What are Raised Spot Gloss Business Cards?
Raised Spot Gloss Business Cards are printed on thick Super paper (400gsm) with a Soft Touch matte finish, then enhanced with a clear, elevated gloss applied to selected parts of your design.
This creates a smooth, raised effect that adds both shine and texture, so key elements stand out visually and physically.
Is this right for you?
This works well if you want:
- A tactile finish you can feel as well as see
- Design elements that stand out through texture
- A more subtle alternative to metallic finishes
Compared to other finishes:
- More tactile than standard Spot Gloss
- Less reflective than Gold or Silver Foil
- Adds physical depth, not just visual contrast
At a glance
- Paper: Super (400gsm)
- Base finish: Soft Touch matte
- Finish type: Raised spot gloss (raised spot UV)
- Feel: Smooth with elevated, glossy areas
- Material: Made from responsibly sourced FSC® certified material
- Best for: Logos, text, tactile highlights
Sizes and format
Available in:
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Standard (2.0" x 3.5") |
MOO (2.16" x 3.3") |
|
Square (2.56" x 2.56") |
|
You can choose rounded or square corners.
What is Raised Spot Gloss?
Raised Spot Gloss (also called raised spot UV) is a clear coating applied to selected areas of your design.
It creates:
- A raised, 3D-like texture you can feel
- A glossy shine that catches the light
- A stronger contrast compared to standard Spot Gloss
Customisation
- Applied only to selected parts of your design
- Can be used on one or both sides of the card
- Works best for logos, text, or bold shapes
| While the front of every card in your pack will have the same image, you can have up to 50 different back designs when utilizing MOO’s own Printfinity option! Please note, Printfinity options may be limited on some MOO Designs. |
Preparing your artwork
To set up a Raised Spot Gloss design, you’ll need two files:
- One for your main printed design (background)
- One for the raised gloss layer (showing where the finish will be applied)
Your gloss artwork should be:
- Vector-based
- Black and white only
- Set to 100% black (CMYK 0/0/0/100) for gloss areas
- Saved as a PDF
You can also use pre-made Raised Spot Gloss templates if you want a quicker starting point.
Design tips for best results
Raised Spot Gloss works best when used as a highlight rather than a full layer.
- Avoid large solid areas of raised gloss
- Keep coverage to less than 50% of each side
- Use it to emphasize key elements like logos or headings
- Simpler shapes produce cleaner, more defined results
If you’re unsure, it’s worth reviewing the full Special Finish Guidelines before finalising your design: Special Finishes design requirements
What to know before ordering
- Only one special finish can be applied per card
- Raised gloss adds both visual and physical contrast
- Best results come from clean, intentional designs
- Printed on Soft Touch Super paper for optimal effect