Spot gloss: Difference between revisions

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Spot gloss is used as a visual element to appeal to readers by drawing attention to specific design elements. Spot gloss is made from liquid varnish that goes through a process called spot UV. Spot UV is when you use a UV light to dry a varnish coating on a printed material. Spot gloss is reflective and clear, showing the difference between matte and glossy surfaces. The reflection caused by it draws the attention of people looking at the book, piquing their interest. Having a spot gloss also gives off a sophisticated aesthetic. A spot gloss is typically seen with brochures, printed material, invitations, and business cards. Publishers usually place gloss on company logos, the author's name, the title, or anywhere they want to emphasize. The spot gloss adds a raised, smooth texture to flat pages or covers. This coating can help the book's color from fading and can be used on a variety of materials. It is environmentally friendly and low-cost for publishers and authors. There are two specific methods spot gloss can be used for: highlighting texts, images, designs, etc. This not only makes the selected element stand out, but it also preserves its details and colors. On the other hand, it can be applied to a blank surface and let it create the image. This is called Blind Spot UV. Blind Spot UV darkens the area around the gloss, showing a prominent contrast in shade. Readers and authors must be wary, though, when using spot gloss. Since it is a coating, it is very easy to leave fingerprints or smudge it. Books with spot gloss must be treated delicately and cleaned frequently. Spot gloss can also add more to the cost of production, which can delay publication if not taken into consideration ahead of time.   
Spot gloss is used as a visual element to appeal to readers by drawing attention to specific design elements. Spot gloss is made from liquid varnish that goes through a process called spot UV. Spot UV is when you use a UV light to dry a varnish coating on a printed material. Spot gloss is reflective and clear, showing the difference between matte and glossy surfaces. The reflection caused by it draws the attention of people looking at the book, piquing their interest. Having a spot gloss also gives off a sophisticated aesthetic. A spot gloss is typically used on brochures, printed materials, invitations, and business cards. Publishers usually place gloss on company logos, the author's name, the title, or anywhere they want to emphasize. The spot gloss adds a raised, smooth texture to flat pages or covers. This coating can help the book's color from fading and can be used on a variety of materials. It is environmentally friendly and low-cost for publishers and authors. There are two specific methods in which spot gloss can be used: highlighting text, images, designs, etc. This not only makes the selected element stand out, but it also preserves its details and colors. On the other hand, it can be applied to a blank surface and let it create the image. This is called Blind Spot UV. Blind Spot UV darkens the area around the gloss, showing a prominent contrast in shade. Readers and authors must be wary, though, when using spot gloss. Since it is a coating, it is very easy to leave fingerprints or smudge it. Books with spot gloss must be treated delicately and cleaned frequently. Spot gloss can also add more to the cost of production, which can delay publication if not taken into consideration ahead of time.   
[[File:SpotUVCoatingExample.jpg|alt=This is a small, rectangular card with a dark background. The card says, "Spot UV Coating" and has a giant splotch design on the back of it. A uv coating is used over the title and design to make it reflective and look a lighter color compared to the background. This helps it stand out to customers and business owners.|thumb|This business card can be used as an example for potential businesses on whether or not they want to use a spot UV coating. The coating helps the title and the design hold a shiny, reflective look that stands out from the dark background. ]]
 




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<ref>Editorial, A. (2025, October 28). ''The art of UV varnish: Gloss, matte & spot finishes explained''. ARTETRAMA. <nowiki>https://www.artetrama.com/en-us/blogs/news/the-art-of-uv-varnish-gloss-matte-spot-finishes-explained</nowiki></ref>
<ref>Editorial, A. (2025, October 28). ''The art of UV varnish: Gloss, matte & spot finishes explained''. ARTETRAMA. <nowiki>https://www.artetrama.com/en-us/blogs/news/the-art-of-uv-varnish-gloss-matte-spot-finishes-explained</nowiki></ref>
<ref>''Spot UV printing with spot UV coating''. Printing for Less. (2024, November 21). <nowiki>https://www.printingforless.com/resources/spot-uv-printing/</nowiki></ref>

Revision as of 06:14, 28 January 2026

Spot gloss is used as a visual element to appeal to readers by drawing attention to specific design elements. Spot gloss is made from liquid varnish that goes through a process called spot UV. Spot UV is when you use a UV light to dry a varnish coating on a printed material. Spot gloss is reflective and clear, showing the difference between matte and glossy surfaces. The reflection caused by it draws the attention of people looking at the book, piquing their interest. Having a spot gloss also gives off a sophisticated aesthetic. A spot gloss is typically used on brochures, printed materials, invitations, and business cards. Publishers usually place gloss on company logos, the author's name, the title, or anywhere they want to emphasize. The spot gloss adds a raised, smooth texture to flat pages or covers. This coating can help the book's color from fading and can be used on a variety of materials. It is environmentally friendly and low-cost for publishers and authors. There are two specific methods in which spot gloss can be used: highlighting text, images, designs, etc. This not only makes the selected element stand out, but it also preserves its details and colors. On the other hand, it can be applied to a blank surface and let it create the image. This is called Blind Spot UV. Blind Spot UV darkens the area around the gloss, showing a prominent contrast in shade. Readers and authors must be wary, though, when using spot gloss. Since it is a coating, it is very easy to leave fingerprints or smudge it. Books with spot gloss must be treated delicately and cleaned frequently. Spot gloss can also add more to the cost of production, which can delay publication if not taken into consideration ahead of time.

This is a small, rectangular card with a dark background. The card says, "Spot UV Coating" and has a giant splotch design on the back of it. A uv coating is used over the title and design to make it reflective and look a lighter color compared to the background. This helps it stand out to customers and business owners.
This business card can be used as an example for potential businesses on whether or not they want to use a spot UV coating. The coating helps the title and the design hold a shiny, reflective look that stands out from the dark background.





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  1. Breitag, A. (2025, July 28). Introducing spot gloss: A radiant, Reflective finish. Smartpress Blog. https://smartpress.com/blog/on-press/introducing-spot-gloss-a-radiant-reflective-finish
  2. How spot UV is applied to your book. PrintNinja. (2026, January 19). https://printninja.com/printing-resource-center/printing-academy/advanced-concepts/spot-uv-process/
  3. Printing terminology: What is spot UV?. Color Vision Printing. (n.d.). https://www.colorvisionprinting.com/blog/printing-terminology-what-is-spot-uv
  4. Editorial, A. (2025, October 28). The art of UV varnish: Gloss, matte & spot finishes explained. ARTETRAMA. https://www.artetrama.com/en-us/blogs/news/the-art-of-uv-varnish-gloss-matte-spot-finishes-explained
  5. Spot UV printing with spot UV coating. Printing for Less. (2024, November 21). https://www.printingforless.com/resources/spot-uv-printing/