Spot Gloss Business Cards

What are Spot Gloss Business Cards?

Spot Gloss Business Cards are printed on thick Super paper (400gsm / 19pt) with a Soft Touch matte finish, then enhanced with a clear, glossy coating applied to selected parts of your design.

This coating sits on top of the card, creating a smooth, shiny contrast against the matte background. It doesn’t add color, just a subtle highlight that catches the light.

Is this right for you?

This works well if you want:

  • A more subtle finish than foil
  • Contrast without adding metallic color
  • A clean, design-led way to highlight details

Compared to other finishes:

  • More understated than Gold or Silver Foil
  • Flatter and less tactile than Raised Spot Gloss
  • Keeps your original printed colors unchanged

At a glance

  • Paper: Super (400gsm / 19pt)
  • Base finish: Soft Touch matte
  • Finish type: Clear spot gloss (spot UV coating)
  • Feel: Smooth with glossy contrast
  • Material: Made from responsibly sourced FSC® certified material
  • Best for: Patterns, text, subtle highlights

Sizes and format

Available in:

Standard (2.0" x 3.5")

InkPavo (2.16" x 3.3")

Square (2.56" x 2.56")

You can choose rounded or square corners.

What is Spot Gloss?

Spot Gloss (also called spot UV) is a transparent coating applied to specific areas of your design.

It creates:

  • A subtle shine that appears when light hits the surface
  • A smooth contrast against the matte Soft Touch background
  • A way to highlight details without changing color

Customization

  • Applied only to selected parts of your design
  • Works well for text, patterns, or layered elements
  • Adds contrast without overpowering the overall design

Mix & Match.svgWhile the front of every card in your pack will have the same image, you can have up to 50 different back designs when utilizing InkPavo’s own [Mix & Match](https://www.https://www.InkPavo.com/about/Mix & Match) option! Please note, Mix & Match options may be limited on some InkPavo Designs.
Preparing your artwork

To set up a Spot Gloss design, you’ll need to separate your artwork into two files:

  • One for your main printed design (background)
  • One for the spot gloss layer (showing exactly where the gloss will be applied)

Design GuidelinesYour gloss artwork should be:

  • Vector-based
  • Black and white only
  • Set to 100% black (CMYK 0/0/0/100) for gloss areas
  • Saved as a PDF

If you prefer, you can start from one of the Spot Gloss design templates.

Design tips for best results

Spot Gloss works best when used as a subtle accent.

  • Avoid large solid areas of gloss
  • Keep coverage to less than 50% of each side
  • Use it to highlight key elements rather than the entire design
  • Works especially well on darker backgrounds where contrast is more visible

If you’re unsure, it’s worth reviewing the full Special Finish Guidelines before finalizing your design: Special Finishes design requirements

What to know before ordering

  • Only one special finish can be applied per card
  • The effect is more subtle than foil finishes
  • Best results come from clean, intentional designs
  • Printed on Soft Touch Super paper to create contrast with the gloss