Advanced Printing Techniques: Spot UV and Raised Varnish 

Pel Hughes is one of the country’s leading print companies. Serving businesses in a variety of industries—including those who work directly with consumers and B2B enterprises, we offer advanced printing methods that can produce stunning effects. Two advanced printing techniques you should know about are spot UV and raised varnish. These printing methods produce striking materials that evoke the senses. Following is helpful information about both.  

Spot UV 

Spot UV is a printing technique that embellishes materials. You’ve likely seen this effect before on event invitations and business cards. This technique produces a lustrous effect with a raised finish. While spot UV could be applied all over, it is best used for specific elements of a design. This embellishment can produce a striking visual effect by applying this treatment to specific areas such as logos and important areas of text. The name of this technique comes from the drying process. UV exposure is used to cure the varnish, giving it a noticeable sheen.  

Raised Varnish 

Like spot UV, raised varnish adds striking elements to a printed piece. It can be used in conjunction with spot UV, too. What makes raised varnish special is the fact that it adds a noticeable texture to printed materials. For example, raised varnish can be used on a business card to draw attention to a company’s name. When combined with spot UV, the area treated is not only lustrous, it provides a textural dynamic that evokes the sense of touch. Combining these two powerful embellishments adds depth to your materials’ designs.  

The Five Senses and Advanced Printing Techniques 

When it comes to building your brand and selling your product(s), striking materials make for great sales tools. Not only can properly-executed print help facilitate in-person sales, it can help drive engagement with your brand when you can’t sell a product. For instance, a beautiful business card with a raised varnish and/or spot UV can make a lasting impression on a potential customer or client. 

 If your business card stands out from your competition, you can increase the likelihood of your brand’s products or services being used. One way you can stand out from the crowd is to deploy effective sensory marketing tactics. Sensory marketing refers to evoking as much of the five sense as possible with your consumer experience and your advertising. There exists compelling research to support the effectiveness of sensory marketing as numerous researchers have found that non-conscious stimuli that we can touch, taste, smell, see, and hear drives our purchasing decisions and brand loyalty.  

Something as simple as a raised logo on your business card or company stationary could produce a lasting positive impression on others. These thoughtful little details that entice our eyes and our touch could help you develop positive associations with your brand.  

If you’re looking to take your print materials to the next level with Spot UV and raised varnishes, the experts at Pel-Hughes are here to help. We offer state-of-the-art printing services, in-house fulfillment, and a team of dedicated graphic designers to help you develop stunning print pieces like direct mail, catalogues, business cards, letterheads, and more. Give us a call at (504) 486-8646 to learn more.