Business card logo
Design direction
Highlight one main brand detail with raised gloss. Keep phone numbers, addresses and small text in ordinary print.
What to send us
Send the colour artwork and a separate, aligned mask for the selected logo area.
NEW ERA PRINT SOLUTIONS · MISSISSAUGA
Raised Gloss & 3D Spot UV Printing
Clear shine you can see and feel. Raised gloss, also called raised spot UV or 3D spot UV, adds a tactile clear finish to selected areas of your print.
THE PROCESS, UP CLOSE
Watch NEPS raised gloss production
Watch our Gloss Emboss production video to see how raised gloss is applied. Then explore the examples below and choose the details you’d like to highlight.
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
See what clear raised gloss adds
The clear ribbons catch the light over the matte charcoal background. You can still see the printed design beneath them. Raised gloss adds shine and texture without turning the artwork metallic; open space around the pattern helps it stand out.
What to notice
- Clear highlights reveal the coating as the card catches light.
- The matte base gives the glossy pattern a contrasting surface.
- Open shapes leave breathing room between raised details.
Illustrative design concept, not a print proof.
Plan the details that matter
Greeting card artwork
Design direction
Use clear gloss on a decorative border, a larger title or selected illustration details. A restrained pattern can add interest while the message stays readable.
What to send us
Identify folds and trim lines so the coating layout can be checked before production.
Folder or brochure cover
Design direction
Highlight a title or repeated brand motif on a suitable cover. Concentrating the effect on the front can create a strong first impression.
What to send us
Send the size, paper, fold positions and gloss areas so we can check the combination.
Use this guide to plan your idea. We’ll check the paper, artwork and finishing details before confirming the job.
Will raised gloss change my printed colours?
The coating is clear, but its reflections and surface contrast change how the design looks under different lighting. Review a relevant physical sample when colour and appearance are critical.
Can the whole design be raised?
The paper, detail and amount of gloss all affect what’s possible. Start with the area you want to highlight and ask us to check large solid areas or dense patterns.
What is raised gloss?
Raised gloss is a clear coating applied in selected areas above the printed surface. It can emphasise existing colour, create gloss-on-matte contrast or introduce a subtle texture. It is commonly used on business cards, but the same design principle can be explored for suitable cards, covers, folders and cartons.
Compare the finishes
| Finish | What changes | Choose it for |
|---|---|---|
| Raised gloss / raised spot UV | Clear tactile coating above the surface | Shine, texture and selected design details |
| Flat spot UV | Selective clear gloss with less relief | Gloss contrast rather than a raised accent |
| Traditional embossing | Paper is shaped by dies | Raised paper detail; consider the reverse |
| Raised foil | Metallic finish with surface relief | Tactile metallic focal point |
| Traditional hot foil | Foil transferred using a heated die | Foil effect whose impression depends on stock and setup |
Ideas for raised gloss and spot UV
Compare the same printed design before and after raised gloss. The flat-print version uses ordinary ink; the finished version adds only clear raised gloss, with no foil. These are illustrative concepts, not completed customer projects. We’ll check the paper, finish areas and production details for your design.
Raised gloss on business cards
Make a logo, initial or larger title shine over a matte or soft touch surface. Keep contact information in printed ink so the card stays easy to scan. Our Gloss Emboss business card page covers the specific card product and ordering options.
Explore business cardsRaised gloss on pocket folders
Add a tactile logo or a short cover title to a sales kit, proposal folder or welcome pack. Leave scores, pocket folds and business-card slit areas clear. Raised gloss is quoted as a custom folder finish; it isn’t included on every folder.
Explore pocket foldersRaised gloss on packaging and folding cartons
Highlight a brand mark, product name or graphic texture on a carton front. Plan embellishment on the flat sheet before cutting and assembly. Keep gloss away from glue areas, scores and essential product information; we’ll need to check the paper and construction.
Discuss a custom projectRaised gloss on holiday cards
Use a clear raised snowflake, decorative motif or large seasonal greeting for corporate holiday cards and Christmas cards. The effect can complement full-colour artwork without changing the motif to a metallic colour. Keep the inside message and signing area uncoated.
Explore holiday cardsRaised gloss on birthday cards
Highlight a large birthday number, balloon illustration or short headline. Clear gloss adds a detail people can feel, while the party information stays easy to read in ordinary ink. Avoid covering fold lines or handwritten message areas.
Discuss a custom projectRaised gloss on greeting and thank-you cards
A bold thank-you title, icon or repeat pattern can create a detail people notice when handling the card. Keep space for a personal note and choose the stock and surface finish together so the gloss contrast is visible.
Discuss a custom projectRaised gloss on brochures
Place raised spot UV on a cover title, logo or selected product image to create a deliberate first impression. Keep interior text readable and folds clear. For brochures and multi-page pieces, specify which cover or panel receives the effect.
Explore brochuresRaised gloss on postcards
Guide attention to the main headline, a product silhouette or an event mark. Keep address panels, postage areas and any barcode or QR code free of raised gloss. Discuss mailing requirements and handling with NEPS before production.
