Technical guidePrint finishes6 finishes

Print finishes

How foil, spot UV, embossing, debossing, soft-touch and painted edges are made, which papers and items suit them, the smallest detail each holds and the artwork we need.

Finishes covered: 6
Need a die: 3
Finest foil line: 0.3 mm
Embossing board: 300 gsm+

Foil stamping

Yes, a foil die

Section view · not to scale

A heated metal die presses metallic or coloured foil onto the sheet. Gold, silver, copper, rose gold and holographic foils catch the light as the piece moves, which is why foil is the finish most people read as premium.

Finest line: 0.3 mm
Smallest text: 7 pt
Layer name: Foil

Best on: Business cards, invitations, certificates, packaging and book covers.
Paper: Sharpest on smooth, coated or soft-touch laminated stock. Heavily textured paper can break up fine foil lines.
Smallest detail: Lines from 0.3 mm and text from 7 pt hold cleanly; very fine serifs can fill in.
Pairs with: Embossing (foil-embossed logos), soft-touch lamination and painted edges.

Artwork setup

Supply the foil area as vector artwork in 100% black on its own layer or spot colour, named “Foil”, in exact position over the print.

Watch out

Large solid foil areas can show small pinholes; a pattern or a smaller area often looks richer.

Spot UV

No, a screen

Section view · not to scale

A clear, high-gloss varnish printed only on chosen areas and cured with UV light. Against a matt sheet, the logo or pattern shines and feels slightly raised.

Finest line: 0.5 mm
Smallest text: 8 pt
Layer name: Spot UV

Best on: Business cards, brochure and catalogue covers, folders and boxes.
Paper: Needs a coated or laminated sheet; on uncoated paper the varnish soaks in and the effect is lost. Matt or soft-touch lamination gives the strongest contrast.
Smallest detail: Lines from 0.5 mm. Keep spot UV at least 1 mm away from folds and trims, where it can crack.
Pairs with: Soft-touch or matt lamination, and foil.

Artwork setup

Supply the gloss areas as vector artwork on a separate layer named “Spot UV”, aligned exactly with the print underneath.

Watch out

Spot UV across a fold can crack when the piece is folded; we flag it on the proof.

Embossing

Yes, a die pair

Section view · not to scale

A pair of metal dies pushes the paper upwards so a logo or pattern stands out from the surface. It can be combined with ink or foil, or left “blind” with no colour at all.

Finest line: 1 mm
Smallest text: 10 pt
Layer name: Emboss

Best on: Letterheads, certificates, invitations, folders and rigid boxes.
Paper: Shows best on heavier uncoated or textured stock, 300 gsm and up, which holds the shape without cracking.
Smallest detail: Avoid hairlines and tiny text; lines from 1 mm and simple shapes emboss best.
Pairs with: Foil (foil-embossed) or ink, or on its own as a blind emboss.

Artwork setup

Supply the raised area as vector artwork on a layer named “Emboss”. The die is made once for the job and can be reused for reprints.

Watch out

The back of the sheet shows the shape in reverse; on single sheets, keep the back of the embossed area clear.

Debossing

Yes, a die

Section view · not to scale

The opposite of embossing: the die presses the design into the sheet, leaving a recessed impression. Quiet and tactile, it suits brands that want detail without shine.

Finest line: 1 mm
Smallest text: 10 pt
Layer name: Deboss

Best on: Business cards, notebooks, folders and premium packaging.
Paper: Thick boards and cotton stocks take the deepest, cleanest impression.
Smallest detail: Lines from 1 mm; very large solid areas can look uneven, so outlines and logos work best.
Pairs with: Foil (foil-debossed), painted edges, or blind on dark board.

Artwork setup

Supply the pressed area as vector artwork on a layer named “Deboss”; like embossing, it uses a die made once.

Watch out

On thin stock the impression shows through on the back; choose a heavier board or a duplexed sheet.

