To make your print piece truly special, you need a specialty finish. And our newest addition is spot on. Introducing spot gloss, an embellishment that truly brings the wow factor. Similar to clear foil, spot gloss adds an unexpected shine to your print marketing and customized stationery. The result? An ultra-polished, vibrant look.

Understanding Spot Gloss: The High-Shine Print Finish

Also called spot varnish, our spot gloss is a clear material that shows the color that’s printed underneath it, adding an undeniable sheen to any coated paper stock. Available on all of our foil products, it creates an intriguing contrast between the stock and finish. It’s a look that says high-end and super sophisticated and takes your print to a truly impressive level.

As your online printer, we treat this clear finish like foil, so the same rules apply when you’re printing with it. These rules include automatic printing with our velvety smooth Soft Touch laminate, and it’s not compatible with variable data printing or digital laser cutting.

Whether you use it as an accent or go for a full flood in the negative space of your design, this refined finish creates a remarkable difference in lighting with reflectivity. Plus, it’s available on one or two sides of your print piece – but only on the coated side(s) of your stock.

How to Add Spot Gloss to Your Print Order:Adding this stunning gloss finish to your project is easy:

  1. In the “Foil Color” dropdown menu on the product page, select “Clear Gloss”.
  2. In the “Printing on the Front/Back” dropdown menus, choose one of the following options:
    • “Full Color + Clear Gloss”
    • “Black Color + Clear Gloss”

Hint: Learn more about the luxurious feel of: Soft Touch Laminate: A Premium Finish with a Velvet Feel

Spot Gloss: Part of Our Premium Foil Printing Services

Make your mark with the distinct shine of clear gloss! This premium finish is now an integral part of our extensive online printing services, specifically offered on our foil products. Spot gloss is the perfect way to add a touch of luxury to both essential printed items like business cards and memorable extras such as branded bookmarks.

You can find spot gloss as an option on the following foil printing options:

Setting Up Your Print-Ready File for Spot Gloss

If you’re new to designing with foil or other specialty print finishes, preparing your file for online printing might seem complex. But don’t worry! [Your Company Name/The Bernard Group] is here to guide you with easy-to-follow instructions.

Since we treat spot gloss like foil, the file setup process is identical for both. You can refer to our detailed PDF instructions and accompanying images [Link to your file setup instructions] or follow these steps to indicate where you want the clear gloss to appear in your design:

  1. Set up your file: Download the appropriate PDF, IDML, or EPS template from the product page. Add each clear gloss element to a separate layer named “Foil”. For custom sizes, create your document at the final size (including bleed) and add a new layer labeled “Foil”. You can choose any color to denote this layer, as long as the clear gloss elements reside on their own designated layer.
  2. Design your file: Ensure all clear gloss elements on the “Foil” layer are in vector format using a dedicated clear gloss spot color or foil spot color. This ensures a smooth and consistent finish.
  3. Export your file: Export your design as a layered PDF. In Adobe InDesign, select “Export As PDF.” In Adobe Illustrator, choose “Save As PDF.”
  4. Check your PDF: Open the exported PDF in Adobe Acrobat and verify the layers. In the Acrobat sidebar, expand the “Layers” icon and confirm the presence of two distinct layers: “Your Art Here” and “Foil.”

Important: All clear gloss design elements must be 100% opaque and should not include any drop shadows in your print-ready file.

Creative Design Ideas and Tips for Spot Gloss Printing

So you’re ready to design spot gloss into your marketing collateral and more- but what exactly should you design? Refine any piece with these innovative ideas for spot varnish printing:

  • Consider clear gloss separate from your artwork and make an entirely independent pattern over your printed design. You’ll be stunned by the different visuals and contrasting effect!
  • Do a reverse design where one side features elements accented with clear gloss, while the other side showcases a flood of clear gloss with only accents of the matte paper showing through.
  • Use spot gloss to accent a logo or design element.
  • Emphasize elements in photography by hitting them with spot gloss. This makes them subtly feel more “real” and vibrant with an extra sheen, creating a textural element and reflective quality that enhances your photos. (For example: Spot varnish bicycle spokes to make the metal shine or add spot gloss to a subject’s eyes to make them glow.)

And take these tips into consideration for a design that more than hits the spot:

  • We don’t recommend using spot gloss over high-contrast gradients (e.g. black to white).
  • Subtle gradients (like a design featuring water or sky) yield more reliable results on your print.
  • Avoid thin lines and small fonts.

Shine Bright, Print Smarter with The Bernard Group & Smartpress

Beyond spot gloss printing, see a diverse range of printing solutions designed to boost brand awareness: