The majority of special effects are set up as Spot Colors in your favorite graphic design or layout program. Call or e-mail to be walked through the process depending on your program of choice, or have one of our graphics specialists setup the special effects for you (may incur additional cost).

One of our favorite titles for show & tell is the Deva Film Reel as it actually has all of the effects; hot foil stamping, embossing, debossing, spot UV glass & lamination. Be sure to check our the full spec for the special printing effects on Deva's Featured TItle page.

Spot UV combined with Matte Lamination is a great way to add contrasting finishes to your project. Spot UV is just like the high gloss lamination, only used for specific areas (or spots). The rest of the package is finished with the Matte Lamination. Spot UV is set up as a Spot Color in Illustrator or InDesign, and as a Channel in Photoshop.

Check out this Featured Title Subswara's Spot Gloss Effects

Some other fun shots of spot gloss:

Hot foil stamping. Wow, what a look! There’s nothing like a little gold foil to really help a package to stand out. Or if gold isn’t your color, silver might be your choice… or basically any other color you can think of (we also have a selection of multi-colored rainbow foils). Foil does have some raised quality with it, but consider also combining it with embossing. Let our art department guide you on that. Foil stamping is setup as a Spot Color in Illustrator or InDesign, and as a Channel in Photoshop.

Check out the Foil on FreezePop's Featured Title page :


Here are some other fun shots of foil:

Metallic inks are a great way to add some sparkle to your package, while not as shiny as the foil stamping. The Pantone library has a number of metallic inks, with a great range of color. Metallic inks are setup as Spot Colors in Illustrator or InDesign, and as a channel in Photoshop.

Here are some examples of flood silver metallic ink, often described as Apple like packaging:

Examples of gold and copper metallic inks:

Minimal use of metallic ink can serve to highlight certain features or words on a package, like these titles:

Here are some neat side by side comparisons of silver metallic ink printed on fiberboard, and hot foil stamped silver on fiberboard:



Silver metallic is flat, matte. Foil is very shiny.

Clients who use metallic ink on the printed paper packaging often ask about using a metallic ink on the disc surface. Keep in mind that metallic inks are matte - they are not shiny as many people thing. However, the disc material itself is quite shiny. So consider using combinations and knockouts to the substrate like these titles:


We did a test disc comparison for this title with a white flood coat, and without. Both versions are neat!


Of course metallic isn't limited to silver ink. Here's an example of gold metallic on the disc to match the printed packaging:


An alternative to metallic inks or substrate knockouts, is to use disc varnish. Here's a gorgeous example:


See also special tips & tricks for disc printing

Embossing is raised up from the packaging, while Debossing is impressed into the packaging. Both are great ways to give your package a tactile contrast. Embossing and Debossing are setup as Spot Colors in Illustrator or InDesign, and as a Channel in Photoshop.

Reverse Inside Printing (RIP) or Printed Inside Pockets and Spines (PIPS) are terms that are used fairly interchangeably. They are both the same thing—used to insure that continuous images that cross the spines remain continuous, or so that the inside spines are not white.

Our packages are two-ply thick at the panels, but are only one-ply thick at the spines. This allows the spines to move (and so that the front cover of the package won’t always be open when set flat on a table). RIP or PIPS will print on the reverse side of the stock at the spine or inside the pockets, so when constructed the spines will be beautiful! Say goodbye to white inside spines! RIP or PIPS will be setup by your graphics specialist if it is included in your project specification.

Custom diecuts are a great way to add a special flare to your project. Whether it’s a window in a slipcase for something to show through on the packaging inside, or a special diecut for the thumbhole—custom diecuts are awesome! Special diecuts are included in the initial template that is sent out by our Graphics Department and is something that should be discussed with your Project Coordinator.