Varnish Finishes for Retail Packaging and Shopping Bags
Varnish will leave your bag with a beautiful finish as well as add some protection to the printed image. Contact a Modern Arts Packaging Specialist for samples of different varnishes.
Ultra Violet (UV) Varnish is an extremely high gloss varnish that rivals lamination without an extra step in the process.
- Applied while printing
- Available on all substrates
- Primers are necessary for uncoated papers
- Can be 100% overprint or a design spot print
- Can be applied only in preprint (not tail end)
High Gloss Varnish is a high gloss varnish that is overprinted on clay coat paper.
- Can be preprinted or tail printed
Matte Varnish is a satin finish varnish that is overprinted (mostly on clay coat paper) to mask the inherent gloss characteristics of the inks.
- Can be printed on both clay coat and uncoated paper
- Can be preprinted or tail printed
Standard Overprint Varnish provides color enhancement and depth of color and is used mainly when ink rub protection is needed.
- Overprinted on uncoated paper stocks (Kraft, White, Flipside, and Oatmeal)
- Improves metallic ink brightness and printability
- Can be preprinted or tail printed
Gray tinted varnish, generally light, is used to print a vertical mirage stripe pattern. These stripes create the illusion of an embossed pattern.
- Can be preprinted or tail printed
White Tinted Varnish is printed in many different patterns and graphic themes. It typically overprints other colors in order to simulate screens/tone-on-tone effects.
- Can intersect with white reverse in artwork without the need for mortise
Cost Drivers
The Cost Drivers for varnish options are as follows; for each list, the bulleted items are in order, beginning with the most economical option:
Varnishes (uncoated papers)
- Standard Overprint Varnish
- High Gloss Varnish
- Matte Varnish
- Gloss UV Varnish
Varnishes (coated papers)
- High Gloss Varnish
- Matte Varnish
- Pearlized Varnish
- Gloss UV Varnish