UV Coating vs Lamination

Print finishes are always the best way to take your project to the next level. We’ve written several blog posts on what types of print finishes we offer. Today’s blog is to go into further detail on a specific print finish and how it could improve your next project.

When printing materials for your business, you must consider how the client will react to your product. From many of our clients, we hear they want their print materials to look professional and feel quality.

Why? When your customers see you take care of every detail, including your print materials, they see you value your work. Quality paper products, high-end finishes, and unique designs are all ways to show your clients you value their time and your profession.

A few of those expensive looking finishes are UV Coating and lamination. The look and feel of both of these finishes can make any print material more durable and last longer.

Here are a few characteristics for each:

UV Coating

While both UV coating and lamination offer more durability to a print project, the process of both is not the same. UV Coating uses a polymer resin combined with ultraviolet light to create a thick layer onto the print material.

We have the ability to make only your logo or specific design have a sheen to it.

UV Coating offers a higher vibrancy to your colors and keeps colors more natural to the design.

Faster process than lamination.

Tends to be a bit cheaper than lamination, since we do not have to trim or cut the laminate off the edges.

If the print project is bend or folded, the UV Coating with crack.

Lamination

When using lamination, a film is applied to cover the entire material.

This is ideal for print projects that need to be very durable from heavy use. Examples include menus, spa packages, corporate brochures, and restaurant print materials.

Lamination offers protection against moisture and water, while also being tear resistant.

This process tends to involve more machinery, which could drive your costs up a little higher.

Laminated pieces do not crack when bent or folded. They remain smooth.

Overall…

Lamination and UV Coating offer different benefits and have certain limitations. It’s important to talk to your print specialist about what finish is right for your next project. Depending on the purpose of the print material, you may sway towards one finish over the other. Contact us here for more information!

Thank you and your whole team for bringing the book to life in such a STUNNING and beautiful final form. You have been fantastic partners and we are somehow even more excited than before about getting this out into the community. We appreciate your help in navigating supply chain shortages, last-minute changes, and most importantly building this gorgeous (from cover-to-cover) piece in a way that elevates our brand and honors the donors and grantees who trusted us to tell their stories.

After such a challenging year and a half, this is everything we imagined and wanted it to be. Our best yet!

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