Spot UV, also known as spot gloss or spot varnish, is a print finishing method that adds a shiny, raised coating to specific parts of a design. This coating is cured with ultraviolet (UV) light, making the selected areas (such as logos or text) stand out with a glossy finish.
Spot UV works best when used on a matte or uncoated surface, creating a strong contrast. It’s often for:
Jar labels to give them a more polished and professional appearance.
We invite you to follow along as we take a deeper look into this printing technique and whether or not it’s right for your products.
Key Takeaways
What Spot UV Is – A printing technique where a glossy, UV-cured coating is applied to specific areas (like logos or text) for a raised, eye-catching finish.
Why It Matters for Branding – Spot UV adds luxury, tactile contrast, and visual focus, especially effective on custom packaging like mylar bags and cannabis jar labels.
How to Use It Effectively – Use on smooth, thick substrates with a precise mask file; ideal for accentuating logos, titles, and brand elements without overwhelming the design.
How Does Spot UV Work?
The process begins during the design stage. A separate black-and-white file, called a UV mask, is created to show exactly where the glossy coating will go. This file acts as a guide, marking which areas (such as text, logos, or patterns) will receive the UV treatment.
Next, the full-color design is printed on the material using either digital or offset printing. This creates the base layer that includes all the images, colors, and text. Once the base layer is printed, the UV mask is used to apply a clear varnish to the marked spots. This is done through screen printing or with a plate, depending on the method used.
After the varnish, the print goes under ultraviolet (UV) lights. These lights cure the varnish instantly, turning it into a solid, glossy finish. The result is a high-shine effect that contrasts sharply with the matte or uncoated background.
Finally, the printed piece is trimmed, folded, or enhanced with other finishes like embossing. Each item is then checked for accuracy to make sure the UV coating aligns properly with the design.
Why Use Spot UV?
Spot UV printing offers both style and function. It helps designs stand out, feels good to the touch, and protects the surface. Here’s a closer look at the main reasons brands choose this technique:
Visual Impact and Contrast Spot UV highlights specific parts of a design (like logos, text, or graphics) by making them glossy against a matte background. This creates depth and draws attention to key elements, making your print look sharper and more professional.
Tactile Engagement The raised glossy texture gives people something to feel as well as see. This physical detail adds sensory interest and makes the piece more memorable.
Durability This technique isn’t just for looks. The UV coating adds a layer of protection that helps resist:
Moisture
Scratches
Fingerprints
Smudges
Fading
Fast and Eco-Friendly UV coatings cure instantly under ultraviolet light. They contain no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), so they’re safer for the environment and speed up production.
Stronger Brand Appeal Spot UV sends a clear message of quality. When used on packaging, business cards, or promotional materials, it can help your brand look polished and high-end, without the need for more expensive materials.
Styles and Combinations
Spot UV has multiple uses to achieve unique visual and textural effects.
One popular method is Blind Spot UV, where the gloss is applied without any ink underneath. This creates a subtle, almost hidden pattern that becomes visible only when light hits it at the right angle. It’s a sleek way to add detail without overwhelming the design.
Another common approach is to apply the technique over matte lamination, matte varnish, or soft-touch finishes. The glossy areas stand out boldly against the dull background, creating a rich contrast that both looks and feels high-end. This combination enhances depth and gives printed materials a premium, polished finish.
Tips for Effective Spot UV Design
Less is more – Highlight only the most important elements. Overusing it can make a design feel busy or messy.
Choose the right substrate – Use smooth, thick paper or cardstock. Avoid thin or textured materials, which may not hold the coating well.
Ensure alignment precision – Include crop marks and check that the print and varnish layers are in proper alignment. This avoids shifting or misprints.
Plan for effect – Spot UV works best on logos, titles, and small accents. Avoid using it on large areas or small, detailed text that may lose clarity.
Incorporate a mask in prepress – Always provide a separate, high-contrast mask file using solid black to indicate coated areas.
Spot UV vs. Other Finishes
Finish
Gloss
Texture
Durability
Cost Level
Spot UV
High
Raised
Excellent
Mid-high
Emboss/Deboss
None
Deep
Good
High
Foil Stamping
Metallic
Smooth
Good
Mid-high
Full UV Coating
High (full)
Flat
Very Good
Mid
Matte Coating/Lamination
None
Soft/Flat
Good
Mid
Spot UV brings a glossy tactile layer and durability inexplicably beyond embossing alone, with lower cost than full foil or full UV.
