You probably know that when books, photo albums, calendars, and marketing collateral are printed, printers often apply paper coating or varnish for a more finished look. However, if you aren’t familiar with paper coating, or varnish, then you probably don’t know what to ask for when you place a print order.

A varnish is a petroleum-based sealant applied by a standard inking unit in the press. It can be specified in satin, matte, dull or gloss and applied on the entire sheet or in selected areas. Matte or dull varnishes are widely used on uncoated papers for rub protection. Gloss and satin varnishes are not as typical because they can cause images to appear uneven or mottled. However, for certain projects or client needs, gloss and satin varnishes provide a unique and high-quality look to the finished product. Ask your printer for specifics on how the gloss or satin varnish may affect the detail of the printed piece. Also be aware that varnish can sometimes darken the ink color on uncoated paper.

Coating is a little different than varnish. If your printer talks about paper coating, they’re probably referring to aqueous coating, a water-based sealant applied by a separate tower on the end of the printing press. Like varnish, it can be specified in satin, matte, dull or gloss. Coating can provide better rub protection and cleaner color in a way that varnish may not. However, aqueous coating isn’t used on papers lighter than 100 text, because it tends to curl the edges.

Hopefully, as you consider whether you should select coating or varnishing for your project, with this information you’ll feel a little more confident about what type of finish you want on your printed pieces.

If you have any questions regarding your printed projects, please contact us. We’d love to help.