Although most professional-level graphics programs allow the use of spot colors, we find that the easier way to create spot effects is to create a new layer (or layers) in the program, then create art in one of the standard process colors. This allows you to work with your CMYK or RGB art without the limitations created with multi-channel files.

When we get your artwork, we will place the file on as many pages as there are effects layers, then override the layer visibility for the file on each page to show just what we want to show. Call or e-mail to be walked through the process depending on your program of choice, or have your graphics specialist setup the special effects for you (may incur additional cost, depending on other complexity).

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 and 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 gloss is not hard to set up for most projects. You simply tell us that you need it and usually we can set it up using your main art. If you need something unique for the reverse print, send it or tell us the color if it's just a flood you're adding.

Leo needed many elements to have the spot gloss effect, with art coming from a mix of raster and vector art sources. We chose to use 100% cyan to represent the gloss, since that color was easily seen when viewed together, and it didn't require the use of any multichannel Photoshop files (which aren't hard to set up, but aren't as flexible to use downstream). All the art files that were placed in this layout and which needed the spot gloss effect had one or more "gloss xxx" layers, in which were placed copies of the elements needing the gloss. (You'd manually

Note how on the PIPS art, below, there's only ink between the spines and around the outer edge. We do that edge printing with PIPS so that the inner panels (which are usually cut slightly smaller than the outer panel) are surrounded with a thin slice of matching art, rather then plain white.

The result is complete coverage, and a very high-end look.

We have a lot of great foil colors we can offer. This is our swatch from our foil manufacturer, check it out!

We do offer a good number of paper alternatives such as fabric or vinyl type material. For these types of material, 4C printing usually not possible. Foiling is almost ways a good choice for them, though debossing on vinyl leatherette is really striking! Check these out: