Adding a coating or a laminate to your printed item will both protect it and give it a more professional appearance. It will also speed up the production of your project since the laminate will seal in the colors and dry almost immediately.This will allow us to cut the paper as soon as it is manufactured, rather than after the inks have dried, which is the case with uncoated pieces.

UV Coating: A UV finish will give your printed piece a high-gloss, reflective sheen and brighten the colors. Compared to the other forms of coatings, UV finishes provide the greatest gloss. The ink used to print on paper is covered with a protective coating that hardens when exposed to UV radiation. This gives your printed item a protective layer that makes it ideal for use with objects that are frequently handled such as business cards, postcards, booklet covers, and presentation folders. A flood- or spot-coating is determined by the type of UV finishing applied. Both types of UV coatings can be used as a flood (covering the entire printed sheet) or as a spot coating (covering only certain sections of the sheet).

Due to the hardness of the coating, UV coverings might crack when scored or folded. Although the costs of this final approach are greater than those of an aqueous finish, they are lower than those of getting a laminate.

Aqueous Coating: Aqueous coatings are fast-drying, water-based sealants that are particularly resistant to smudges and prints. Glossy or silk (matte) aqueous coatings are two types of aqueous coatings. Glossy Aqueous coatings, like UV coatings, provide a gleaming finish that protect your printed item.

When folded, aqueous coatings are less glossy than UV layers and more durable to cracking. A flood application of aqueous coatings is the only way to apply them, as opposed to UV coatings that can be done either as a flood or a spot. This is the most cost-effective finishing method available.

Matte Lamination: Lamination is the process of putting a plastic film over the outside layer of a paper to both protect it and give it a beautiful appearance. Lamination is divided into two categories: matte and gloss. The appearance of matte lamination has a high-class elegance that does not attempt to attract attention by being glossy. It is commonly used to generate textured designs; it is ideal for things like business cards that want to convey a professional look.

Because matte laminating is more prone to scuffing and fingerprints, it isn’t as durable as gloss laminating. This is the most expensive way of finishing the project.

Gloss Lamination: Gloss lamination gives your printed matter a high-impact appearance. The colors appear deeper and more vibrant, as well as offering a long-lasting protective covering that is perfect for high-use items like menus.

Gloss lamination is the most durable and long-lasting form of finishing for your printed items, but it is also one of the most costly (it is only slightly less expensive than a matte lamination).

Fun Fact: You may combine matte lamination with a spot UV coating to create a multi-layer graphic. This will allow you to accentuate important aspects of your design using the UV layer while maintaining a muted matte background. The highlighted characteristics will appear to be jumping off the page. This not only looks extremely professional, but it is also attention-getting and unforgettable.