Cost and Limitations
Spot UV printing comes with added costs due to the extra steps required. Namely, this includes a digital mask file. Still, the added cost is minimal and provides you with a premium look, something worth considering when you’re managing your packaging budget.
The process also works best on flat, smooth surfaces. Textured or thick materials can cause the coating to apply unevenly, which may affect the final result.
In terms of production time, Spot UV adds steps like mask preparation and UV curing, which can extend turnaround. It’s important to plan and allow for extra time, especially when working with larger orders or tight deadlines.
Final Word
Spot UV is a powerful finishing technique that adds shine, texture, and a premium feel to printed materials and packaging.
It offers strong visual contrast, a pleasing tactile experience, and durable protection, all while using an eco-friendly curing process. This makes Spot UV a popular choice for brands looking to stand out in crowded markets, such as cannabis or luxury products.
Think you want to incorporate spot UV into your cannabis packaging? Unsure where to begin? Custom 420 Supply is here to help! We invite you to reach out through our contact page to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is spot UV safe to use on cannabis packaging?
Yes. Spot UV is purely a surface treatment applied to the outermost layer of printed packaging. It doesn’t come in direct contact with the cannabis product and is safe when applied correctly by a professional print partner.
Can I use spot UV on flexible materials like mylar bags?
Absolutely. Spot UV works well on flexible packaging like mylar bags, especially when the surface has a matte or soft-touch lamination underneath. It provides contrast and texture that grabs attention on shelves.
Does spot UV increase the cost of cannabis packaging?
It can slightly increase production costs due to the extra print step and UV curing process. However, the perceived value and branding impact often outweigh the added expense, especially for premium or limited-edition products.
Will spot UV hold up in humid or refrigerated environments (i.e. edibles or infused drinks)?
Yes, Spot UV is moisture-resistant and adds an extra layer of protection to the print. For products that require cold storage, it’s a great choice because it won’t smudge or deteriorate like some finishes.
Welcome to the Custom 420 Supply custom cannabis packaging blog! We’ve set out to help change the stigma of this amazing crop and how its packaged! The days of using zip-lock bags are no longer acceptable. If you want your brand to stand out from the rest it takes more than growing or producing the best products. Now people want to see how it looks on a retail shelf or behind a glass case.
When it comes to custom cannabis packaging, it can be overwhelming to determine where to start and what’s the right fit for your brand. However, that’s why we started this business and this blog. We want to help those getting started or fine-tuning a coordinated line for an established brand. Navigating your way through this world can be confusing and costly and we’re here to help! We pride ourselves on customer service and building long-term partnerships for years to come. Our main goal is to help you Brand Your Grow and Grow Your Brand!
We set out to keep all of our brand imagining down to earth and realistic. Helping our clients understand the process and allowing them to be hands-on to bring visions to life. We’ve seen many of the suits at various trade shows offering cosmetic and food packaging as “cannabis packaging.” While packaging can be repurposed, don’t be fooled by said “Cannabis packaging specialists” who have not smoked a joint since the 70s. They’re out of tune with your customer base.
Stay tuned for informative and fun videos, articles, demos, and much more from a team that truly lives on both sides of the industry. Also, all videos will be certified 100% ego-free! Sure, we see organic and natural products all over… but ego-free? That can be hard to come by these days in the cannabis industry. So hopefully we can help you find success without rubbing it in others’ faces. But if that is how you get down, ultimately you can still steal ideas from our blog and rub them in people’s faces! (But not recommended by us!)
This is a multipronged question with multiple answers. The correct way to package your products will differ from company to company. Ultimately, the best cannabis packaging coincides with your brand’s identity and product quality. You might still ask, “What the hell does that mean?”
Let me explain. The old Lamborghini salesman’s sweatpants scenario comes into play here. If you’re not familiar, it’s in essence to portray your brand in line with the quality of your product. For instance, if you were going to buy a Lamborghini and the salesman is wearing stained sweatpants, no matter how much you want the car you’ll most likely consider taking your business elsewhere. The reason? You’re afraid to purchase that kind with a poor upfront presentation.
