What Is UV Coating?

What is UV Coating (and Why Do You Need It)?

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UV coating is an excellent way to make your print marketing materials stand out: UV coating provides a brilliant glossy sheen to your business cards, postcards, flyers and other materials. Having your print marketing materials UV coated also provides a thick layer of protection for long-lasting durability that gives you the greatest bang for your marketing buck. What does UV coating mean, how does it work, what are the advantages and benefits of UV coating on your print job? The follow details what UV coating is and why you need it for your print marketing materials.

What is UV coating?

UV coating is a clear compound that is applied to paper wet, then instantly dried by ultraviolet light (UV coating is short for ultraviolet coating). Several types of compounds are used to coat paper; UV coating chemicals include polyethylene, calcium carbonate and kaolinite. These compounds are refined and mixed with viscosifiers that help them adhere to paper. A UV coating machine is used to apply the coating after printing.

UV coatings can vary in reflectivity and thickness, depending on the application, though a high-gloss or subtle matte UV coating are typically used for premium printing applications.

UV coating can be applied to your entire product, both front and back, or just on one side. You can also opt for spot UV coating, in which an ultraviolet coat is applied only to certain spots on your design (a great way to make logos or photos stand out).

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Is UV coating waterproof? No, UV coating is not waterproof, but it is water resistant.
UV coating shouldn’t be confused with other types of paper finishing processes, such as aqueous coating and lamination.

Aqueous coating vs. UV coating: Aqueous coating is water-based, and though it can be a good coating option for paper, UV coating offers greater gloss and better protection

UV coating vs. lamination: Lamination offers good protection, but the lamination process requires edge trimming – which can increase production costs. Lamination can offer waterproofing, where UV coating does not

As you can see, the UV coating process differs from other types of paper finishes and offers its own distinct advantages.

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What are the advantages and benefits of UV coating?

There are two primary advantages to UV coating:

1. UV coating offers a beautiful glossy sheen that makes your marketing tools stand out. A UV coating on business cards, for example, will make them more attractive than uncoated business cards. UV coating is also smooth to the touch, which means it offers a pleasant tactile experience that customers notice

2. UV coating protects your print marketing tools. The coating helps resist abrasions, scratches, rubbing and ink smudging. That means your marketing tools look great, longer and stretch your marketing dollars farther. This is particularly important if you need to protect direct-mailers such as postcards, which get shuffled in with other mailers, and when you’re placing posters, brochures, and other marketing tools in high-traffic public locations where they’re likely to be handled. Both benefits mean UV coating offers a competitive advantage that can enhance your brand image and maximize your return on investment. UV coating is also eco-friendly, since it releases no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) once cured.

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What can be UV coated?

Just about any print marketing tool can be UV coated, though UV coating is best-suited for heavier paper stocks, such as cover stocks and any paper weight of 80 lbs. or greater.

Whether you’re printing business cards, direct-mail postcards, booklet and catalog covers, posters and flyers, sales sheets, calendars, or other marketing tools, UV coating can help you attract attention and give your message a premium, refined look that lasts longer and helps you stand out from the competition.

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Why you should have your print marketing materials UV coated

There are three great reasons to apply UV coating to your marketing materials. First, a UV coating will enrich your design and enhance your colors. A bright, glossy sheen lends itself to vibrant colors that pop off the paper, so your artwork stands out and attracts attention. For example, printing UV coated business cards will be more attractive than uncoated business cards – plus, they won’t scuff in people’s wallets.

Second, a UV coating suggests premium products and services. You’re a first-class brand, and looking the part inspires customer confidence. When you print premium marketing tools with UV coating, it lends the impression that your company is successful – and if you are successful, you likely have a great track record of satisfied customers. The bottom line: People will feel more comfortable doing business with you.

Finally, UV coating protects your marketing materials so they last longer – and the longer they last, the more they can work to earn response. Longevity means you can increase your return on investment and get more mileage out of each dollar invested. For example, if you print UV coated vinyl stickers, they’ll last much longer than uncoated stickers.

UV Coating Benefits
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How much does UV coating cost?

The advantages of UV coating for printing are clear, but how much does it cost? The best part is that you can enjoy all the great benefits of UV coating without spending much at all.

Of course, the price to UV coat any given product depends on what you’re printing, your quantity, and how much your printing company charges for materials and services. In most cases, that price is minimal. For example, PsPrint charges less than $10 to apply a UV glossy coating to both sides of 1,000 business cards – an insignificant investment that could lead to significant sales!

UV coating is a low-risk, high-reward process that makes sense for brands that want to maximize ROI with minimal investment. It’s a great way to enhance your marketing appeal by improving aesthetics and protecting your marketing tools, and it costs very little to implement. Add UV coating when you print premium marketing tools at discount prices today!