How to Set Up Foil and Spot UV Files
Foil and Spot UV go on top of your printed design. To show us where, you send one extra file for each side that gets the finish, called a mask. Here's how to make it. Not sure how? Choose Fix my file when you order and tell us which parts should shine. We'll set it up for you.
1. What to upload
- Your normal full-color print file for each printed side.
- One mask file for each side that gets foil or Spot UV.
- Name them clearly: Print Front, Mask Front, Print Back, Mask Back (only the ones you need).
- Example: a card printed on both sides with foil on the front only needs three files: Print Front, Print Back and Mask Front.
- On the product page there's an upload box for each side and each layer, so every file goes in the right place.
2. Make the mask
- Use the same page size, bleed, orientation and position as your print file. The easiest way: copy your design, delete everything that won't shine, and color what's left.
- Solid black (C 0, M 0, Y 0, K 100) means foil or Spot UV. White means nothing.
- No gray, gradients, shadows, glows, transparency or rich black.
- Make it in a vector program such as Adobe Illustrator and save a vector PDF or AI file, with text turned into outlines. A JPG or PNG saved as a PDF is not vector.
3. Keep it printable
| Finish | How much | Smallest details |
|---|---|---|
| Foil (flat) | Under 50% of each side | Avoid tiny text and very thin lines |
| Raised foil | 30% or less (up to 50% for thin patterns); solid areas about 1" x 1" or smaller | Text 10 pt, or 12 pt for bold or thick fonts |
| Raised Spot UV | Under 30%; avoid large solid areas | Text 6 pt, or 9 pt for thick fonts; lines at least 1 pt |
| Spot UV (flat) | Logos, names and patterns work best | Avoid hairlines and very small text |
4. Foil and printing together
- Keep the background color solid under the foil. Don't print text or graphics under it, and don't cut white holes in the background for it.
- Don't repeat the foil artwork in the print file. It belongs only in the mask.
- Foil can shift up to 1/16" in production, so avoid designs where foil must line up exactly with a printed outline.
5. Before we print
- A person checks every file for free.
- Choose Email me a proof first to see where the finish goes. A screen proof shows the placement, not the shine or the texture.
- Questions? Call (480) 278-1028 or email [email protected], Monday to Friday 9 to 5 Arizona time.
Cards and postcards with these finishes
- Foil Business Cards and Foil Postcards
- Raised Foil Business Cards and Raised Foil Postcards
- Raised Spot UV Business Cards
- Raised Foil & Spot UV Business Cards
- Suede Business Cards (optional Spot UV)
- Standard Business Cards (Spot UV on 16pt matte)