Explore postcardsRaised gloss on wedding invitations
Try a bold monogram or larger floral detail for an invitation finish without metallic shine. Keep names, dates and RSVP details legible. Compare raised gloss with paper embossing and foil before choosing a stock and matching suite.
Explore wedding invitationsTWO FINISHES · ONE COORDINATED DESIGN
Combine raised gloss and raised foil in separate passes
Give the main title or logo a metallic raised foil finish, then add transparent raised gloss to a separate pattern, illustration or decorative detail. The two effects can complement one another: foil creates a strong focal point, while clear gloss brings printed colour and texture into the light.
How we plan the two treatments
- Start with the flat print. Confirm the stock, printed artwork and any compatible lamination. All versions below use the same underlying design.
- Prepare two separate masks. Supply one aligned mask for raised foil and another for clear raised gloss, with a composite proof showing both. Clearly identify the treatment and side in each filename.
- Plan separate production passes. The foil treatment uses its own varnish pattern and the iFoil One transfer stage. The clear raised-gloss pattern is applied in a separate pass. NEPS confirms the sequence, registration, adhesion and curing requirements for the approved material and coverage.
- Finish and assemble. Review the sample or proof, then complete cutting, scoring, folding or assembly as specified. Keep both treatments away from folds, glue areas, writing spaces and functional codes.
Separate accents are usually easier to plan than overlapping gloss and foil in exactly the same area. If you want overlapping treatments, send the design for a specific production review rather than assuming they can simply be layered. The combination is a custom quote and is not included automatically in a standard gloss-only or foil-only order.
Where the combination works
Try a foil business logo with a gloss background pattern; a foil holiday greeting with gloss snowflakes; foil wedding initials with gloss botanicals; or a foil product name with gloss artwork on a carton. Brochure titles, presentation folder logos, postcard headlines, birthday greetings and thank-you messages can use the same approach on suitable stocks.
Illustrative concepts, not completed customer jobs. Screen images suggest the effect; ask NEPS to review physical stock and finish samples for your project.
Explore clear raised gloss · Explore metallic raised foil · Plan holiday cards · Explore Gloss Emboss business cards
Choose the details you want to highlight
- Choose one detail to lead: a logo, monogram, name in larger type or cover title. Keep the wording around it clear and readable.
- Use bold strokes and space between the details. Ask us to check fine scripts, small openings in letters and tightly spaced text.
- Keep small text, contact details, QR codes and barcodes in ordinary print so they stay easy to read and scan.
- Use a pattern where it adds something to the design. Large solid areas and dense details affect the feel, what we can produce and the price.
Dos and don’ts
| Do | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Send an aligned print PDF and separate finish mask | A flattened image with no way to identify the treatment |
| Leave room around logos and letters | Fine hairlines, tiny type and narrow gaps without approval |
| Keep treatment away from folds, scores and glue areas | A raised accent crossing a structural fold |
| Ask for a stock and finish sample | Judging texture or metallic colour only on a screen |
| Confirm scan and writing areas | Raised treatment over a QR code, barcode or signing area |
Prepare your raised spot UV artwork
- Supply the full-colour print PDF and a separate, clearly named vector mask for each finish and side. Keep the same dimensions and position in every file.
- Use solid 100% black (C0 M0 Y0 K100) on white for the finish mask. Avoid shadows, glows and grey values unless NEPS has approved a special setup.
- Outline fonts, embed print images and follow the job-specific bleed and safe-area template. Identify front and back explicitly.
- Include a composite reference showing the intended result. Ask us whether foil-only or blind-emboss elements should appear in the print PDF; do not remove underlying print artwork without confirming the intended effect.
- Ask NEPS to approve line weights, type size, spacing, edge clearance and stock before committing to production.
MGI digital enhancement: AccurioShine 3600 + iFoil One
Our MGI AccurioShine 3600 applies clear UV varnish to the areas identified in a digital mask. It can create both flatter gloss effects and raised details, and we use it for our Gloss Emboss business cards. The iFoil One unit adds digital hot foil through the same system, using a different process from traditional die-based stamping. If your design includes both clear raised gloss and raised foil, we prepare separate masks and plan separate passes. We’ll check the order of those steps, alignment and paper for your design.
Questions before you order
Is raised gloss the same as embossed paper?
No. Raised gloss adds clear material above the surface. Traditional embossing shapes the paper itself and can affect the reverse.
Can I use this on packaging or pocket folders?
These finishes can be explored on suitable papers and designs. Send the dieline, quantity and areas you want treated so we can check adhesion, folds, glue areas and how the piece will be assembled.
What does custom gloss printing cost?
The price depends on the piece, quantity, paper, finish areas, sides and any other treatments. We’ll confirm the cost and timing after reviewing your artwork. Raised finishing is included only when it is specified in the product or quote.
Can you help create the finish artwork?
Yes. Send your artwork or a design brief and identify the details you want to highlight. Design and artwork preparation are quoted separately.
Let’s find the right areas for raised gloss
Send your design and point out the logo, lettering or pattern you want to highlight. Include the paper, finished size, quantity and deadline so we can check the detail and quote the finish. You can compare samples with our Mississauga team, with shipping available across Canada. Allow for artwork approval, production and delivery.
Need help with the design? Explore graphic design services.