Raise the Bar with Spot UV Coating For Packaging | High-Gloss, Raised, Matte & More

Abdul WaheedAbdul Waheed
29 August 2023
how spot uv helps in packaging branding

Table Of Content

Some packaging makes a lot of noise. To stand out, it uses striking colors, detailed graphics, or ostentatious finishes. Other packaging is more practical. Indeed, it makes use of contrast and restraint to make a statement without going overboard. This is where Spot UV coating comes in!

Adding gloss everywhere is not the goal of Spot UV. It has to do with intentionality. You apply a glossy or raised finish to particular regions, such as a logo, company name, or design feature. The rest of the box maintains its composure, equilibrium, and cleanliness.

This sort of subtle accent is important in a chaotic retail setting where buyers make snap selections. Yes, Spot UV makes packaging look refined and pricey without altering the final product's appearance.

What Is Spot UV Coating in Packaging?

Spot UV coating is a printing technology that applies a clear, super-gloss coating to particular elements of a box as opposed to the full surface. These are typically important texts, patterns, company names, or icons. 

Because the coating is cured using ultraviolet light, it hardens instantly. Result? An outstanding contrast with the rest of the packaging, especially when paired with matte finishes. This contrast is what gives Spot UV its signature visual depth and tactile appeal.

Premium Spot UV finish packaging isn’t defined by where the coating goes but by how precisely it’s applied. The finish must precisely match the professionally printed artwork, the borders are meant to be neat, and the shine should stay constant.

Why Does It Feel “More Premium”

Spot UV coating for packaging proves successful because it simultaneously stimulates the senses of touch and sight. In a manner that flat printing cannot, a customer's fingers instinctively trace the glossy or raised sections of a box as they pick it up. This surely strengthens brand recall.

Spot UV subtly adds value without creating visual noise, in contrast to flashy finishes that overpower the design. It is commonly applied to goods positioned as:

  • Expensive and high-value
  • For gifting
  • Limited-edition/seasonal launches 

Moreover, Spot UV is a must-have for the following:

6 Incredible Advantages of Spot UV Coating

6 incredible advantages of spot uv

Spot UV is applied on printed boxes to make the color scheme PMS or CMYK more vibrant, vivid, and sharp, which gives them eye-grabbing appeal. It also gives a shiny and richly colored look that stands out from the crowd, helping your brand connect with numerous audiences and drive more sales.

Let's understand its exceptional benefits to upscale packaging appeal and create marvelous results for your business.

1. Jack Up Packaging Appeal

Spot UV is popular for its glaring, enticing effects on printed boxes. It is used to highlight some specific parts, including branding characters, product descriptions, or catchy visuals that give them a unique and trendy look. This impeccable appearance of packaging grabs customer attention at first sight. Spot UV on cosmetic boxes presents your precious jewelry with a colorful, vibrant, and enticing look that leaves a lasting impression of your brand.

Secondly, premium products packed in innovatively designed boxes with a proper layer of spot UV present them with enhanced perceived value to turn onlookers into loyal customers. These boxes also reflect brand creativity in a unique and enchanting way.

2. Maximize the Readability of Packaging

One of the effective approaches of spot UV on boxes is that it boosts packaging readability with a luxurious touch. Spot UV raised texts, images, and some characters to make them highlighted and shinier than the rest of the design. This 3D and captivating look in various light rays helps buyers quickly recognize, which ultimately results in impulse sales rates. It also provides brand identification even in a short glimpse.

3. Enhance Brand Perception

Spot UV on boxes boosts packaging appeal in a trendy way, presenting your brand as professional, unique, and detail-oriented.  A transparent and glossy coating on logos, product images, and taglines creates a smooth transition of light rays that highlights brand uniqueness with a luxurious touch. This contrasting look grabs customers' attention and assists them in recognizing your brand quickly. This crystal-clear, branded look with a chic touch wins buyers' trust and loyalty, encouraging a high sales rate.

4. Add a Long-Lasting Layer to Make Packaging Temper-Proof

In addition to enhancing packaging aesthetics, spot UV adds a layer of protection to the printed designs of boxes. It protects brand logos, specific printed characters, and vivid images from tampering, scratching, dust, and light. It prevents printing inks from fading in light and dissolving in water, ensuring your packaging retains its luxury appeal over time.

