Britannia Press - Printer@Work Email Newsletter

There are endless options available to you to make your next print piece really stand out!

If you're looking for a simple technique that beautifully enhances your print item's impact and appeal without breaking your budget, consider adding a varnish to your next print project.

Girl holding folder

Adding a print varnish involves adding an entirely transparent coating to a printed page. Just like choosing paint types when you're painting your living room, there are three basic varnish finishes to choose from: satin, gloss, and dull (matte). Varnish can add a unique, creative element and give your design a boost, so make sure you choose the one that best fits with the look and feel you're trying to accomplish with your project.

Know Your Options

Dull: Also known as matte, this is very different from a varnish-like gloss. A matte finish it best suited if your design contains a lot of text, as it will deflect light and glare. Using a dull varnish can be a great tool for improving readability on pages containing text. Although called dull, this varnish is not at all boring. It produces exciting and attractive print results.

Gloss: As its name indicates, this varnish is the show-off of the bunch and gives a glossy type of appearance. Gloss varnish makes colors look more saturated, and your design elements look more crisp and sharper. It is perfect for printed pages containing items like photographs and graphics.

Satin: The best of both worlds, satin varnish falls somewhere in between glossy and matte and offers the perfect level of shine. This option is ideal if you have a lot of photo and text combination pieces.

Glossy, Dull, Satin graphic

What's in it for Me?

From an aesthetic standpoint, varnish can enhance the overall appearance of your piece, but it also decreases the amount of time it takes the printed piece to dry and reduces the chance that the ink will smear. Varnish also adds durability and strength to a piece by doing its job to prevent excess wear, smudging and scuffing, and providing UV protection. All of these benefits combine to give you a printed piece that lasts longer and stays in better, more attractive condition.

Once you try varnish on one of your projects, you will likely wonder how you ever did without it and will be glad to have this technique in your printing toolbox.

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