Special Finishes: How We Add Extra Impact to Your Print

At Impact, we’ve been in print for over 50 years, and if there’s one thing we know well, it’s how the finishing makes all the difference. We’ve helped clients add shine, texture, and tactility to everything from business cards to bespoke packaging, and we love helping them choose the right effect for their projects.

If you're looking to add elegance or edge, special finishes are a brilliant way to elevate your print.

Here’s a breakdown of what we offer and when to use them:

Thermography

Raised, glossy, and eye-catching: thermography uses heat to fuse powdered resin with ink, creating a tactile finish that’s more cost-effective than embossing but just as striking.

Best for: Business cards, letterheads, event invites, really anywhere you want to add subtle lift and shine.

Foiling

Foiling adds a layer of metallic shine to specific parts of your design — gold, silver, copper, holographic and more. Applied with heat and pressure, foil catches the light and adds instant luxury to your print.

Best for: Business cards, invitations, certificates, packaging — anywhere you want to add shine and stand-out detail.

Embossing

This technique presses a design up from underneath the paper to create a raised impression you can both see and feel. It’s a go-to for adding sophistication and tactile impact.

Best for: Logos, monograms and premium packaging.

Debossing

The opposite of embossing. "Debossing" the design is pressed into the stock, leaving an elegant, indented finish. Often used without ink (a blind deboss) for a clean, minimal feel.

Best for: Paired-back branding, luxury tags, gift vouchers and invitations.

Spot UV Varnish

This clear, high-gloss coating is applied only to chosen areas of your design. It catches the light beautifully, especially when layered over a matt surface, and helps key elements stand out.

Best for: Highlighting logos, titles, or photography on brochures, folders or cards.

Cut to Shape

Custom shapes give your print personality. It can be rounded corners, cut-outs or completely bespoke outlines. Whatever the shape or effect, we can make it happen.

Best for: Tags, packaging, invites, gift vouchers, and anything that needs to break the mould.

Need advice or want to see samples?

We’re happy to show you examples in the studio or talk through what’ll work best for your project, timeline and budget. Get in touch — we’ll help you finish strong.