In business printing, standing out is all about the details. Special print finishes such as foil stamping and spot UV coating add texture, shine and a premium feel that grabs attention. These extras don’t just make prints look better—they make them more memorable. Whether it’s a business card, brochure or flyer, a unique finish can turn an ordinary piece into something that leaves a lasting impression.

Foiling: A Brilliant Print Finish

Foiling involves the application of a thin layer of metallic foil to a printed material, often using gold, silver, iridescent or rose gold foil colors. This multi-step process involves a sleeker machine, which is a foiling machine used in printing and finishing processes. It applies metallic or pigmented foil to paper, cardstock or other materials to create a sleek, high-end look. The sleeker machine uses heat and pressure to transfer foil onto a printed surface. While there are numerous methods and types of foiling options, one thing is certain: Foiling is a versatile and elegant way to upgrade the appearance of your printed products.

There are several advantages to using foiling on your products. Foil finishes come in a range of colors and patterns, allowing you to create a unique design that aligns with your brand identity. You can use foil to highlight specific design elements or add texture and depth to your printed products. And they create a stark contrast against the surrounding colors and textures on a printed product.

Foiling Process Overview

Watch the video below to see the foiling process in action.

Here are some examples of how foil finishes can be used to create striking and memorable designs: 

• Business Cards: Foil can add a touch of sophistication to a business card, making it stand out from the crowd and leaving a lasting impression. A simple design with metallic accents on the logo or contact information can make a big impact. 
• Invitations: For weddings, galas or other special events, metallic foil can add a sense of luxury and elegance to invitations. The metallic finish can be used to highlight key details or create a border or pattern that sets the tone for the event. 
• Packaging: Gold and silver foil are popular choices for packaging products that need to stand out on store shelves. A metallic finish can make a product look premium and can be used to highlight key features or benefits.  
• Greeting Cards: Gold and silver foil can add a festive touch to holiday or birthday cards, creating a sense of celebration and joy. 
• Labels: Gold and silver foil are often used for product labels, particularly in the beauty and luxury goods industries. A metallic finish can make a label look more high-end and can be used to highlight key ingredients or benefits.
• Certificates and Awards: Foiling can be used to create certificates and awards that feel special and meaningful. A gold or silver foil seal or border can add a sense of prestige to an award, while a rose gold foil accent can make it feel contemporary and fresh.

Spot UV: A Finish to Create Contrast

Spot UV is a printing technique that adds a glossy, raised coating to specific areas of a printed material, creating contrast with the rest of the design. It is often used to highlight logos, text or images, giving them a premium, eye-catching effect.

How Spot UV is Applied

1. Printing the Base Layer: The design is first printed on paper or cardstock using standard ink.
2. Applying the UV Coating: A clear polymer coating is applied only to the designated areas of the design.
3. Curing with UV Light: The coated areas are exposed to ultraviolet light, which hardens and dries the coating instantly, creating a shiny and slightly raised effect.

Common Uses of Spot UV

• Stickers and labels
• Business cards
• Brochures
• Packaging
• Book covers
• Invitations

Spot UV works best on matte or uncoated paper to maximize contrast between the glossy and non-glossy areas. It enhances visual appeal and adds a tactile element, making designs more engaging.

White & Clear Toner Printing

White and clear toner printing are innovative technologies that expand the capabilities of digital printing. White toner allows for printing on dark or colored materials, while clear toner adds special effects and finishes to prints.

White Toner Printing

White toner printers use a specialized toner system that includes white toner alongside traditional CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) toners. This technology enables printing vibrant designs on dark or colored materials, which is not possible with standard printers.

The process works as follows:

1. A laser beam creates an electrostatic image on a drum inside the printer.
2. A base layer of white toner is applied, crucial for printing on dark materials.
3. Colored toners are then applied on top of the white base.
4. Heat and pressure fuse the toner onto the printing surface.

White toner printing offers several advantages:

• Versatility: Ability to print on a wide range of materials, including silver glossy material and transparent stickers (think: bottles).
• Vibrancy: Shows the smallest details and stands out on black and other dark colored media. Lettering stands out and pops.

Clear Toner Printing

Clear toner, while less common than white toner, offers unique possibilities and endless applications for adding interest and special effects to printed materials. It can be used to create:

• Spot varnish effects
• Watermarks
• Textured finishes
• Protective coatings

Clear toner can be applied selectively to highlight specific areas of a design or used as an overall finish to enhance the appearance and durability of prints.

Both white and clear toner technologies are expanding the creative possibilities in digital printing, allowing for more versatile and eye-catching designs across various applications, from custom apparel to specialty packaging and marketing materials.

Gold & Silver Metallic Printing

Gold and silver toner printing is a high-end printing technique that uses metallic toner to achieve a luxurious, reflective finish. It’s often used for premium print applications such as business cards, invitations, packaging and marketing materials to add a touch of elegance and sophistication. Instead of traditional CMYK toner, specialized printers apply gold or silver metallic toner, which can be used on its own or layered with other colors.

Advantages of Metallic Printing

• Luxury Appeal: Adds a premium feel to printed materials.
• Versatile Application: Works on various paper stocks, including textured and dark-colored paper.
• Digital Process: Unlike traditional foil stamping, metallic toner printing doesn’t require expensive dies or long setup times, making it more cost-effective for short runs.
• Customization: Easily adaptable for variable data printing, ideal for personalized high-end materials.

Soft Touch Lamination

Soft touch lamination is a premium finishing process that applies a velvety, matte film to printed materials, giving them a smooth texture and luxurious feel. This technique enhances the tactile experience, making the surface feel soft while also adding durability by protecting against scratches, fingerprints and moisture. Apple’s iconic white iPhone and iPad boxes showcase soft-touch lamination.

Key Features & Benefits

• Luxurious Feel: The soft, velvety texture adds a high-end, sophisticated touch. 
• Matte Appearance: Reduces glare and enhances color depth for a refined look. 
• Durability: Protects against wear and tear, increasing longevity. 
• Smudge and Fingerprint Resistant: Ideal for high-contact materials such as business cards and packaging. 
• Enhances Perceived Value: Commonly used for premium branding materials, packaging and high-end print products. 

Common Applications

• Business cards 
• Brochures 
• Luxury packaging 
• Book covers 
• High-end invitations 
• Presentation folders 

Ready to Elevate Your Brand?

Want to elevate your materials but are unsure where to start? With countless specialty print finishing options available, our team will help you create striking, high-impact pieces that stand out. 

Since opening our doors in 1982, Target Print & Mail has been dedicated to providing top-quality printing services to the Tallahassee community. Over the decades, we have grown into the region’s premier provider of commercial printing, signage, mailing services, promotional products and graphic design solutions. We boast a team of more than 20 experienced team members operating out of our 9,100 square foot production center. We are committed to supporting our community, providing excellent service and always going above and beyond to exceed our clients’ expectations. 

Ready to get started? Contact us today to discuss your next project and see how we can bring your ideas to life!