs. The stunning shine it creates is  why it 

             is so popular for certain designs and products.

 

          o If your printed piece is going to be handed out or 

            travel through the mail, the combination of a visually 

            appealing piece and durability makes for a great combo 

            for postcards, brochures or business cards. The UV coating 

            allows the mailed piece to resist smudging and marking 

            and allows it to maintain a professional, high quality 

            appearance due to an extremely hard finish, one known 

            for being both chemical and abrasion resistant

    * High clarity
          

	  o UV coatings make details pop and stand out, and are 

             perfect for photographic images and company logos.

    * Environmentally friendly
          o UV coatings are free of solvents and do not emit volatile 

            organic compounds or VOCs when cured.

    * Instantaneous drying time with UV light exposure
          o By drying so quickly, the use of UV coating helps reduce 

             production time, enabling earlier shipping and 

             delivery times.

Depending on the result you are trying to achieve, coatings can 

range from subtle to matte, shiny to almost appearing wet.  Projects 

can be printed with one or two sided UV coating.  (Note: you cannot 

write on UV coated products).

When your project calls for something to make your audience 

stop and say "WOW”, UV coating is your answer!  UV coating is 

definitely a tough act to beat!

Happy Printing~

 

Jules Blog