Raised Spot UV, Raised Foil, or Full UV: Business Card Finishes That Get Noticed

Most business cards get a two-second glance before going into a pocket. A card with a raised finish gets a second look and usually a thumb across the surface. That extra moment is what you're paying for.

We offer three finishes that go beyond standard lamination: raised spot UV, raised foil, and full UV gloss. They work in very different ways, so here's how to tell which one fits your card.

Raised Spot UV: shine and texture exactly where you want it

Spot UV is a clear, glossy coating applied only to selected parts of your design, like your logo, your name, or a pattern. On our Premium Raised Spot UV/Foil cards, that coating is raised, so you can feel it as well as see it. It sits on top of a velvety soft-touch lamination, and the contrast between the matte background and the glossy raised areas is the whole effect.

You have two main ways to use it:

• Over printed details - put the raised gloss on top of your logo or key artwork so it pops off the card.
• Blind spot UV - apply it where nothing is printed, creating a subtle clear pattern or mark you notice at an angle or by touch. It's understated and very classy.

Best for: architects, designers, consultants, and brands that want premium without flash.

Raised Foil: metallic, dimensional, impossible to miss

Raised foil uses the same soft-touch base but swaps the clear gloss for metallic foil, available in a range of finishes. The foil catches the light and the raised edge gives it depth, so a foil logo on a dark matte card looks close to embossed jewellery.

Best for: luxury real estate, beauty professionals, boutique retail, hospitality, and any brand whose identity already uses a metallic accent.

Design tip: less is more. Foil on a logo and name looks premium. Foil on every line of text starts to look busy. Pick one or two elements and let the rest of the card stay quiet.

Full UV: all-over gloss on a slimmer card

Full UV Business Cards are a different approach. Instead of highlighting specific areas, the entire card gets a high-gloss UV finish on 16pt coated cardstock. Colours look vibrant, photos look punchy, and the finish resists scratches and everyday wear.

They're also slightly thinner than our laminated cards, which some people prefer. Less bulk in a wallet, easier to hand out in stacks at an event.

Best for: photographers, event businesses, colourful brands, and anyone whose design is image-heavy and benefits from maximum shine.

Side by side

• Want a subtle, sophisticated feel? Raised spot UV (or blind spot UV) on soft touch.
• Want the card to feel expensive the moment it's handed over? Raised foil on soft touch.
• Want bright colour and all-over shine on a slimmer card? Full UV.

Setting up artwork for raised finishes

Raised spot UV and raised foil need to know exactly where the effect goes, so plan your file with that in mind. Keep raised areas to bold, clean elements like logos, names, and simple patterns, and avoid very fine lines or tiny text, which lose their detail when raised. If you're not sure how to set up your file, get in touch before you upload and we'll point you in the right direction.

Not sure you need a special finish?

Standard lamination is still a solid choice for most cards. If you're weighing gloss, matte, soft touch, and sand, start with our lamination finishes comparison. But if your card is often the first thing a high-value client sees, a raised finish is one of the cheapest ways to make that first impression count.