Spot UV & Foiling Artwork Guide - Customer

What is Spot UV

Spot UV is a glossy, clear coating applied to specific areas of a print to enhance contrast and create visual impact.

Low Build Spot UV offers a thinner, subtle coating, perfect for delicate designs or fine details.
High Build Spot UV offers A thicker, raised application that enhances contrast and depth.

• Applications:

  • Highlighting logos, text, or images.

  • Adding texture to patterns or backgrounds.

  • Creating visual interest by contrasting glossy and matte finishes.

• Konica MGI Process:
  The JetVarnish 3D applies UV varnish digitally, ensuring accurate placement without the need for plates. Its ARC Registration Camera System ensures alignment even for intricate designs.

What is Foiling?

Foiling involves applying metallic or coloured film to areas of a print, resulting in a luxurious, reflective finish.

• Applications:

  • Highlighting brand names, logos, or key details.

  • Enhancing invitations, packaging, and high-end marketing materials.

• Konica MGI Process:
  The JetVarnish 3D uses a hot-stamping module to apply foil to UV-treated areas. This digital method eliminates dies, supporting intricate and personalised designs with a quick turnaround.

What Kind of Work is Best for Embellishment?

Digital embellishment works best for projects where adding a premium look or tactile experience is essential.

• Ideal projects include:

  • Business cards and stationery.

  • Brochures, book covers, and catalogues.

  • Event materials like invitations and certificates.

  • Short-run, high-impact marketing campaigns.

Digital embellishment is a versatile, high-impact method to elevate print projects, offering an exceptional way to add stunning effects to artwork without the large price tag of traditional foiling. Traditional methods require purchasing a die and machine setup, which significantly increases costs. By contrast, digital embellishment bypasses these expenses, making it a cost-effective option for short runs. Spot UV and foiling, produced via the Konica MGI, provide the flexibility and precision necessary for creating personalised, premium-quality products. This makes digital embellishment an ideal choice for businesses seeking to stand out while maintaining budget efficiency.

Advising customers on how to supply their foil or Spot UV artwork

1. Make a duplicate file from their original design to ensure it is kept safe.

2. With the duplicate file, delete any areas that are to be foiled. This file needs to be the print file only.  Save the file as ‘Artwork’.

3. Next, advise the customer to create another file that only shows the foil areas. Try to ensure that these areas are one solid colour (in 100% black), if possible. Save this file as ‘Artwork_UV/Artwork_Foil"

Combine this into one file, with the file order of Print Front, Print Back, UV/Foil Front, UV Foil Back. If combined this way the client will be able to upload Business Card designs on our website and get a perfect proof. 

Explaining the proof to the customer

If the client has a business card design with foil or UV it is now able to be proofed online. 

If the client uploads the file with print artwork, followed by UV their file will look like this on the preview uploader for Spot UV and foil, this will show the client where the item will be embellished. Areas not in green will be printed as normal. 

Manual Proofs:

The customer's proof will be generated with either 3 or 6 pages depending on if it is a single-sided or double-sided print. The proof will first show the original artwork, followed by the embellishment areas only, and then finally it will show the embellishment areas layered over the original artwork. This will allow the customer to check that the embellishment is aligned correctly. 

Gold foil will be shown as a gold colour on the proof and silver foil will be shown as grey.  

 Spot UV will appear as orange on the proof. This is just for visual purposes.