Metalized UV Gel stickers

Technical Specification – Metallized Labels 

Material

Metallized self-adhesive foil

Available Types of Foil

Silver mirror foil  - Oracal 352 – 23 µm (dedicated for smaller applications; due to the very low thickness of the material, its use on larger surfaces may be difficult and requires increased precision during application).

Silver gloss foil - Oracal 641 – 090G Silver Grey (gloss), 80 µm

Note: Gold Foil

The gold foil effect can be achieved by CMYK printing on silver foil – this is the most commonly chosen and most popular solution in projects using metallized substrates; most often, a shade based on Y 100% with an addition of M approx. 20–40% (C 0 / K 0) is used for this purpose, while the final effect depends on the design, color profile, and type of foil.

UV Gel Printing 

CMYK
CMYK + white
White Only

Black Only

Finishing

No finishing
Gloss lamination
Matte lamination

Shape and Cutting

Labels are produced in any shapes, plotter-cut according to an individual cutting grid design.

Additional Options

Personalization (e.g. variable data)
Mounting on magnetic backing

Delivery Method

Stickers are delivered in sheets rolled up, with dimensions optimized for the production process,
not exceeding 800 × 1100 mm.

Note

Metallized substrates affect the color perception in CMYK printing. CMYK printing without a white underprint gives the colors a metallic character and may alter their appearance. The use of white – either alone or as an underprint beneath CMYK – provides full coverage, high legibility, and allows for stronger contrast and more stable colors. This is not a product defect, but a natural feature of printing on metallized materials.

Delivery 

Labels are delivered on sheets with a width of 800mm and a length resulting from the label imposition (not longer than 1100mm). They are not suitable for automatic/semi-automatic application.

How to prepare files for UV GEL printing of metallized, transparent, and mass-colored film labels

Project sizes

Prepare your design in the ordered format plus 2 mm bleed on each side, as well as a separately prepared cutting line. 

Font size

The recommended minimum font size is 6pt. If you need to use smaller fonts, use the calculator Folie druk UV

CMYK printing (UV GEL)

In UV GEL printing, CMYK colors are cured with UV light, which provides very high sharpness and saturation. However, you should take into account the influence of the substrate on color perception:

• Transparent film: CMYK printing without white underprint will be partially transparent – colors "pass through" the background and take on the color of the surface to which the label is applied. 
• Silver metallized film: the substrate affects the final appearance of the colors – the metallic base can give a "gloss" effect, shade changes, and metallic enhancement. 
• For mass-colored films, we do not recommend using only CMYK printing. CMYK colors lose saturation and contrast, and the final effect is strongly dependent on the color of the film. The best results are achieved by using Only white or Only black printing, as well as White + CMYK, which ensures proper coverage, legibility, and control over the final visual effect. This solution allows you to fully utilize the color of the substrate as a design element while maintaining high contrast and print aesthetics.

To achieve better coverage and saturated colors, it is recommended to use a white underprint under selected graphic elements.

Black solid

The best black effect is achieved by using 100% K

UV GEL printing: white underprint (White) 

UV GEL printing in white or white + CMYK requires detailed file preparation according to the guidelines. Dodatkowy kolor Biały w druku UV Gel

Special notes for white underprint

Small elements and fonts: with small fonts or details, visible misregistration may occur.
Misregistration: take special care with designs requiring precise alignment of the white and CMYK layers.
Design recommendation:  for thin outlines and fine details, avoid situations where the white underprint perfectly "reaches" the edge of the CMYK element (risk of visible misregistration). It is better to use a safe margin / intentional simplifications.

Designing the cutting / die-cutting line

The cutting line should meet the following requirements:

• be a closed curve in 100% K (black),
• where possible, use straight lines instead of curves – this will shorten the plotter's working time,
• avoid unnecessary anchor points – too many control points can slow down the cutting process,
• die-cutting lines should be saved in a separate file or on a separate page,
• the start and end of the cut should be on a straight line, not on a curve – this improves cutting precision.

Note

If the label shape is too complex, the final product may differ slightly from the design (slight rounding).

Job preparation

You can find the remaining rules for proper file preparation in the Help section.

Useful links

Dodatkowy Kolor Biały  w druku UV Gel

Films for UV Gel printing 

Silver mirror - Oracal 352 – silver mirror, 23 µm (smaller formats)

Silver gloss - Oracal 641 – 090G Silver Grey (gloss), 80 µm

Blue matte film - mass-dyed, Oracal 641 – 052M Azure Blue, 80 µm

Red matte film - mass-dyed - Oracal 641 – 031M Red, 80 µm

Black matte film - mass-dyed, Oracal 641 – 070M Black (matte), 80 µm

Black gloss film - mass-dyed, Oracal 641 – 070G Black (gloss), 80 µm

Grey matte film - Oracal 641 – 073M Dark Grey, 80 µm