Print Embellishment Artwork Guidelines
These print embellishment design guides provide professional artwork setup recommendations for foiling, spot UV varnish, raised coatings, white ink, metallic inks, embossing, debossing, and digital foil processes. Designers can learn minimum line weights, font size recommendations, spacing considerations, trapping guidance, and file preparation techniques used in modern production workflows.
Foil, Spot UV, and White Ink File Setup
Preparing artwork correctly is essential for predictable print results. These guides explain how to use spot colours, overprint settings, choke and spread techniques, vector masks, and safe spacing to prevent registration issues and production errors.
Professional Training for Designers Working with Print Enhancements
Visualis3R supports designers, print providers, and brands by delivering education that reduces waste, improves workflow efficiency, and increases confidence when specifying specialty print finishes.
Visualis3R Design Guidance
Designing for print embellishments requires precision, planning, and an understanding of production realities. The Visualis3R Design Guides provide practical artwork recommendations for foiling, spot UV, white ink, embossing, metallic inks, and advanced digital enhancements — helping designers avoid common mistakes and achieve predictable, high-quality results on press.
01
Foiling
Bold vector shapes. Avoid hairlines.
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Bold vector shapes. Avoid hairlines.
• Min line 0.5 pt — avoid hairlines
• Loose kerning / extra leading
• Smooth uncoated or lightly coated stocks only
• Test intricate designs on scrap
• Layer foil over CMYK for custom metallics
• Consider cold foiling for finer detail
• Don’t place foil too close to trim (min ~3 mm)
• Avoid textured / soft-touch stocks
• Don’t overprint unnecessarily
Always confirm tolerances with your print provider.
02
Varnishing (flat / clear toner)
Gloss/matte contrast. Solid shapes read best. Keep off folds/trim.
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Gloss/matte contrast. Solid shapes read best. Keep off folds/trim.
• Keep heavy varnish away from folds (risk of cracking)
• Spot varnish needs separate plate/layer
• Min safe distance to trim/folds varies by stock
• Combine inline (cost) or offline UV (gloss)
• Test drying / curing times
• Layer multiple varnishes for special effects
• Don’t apply near folds without scoring
• Don’t assume default finish — specify gloss/matte
• Avoid uncoated/digital without testing
Always confirm the safe distance to trim/folds for the chosen stock and finishing process.
03
Duplo (Raised Spot UV)
Raised spot UV. Bold geometry wins. Test on target stock.
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Raised spot UV. Bold geometry wins. Test on target stock.
• Min font ~8 pt, min line ~0.5 mm
• Keep 3 mm+ from cut/fold lines
• Max height ~100 microns
• Create subtle patterns over solids
• Test on your exact stock
• Combine with foil for hybrid luxury
• Don’t place near edges or folds
• Avoid very fine detail / small text
• Don’t over-apply thickness in tiny areas
Always confirm tolerances with your print provider.
04
Scodix
Camera-registered enhancement. Avoid microtype & thin lines.
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Camera-registered enhancement. Avoid microtype & thin lines.
• Min line ~0.2 mm, font 6 pt+
• Variable height via opacity (up to ~250 μm)
• Registration critical — test
• Use for personalized / variable data
• Combine effects (foil + raised UV)
• Keep artwork clean & bold
• Don’t overload with too many effects
• Don’t ignore stacking / transparency order
• Avoid micro-detail & hairlines
Always confirm tolerances with your print provider.
05
Metallic Inks / Toners
Metallic ≠ foil. Bold shapes are safest. Tints depend on workflow.
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Metallic ≠ foil. Bold shapes are safest. Tints depend on workflow.
• Min line ~0.5 pt
• Semi-opaque — plan overlaps carefully
• Avoid heavy CMYK over metallics
• Build custom metallics with light CMYK tints
• Test halftones & gradients
• Apply protective coating when needed
• Don’t use intricate fine detail
• Don’t skip protective layer on packaging
• Avoid textured stocks
Always confirm tolerances with your print provider.
06
White Ink / White Toner
Underlay vs overlay. Trapping matters. Make small type bolder.
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Underlay vs overlay. Trapping matters. Make small type bolder.
• Usually 1–2 layers for opacity
• Trapping critical on dark stocks
• Separate white plate/layer required
• Make small text bolder for readability
• Test trapping & knockout behavior
• Specify under or over clearly
• Avoid very fine negative type
• Don’t assume automatic trapping
• Avoid rushing — allow proper curing
Always confirm tolerances with your print provider.
07
3D Foiling (MGI, similar)
Foil over a varnish mask. Mask quality = foil quality.
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Foil over a varnish mask. Mask quality = foil quality.
• Min line ~0.2 mm
• Gradients in mask = variable height
• Registration tolerance ~±0.4 mm
• Vary density for 3D texture
• Combine with flat foil/UV
• Test height on actual stock
• Don’t place too close to edges
• Don’t use complex overlapping masks
• Avoid poor registration tolerance
Always confirm tolerances with your print provider.
08
Raised Textured Printing
Tactile coatings. Larger features read better. Keep off trims/folds.
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Tactile coatings. Larger features read better. Keep off trims/folds.
• Min font ~12 pt for clear texture
• Keep away from folds / trim edges
• Multiple layers for more height
• Test puff/expansion on stock
• Use for selective tactile highlights
• Combine with color for contrast
• Don’t over-layer (cracking risk)
• Don’t place on fine detail
• Avoid uneven application
Always confirm tolerances with your print provider.
09
Emboss / Deboss
Physical deformation. Keep strokes thick and spacing generous.
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Physical deformation. Keep strokes thick and spacing generous.
• Min font 8–11 pt sans; 12 pt+ script
• Min line ~1 pt / 0.04" width
• Min spacing ~0.05" between elements
• Keep generous spacing
• Consider single-level for cost
• Test on actual stock thickness
• Don’t place near folds/creases
• Don’t use very small type
• Avoid complex multi-level unless necessary
Always confirm tolerances with your print provider.
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