Soft-touch lamination

Section view · not to scale

A thin matt film laminated over the whole printed sheet. It feels like velvet, absorbs light so colours look deeper, and helps the piece resist scuffs and fingerprints.

Finest line: n/a
Smallest text: n/a
Layer name: None

Best on: Business cards, brochure covers, folders, boxes and packaging.
Paper: Applied to coated stock after printing; on business cards, 350 gsm and up.
Smallest detail: It slightly mutes very bright colours; we take that into account when checking the proof.
Pairs with: Spot UV (gloss against velvet), foil stamping and embossing.

Artwork setup

No extra artwork: the film covers the whole side of the sheet.

Watch out

Ballpoint pens skid on it, so skip it on anything people need to write on.

Painted edges

Section view · not to scale

The edges of a stack of thick cards are coloured after cutting, so a line of colour shows around each card. A small detail that people notice the moment they hold it.

Finest line: n/a
Smallest text: n/a
Layer name: None (Pantone ref.)

Best on: Premium business cards, invitations and luxury tags.
Paper: Thick boards, usually 600 gsm and up, or two sheets pasted together to build the thickness.
Smallest detail: Works best on cards with square corners and a clean, straight cut.
Pairs with: Foil stamping and debossing.

Artwork setup

A Pantone reference for the edge colour; no extra file is needed.

Watch out

Very light edge colours on dark board need a thicker coat; we confirm the result on a sample if colour is critical.

Comparison tables

Technical values

Finish	Die or setup	Finest line	Smallest text	Artwork layer	On uncoated
Foil stamping	Yes, a foil die	0.3 mm	7 pt	Foil	Possible, less sharp
Spot UV	No, a screen	0.5 mm	8 pt	Spot UV	No
Embossing	Yes, a die pair	1 mm	10 pt	Emboss	Best
Debossing	Yes, a die	1 mm	10 pt	Deboss	Yes
Soft-touch lamination	No	n/a	n/a	None	No
Painted edges	No	n/a	n/a	None (Pantone ref.)	On 600 gsm+ board

Which finish for which item

Item	Foil	Spot UV	Emboss	Deboss	Soft-touch	Edges
Business cards	Common	Common	Common	Common	Common	Common
Letterheads	Possible	Rarely used	Common	Possible	Rarely used	Rarely used
Presentation folders	Common	Common	Common	Common	Common	Rarely used
Brochure covers	Common	Common	Possible	Possible	Common	Rarely used
Boxes and packaging	Common	Common	Common	Common	Common	Rarely used
Invitations	Common	Possible	Common	Common	Possible	Common

Guidance only. We confirm the finish, paper and quantity for your item in the quotation. For file preparation, see the artwork guide on any service page, for example corporate printing.

Questions

Which finish makes a business card look most premium?

Foil stamping on a heavy black or coloured board is the most recognisable premium finish. Soft-touch lamination with spot UV, or a blind deboss on thick board, gives a quieter but equally considered result. We suggest the combination that suits your brand and budget.

Can I combine foil and embossing?

Yes. Foil-embossing raises the foiled area so the logo stands up off the card. It uses a combined die and suits logos with simple, bold shapes.

Do finishes change the price?

Each finish adds a production step, and foil, embossing and debossing need a die made for the job. That one-time setup means the cost per piece falls as the quantity grows. Your quotation shows the price for your exact finish and quantity.

What files do you need for foil or spot UV?

A print-ready PDF for the colour artwork, plus the foil or spot UV areas as vector shapes on their own layer or spot colour, named clearly and in exact position. We check the files and send a proof before production.

Can people write on soft-touch business cards?

A felt-tip or gel pen works, but ballpoint pens skid on the matt film. If people need to write on the card, we suggest uncoated stock with foil or embossing instead.

Print finishes

Tell us the finish you have in mind.

Share the item, quantity and the look you want. We suggest the finish and paper that suit it and confirm everything in your quotation.

Get a Quote Chat on WhatsApp