Matte / satin AQ vs UV high gloss
Updated 2026-05-31 · 4 min read
Matte aqueous coat and UV high gloss are the two finishes most postcard orders land between. They look identical on screen and different the moment they're in light. Matte AQ reads as paper; UV reads as plastic. Neither is wrong — they're tuned to different jobs.
Spec by spec
| Spec | Matte / satin AQ | UV high gloss |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | Subtle paper sheen | Mirror gloss |
| Colour saturation | True-to-screen | Boosted ~10–15% |
| Glare under overhead lighting | Minimal | Visible — can fight design |
| Fingerprint resistance | Good | Poor — shows clearly |
| Pen / marker writable | Yes with practice | No — pen slides off |
| Best for | Editorial design, save-the-dates, B2B leave-behinds | Photo-led promos, real-estate hero cards, beauty/hospitality |
| Cost vs baseline | Baseline | Slight upcharge |
Verdict
Pick matte AQ when the design is type-driven, the recipient might keep the card, or it'll live somewhere with overhead lighting (offices, retail, kitchens). Reads editorial, doesn't glare.
Pick UV high gloss when the design is photo-led and the card is seen briefly — real-estate hero shots, restaurant promos, beauty and hospitality. The gloss bumps perceived colour saturation about 10–15%.