Gift card boxes with spot UV coatings withstand harsh conditions, preserving both their elegant appeal and smooth texture from any damage concerns. A proper layer of spot UV guarantees ultimate safety from getting dust, scratches, moisture, and tearing during handling, storage, or transit. In this way, you can make the packaging tearproof, waterproof, and fade-proof to maintain its captivating presentation.

5. Reduce Packaging Waste

Mostly spot UV is made with plastic, which makes packaging non-recyclable and non-compostable. To make your packaging eco-friendly yet tantalizing with shiny spot UV coating, add the precise value it's on a smaller part of the packaging. Also, prefer the packaging that has low volatile organic compounds in post-UV coating.

A thin layer of recyclable spot UV coatings on logos, taglines, and some important notes on makeup boxes makes them noteworthy and purely eco-friendly.

6. Versatility in Customization Options

There is endless customization possible for creating spot UV boxes with a refined appeal and smooth texture. From display boxes to gable boxes, drawer packaging to flip-top boxes, or subscription boxes to mailer boxes, spot UV coatings create each style with a unique look, functionality, and durability.

Whether you want to ship luxury cosmetics in rigid boxes or add love and affection on Christmas, every shape, type, and design of box can be created with luxury UV coatings. If you want to present your box as a distinct entity and brand ambassador, you can craft the box in the shape, style, and design you want. These endless customization possibilities make them an ideal choice to benefit the entire packaging industry and create buzz in the market to conquer the market.

Where Should You Use Spot UV?

Spot UV is a popular finishing technique, but it’s not always the right choice for every surface or design. Knowing where to avoid it can save you time, money, and potential brand issues.

  • Use recyclable UV coatings if necessary; traditional Spot UV may negatively impact the ability to be recycled.
  • Spot UV performs well on certain highlights like logos, writing, or important visuals; do not cover entire boxes. Heavy use can easily scratch and look shoddy.
  • Uneven or embossed surfaces make it difficult to apply a flawless coating, giving off patchiness or a lack of professionalism.
  • It may not cling correctly to soft-touch or matte materials, resulting in sticky or uneven areas.
  • This should not be used in places that are often handled since it could easily wear off or scratch.

Choosing a Spot UV Retail Packaging Supplier or Manufacturer in the USA

where should you avoid spot uv

Spot UV is a precision-driven finish, which means the supplier you choose matters just as much as the design itself. A reliable Spot UV retail packaging supplier or box manufacturer in the USA understands that even minor misalignment or uneven curing can ruin the final result.

From accurate prepress setup and plate registration to controlled UV curing, every stage must be handled carefully. An experienced manufacturer also knows how different materials, laminations, and inks react with Spot UV, ensuring clean edges, consistent gloss, and long-lasting durability.

Also Read: Upgrade Your Packaging with the Stunning Effect of Spot UV

Final Note

Spot UV logo highlighting boxes work well for brand awareness, particularly when the entire design is simple. The box looks sleeker and more thoughtful since the logo looks like it is part of the box rather than placed on top of it. 

Furthermore, every kind of Spot UV has a distinct function. Some are made to draw gaze, others to tempt touch, and still others to subtly highlight quality. Knowing where and why a type belongs is key to selecting the appropriate one.

Are you looking to get affordable yet elegant boxes with high color contrast? Contact Custom Designs Boxes to enjoy endless customization possibilities. We work closely with customers to apply spot UV in a precise ratio. From materials selection to final finishes, we provide free design assistance on every step, along with 3D mock-up, bulk order saving, free shipping, and the fastest turnaround.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’re confident that you will love our products and service.

It is a liquid coating that adheres to printed boxes to enhance their vibrancy, shine, and durability.

It is applied to logos, graphics, or specific characters to enhance printing quality and highlight them. It also makes them contrasting and unique.

No! It actually enhances the packaging strength by adding a protective layer that protects printed designs from dust, heat, smudges, moisture, and fading.

There are three top types, including gloss spot UV, matte spot UV, and blind spot UV.

No! It does not effectively work on glossy areas due to less contrast. The blend of both shines through, making the packaging difficult to read in the light.
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