Surface finishes change both appearance and durability. Which one should you choose, and when?
Surface finishes determine how your printed product looks and how long it lasts. Let’s compare the three most common options.
Lamination
A thin film applied over the print, available in matt, gloss and soft-touch. It offers the highest protection against tearing, moisture and scuffing, and is common on boxes, catalogue covers and business cards.
Water-based varnish
Applied in the press’s coating unit at the same time as printing. It is economical, speeds up drying and adds light protection — ideal for brochures and magazine pages.
UV coating
A high-gloss coating cured instantly with ultraviolet light. With spot UV, only a logo or selected image is made glossy, creating a striking contrast on a matt background.
For the most impressive result we often recommend matt lamination + spot UV.