Business card finishes compared: matt, gloss, velvet and spot UV

Two business cards can share the same design and paper and still feel completely different. The difference is the finish. Here is a plain-English guide to the options you will see on our business card pages and when each one earns its place.

No finish

The card exactly as printed. Uncoated stocks keep their natural texture and stay easy to write on — ideal for appointment and loyalty cards. Coated stocks without lamination still look sharp but show scuffs sooner.

Matt lamination

A thin, non-reflective film bonded to the card. It adds durability, softens the colours slightly and gives a calm, modern look. A good default for most professional cards.

Gloss lamination

A shiny film that makes colours and photographs more vivid. It suits bold, image-led designs and anything that needs to stand out on a counter. The trade-off is glare under bright light and visible fingerprints.

Velvet (soft-touch) lamination

A matt film with a soft, almost suede-like feel. People tend to keep hold of these cards a moment longer — it is the finish most associated with premium brands, salons, studios and consultancies.

Spot UV

A clear, glossy varnish applied only to chosen areas — a logo, a pattern, a headline — usually on top of matt or velvet lamination. The contrast between shiny and matt catches the light and invites a second look. It needs a separate layer in your artwork that marks exactly where the varnish goes.

Foil

Metallic gold, silver or rose-gold foil pressed onto selected elements. Foil has a real metallic shine that ink cannot imitate. Like spot UV, it is set up as its own layer in the artwork and works best on simple shapes and text that is not too small.

Rounded corners

Not a coating, but a finishing option worth knowing: rounded corners make a card feel friendlier and stop corners from dog-earing in wallets.

Which should you choose?

Finishes add a little to the price, so it is worth matching them to how the card will be used. If in doubt, matt lamination on 400gsm is a safe, smart choice.