Finishes
Gloss UV. Matte UV. Spot UV. Foil.
UV coating is a finish. It decides how the printed surface reads on shelf and how it stands up to being handled between the plant and the store.
Choosing one
Gloss raises contrast and saturation, which is why product photography usually sits under it. Matte lowers glare under retail lighting and reads quieter at the same print density. Spot UV puts gloss on one element against a matte field, so a logo or a single panel carries the shine and the rest does not.
If you are not sure which, say what the pack has to do on shelf and PPO will recommend against that rather than against a price list.
Decided at proof, not after
The finish is part of the proof you approve, so what you sign off is what the run looks like. It goes on here as part of the same job, in the same building as the print and the converting.
Nothing ships out to a coater and comes back late. That is the difference between a lead time a supplier promises and one it passes along.
Runs on what PPO prints
Coating and finishing are specified with the format, not bought separately. Pouches, rollstock, and labels all take it, and the finish is confirmed against the substrate before quoting.
Who it’s for
Beverage, food and snack, nutraceutical, personal care, and household and chemical brands, and contract packagers buying on their behalf.
Dates and minimum
Proof back within 24 hours. Production three weeks from approval. $1,000 minimum, as an order value rather than a piece count.
What to send for a quote
The artwork, the format it prints on, the finish you want or the effect you are after, the quantity, and your date. Pricing and a firm timeline come back within one business day.