Print Process intermediate crafteddesignedexpensive

Die Cut and Spot UV

Shape cut through the sheet and gloss varnish on selected areas of a matte ground.

What it does

Both are finishing passes with their own tooling. A die cut removes material, so the layer beneath shows through and the object gains a physical edge; the cut must avoid weakening the sheet at the fold. Spot UV applies gloss varnish only where specified, which on a matte laminate is invisible until light rakes across it. Neither carries colour, so both work by contrast of surface rather than of hue.

The prompt

[Subject] as a die-cut card with spot UV. A clean shaped die cut through the top sheet revealing a contrasting colour beneath, with a visible crisp cut edge. High-gloss spot varnish applied to selected shapes over a soft-touch matte laminate, invisible except where raking light catches it. Restrained, one ink plus the two finishing passes. Photographed at a raking angle.

Replace [Subject] with what you are shooting. Everything else is deliberate: the gear, stock and lighting are what push a generator towards this look.

Works well in

Midjourney, FLUX

Pairs with

Foil Stamp and Deboss Factory Records Minimalism

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