Card Finishes
The finish on your card can determine the overall look and feel of the final product. Our most popular finishes are overlay and frosted plastic cards, but we have many other options to choose from. Something to keep in mind is that some printing options only work with certain finishes. If you’re not sure which finish is right for your project, contact one of our plastic card printing experts to discuss your options. The finishes listed below can be applied to gift cards, business cards, membership cards, loyalty cards and more. Order plastic cards.
Canvas Finish*
This is a silkscreen process which can be applied as an overall finish to a card or integrated into the design, and gives the feel of canvas to the area where the silkscreen process was applied.
Frosted Finish
For a more refined look, consider frosted plastic cards, such as frosted business cards. Frosted cards do not have the sheen of a gloss finish, and offer a smooth and professional appearance that is translucent on clear cards. Available on both clear and solid card stock, frosted finishes have the look and feel of a smooth matte texture.
Laced Finish
This finish provides a brushed metal appearance to cards. Not available for clear cards.
Matte Finish
For durability and texture, a matte finish is tough to beat. The granular feel of a matte finish makes scratches less noticeable, and can add to the overall warmth and strength of your design.
Overlay Finish
With a gloss finish, overlays allow for post-production printing on cards, which is perfect for adding member information or other information at a later date.
UV Finish
Also providing a gloss appearance, UV finishes can be more cost-effective than an overlay finish, but cannot be printed on by the end user with a thermal desktop printer. Also, the card surface of a UV finished card is not protected by clear overlay film. This makes UV finishes more appropriate for cards that will be used short-term or cards that are not intended to be kept by the cardholder, such as promotional cards used in direct-mail marketing.
Paper Coated*
If you like the look of paper but the durability of plastic, paper coated cards are the right choice. By applying a layer of paper over the top of the card, we are able to produce a long-lasting card with a paper texture.
Soft Touch
Available on both cards and sleeves, a soft touch finish adds a velvety smooth feel without the reflective qualities of a gloss finish or the courser texture of a matte or frosted finish (shown here on a paper card).
Scented Matte Finish
Scented matte finishes have a similar finish and feel as matte, but with the option of having a scent applied. Scents can be applied to the entire card or to specific areas of the artwork.
Scents available:
Green Tea, Apple, Rose, Lavender, Jasmine, Lilac, Lily, Chamomile, Strawberry, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Peach, Watermelon, Grape, Banana, Cherry, Pineapple, Mango, Coconut, Kiwi, Raspberry, Sandalwood, Mint, Pine, Honey, Chocolate, Vanilla, Coke, Cinnamon, Cocoa, Coffee, Popcorn, Pizza, Basil, Rosemary, Bacon, Leather, Talcum Powder, Musk, Licorice, Curry, French Fries, Clove, Bubble Gum, Maple, Hazelnut, Ginger, Saffron, Caramel, Passion Fruit, Eucalyptus, Cucumber, Red Wine