Comparing Cannabis Packaging to Product Quality
I’m here to say that the same goes for cannabis packaging. Let’s discuss a scenario with two companies:
You’re Company A and think you have the best live resin cartridge on the market. You have a great product and it tests well. You spend a good money to refine your product and can command top dollar for it. When most companies reach this point, they run into the dilemma of not wanting to add any other major costs.
You package it in a plastic blister pack with a paper insert printed at Staples. It makes its way into the shop and you get a few very enthusiastic/educated connoisseurs who rave about the product. Still, being sold as a high-end product, its shelf appeal is not apparent in the cheaper packaging. At first glance, customers will think it’s just an overpriced lower-end product. If you get it in people’s hands, it speaks for itself. However, getting it in the right hands, or enough hands, can be the hardest part.
Now let’s take the example of someone with a middle-of-the-road product, Company B. It is not bottom of the barrel nor is it being sold that way. But its cannabis packaging is in a magnetic box with foil and sharp colors. The type of box someone would hold on to after the purchase.
Some of the high-end customers buy it based on the packaging. The true connoisseurs will appreciate Company A as they’re not fooled by packaging or the cost difference. A few of the lower-end customers buy it as a special purchase. However, as company B, you have now found your sweet spot in the middle. The everyday consumer loves that it’s a quality product for the price and looks higher-end. Despite having a lower-cost product, Company B ends up with a much larger percentage of the market share and continues to grow faster.
You might say, “So what company A has crap packaging? The product is better and the customers must be sheep!” While that might be the case, packaging will continue to play an integral role in marketing as this industry continues to grow.
Customers will lean on the brands that jump out at them. Again, with great products, you’ll likely always have a core following. But if you want to take that next step in growth, your packaging has to coincide with your brand.
Price Comparisons
The last comparison we will make is a cost vs selling price analysis. Company A sells their carts for $80 – they have a $50 profit margin and it costs them $0.30 per package. They sell 1000 in the first 3 months, netting them: $49,700 (minus all the fees, etc.).
Now let’s look at Company B. Company B sells their carts for $65 each – they have a $40 profit margin and go all out and spend $2 per package. But with the packaging appeal, they sell 1750 units in the first three months, netting them: $66,500.
You can see that despite having a profit margin of nearly $15 more and a better product, by avoiding packaging costs, Company A limited its reach. Their core customer group will grow exponentially slower. So, even though they still have a good reputation, their sales are not on par with it.
Final Word
Lastly, this isn’t a pitch to promote BAD PRODUCT IN EXPENSIVE PACKAGING. If that’s what you took from this, then you have missed the point. At the end of the day, a product’s quality will speak for itself regardless of the packaging and you’ll have a level of success or failure based on this ALONE.
Still, packaging is the second piece of the puzzle. If you have a terrible product in a nice package in an attempt to charge more, customers will eventually see through it. Then word of mouth of your overpriced and poor-quality product will bury you in due time. Customers might overpay the first time, but will not be fooled again by the tricks!
At this point, you’ve surely seen cannabis cans. If you have, it may be time to broaden your horizons. The concept is fairly new and has developed a love-hate relationship among manufacturers. Still, there is one thing we can all agree on – it’s different than how we’re used to seeing our cannabis packaged.
Cannabis cans have a few different names to them. These include:
More specifically, we’ve teamed with Cannaster to become an official re-seller. Their product allows customers to add customized labels and designs easily. We often get questions about nitrogen backfilling and various snake oil techniques that leave some skeptical about the whole concept. While some might insist these are necessary features, we’re here to tell you they’re not.
Cannaster seals with an even PSI every time and closes it with consistent pressure to keep an airtight seal against the rubber lining. Multiple tests have held up for up to six months with many saying it helped the cure. If you do not believe us I will put it to the challenge. For those who say it’s too short of a shelf life, maybe this is not for you. It is an ideal solution for those looking to stand out from the crowd or do mixed batches. We offer a more enterprise solution if you have a larger scale.
But check out the video and see it in action!
Can your bud! Help your brand stand out from the crowd!
