Akuafoil Business Cards · Example print
Akuafoil Business Cards
Create a multicolored metallic effect with Akuafoil Business Cards. A reflective base beneath the full-color print changes the appearance of selected design areas. Use a separate mask to identify those areas and consider how light and dark artwork colors will affect the finished result.
Our standard 2 × 3.5 inch rectangular cards use 16PT C2S stock with square corners. Choose Akuafoil on the front, back, or both sides, then select a compatible coating. Lighter colors let the metallic effect shine through more strongly; darker colors create a subtler result.
Artwork & approval
Supply CMYK artwork and a separate Akuafoil mask for each metallic side. Add separate Spot UV masks when that finish is selected. Use 100% K black in each mask for the areas receiving the finish, and white where it is not applied. KB Print Lab reviews your files before production.
Specifications
| Size | 2" × 3.5" (US Standard) |
|---|---|
| Shape & corners | Rectangle · Square Corners |
| Stock | 16PT C2S |
| Printed sides | 4/5 — full color both sides, Akuafoil on back 5/0 — full color and Akuafoil on front; no ink on back 5/5 — full color and Akuafoil on both sides 5/4 — full color both sides, Akuafoil on front 5/1 — full color and Akuafoil on front; black ink on back |
| Coatings | No Coating · Spot UV · UV on 4-color side · UV Coating Front Only |
| Spot UV sides | Spot UV Front · Spot UV Both Sides · Spot UV Back - Full UV on the Front, subject to the selected printed sides |
| Scoring | None · supplied flat |
| Runsize | 500 · 1,000 · 2,500 · 5,000 |
| Turnaround Time | 5 Business Days |
The configurator shows compatible combinations. A 5/0 job can include Spot UV on the unprinted back when the back Spot UV option is selected. Production begins after artwork approval; shipping time is additional.
Artwork templates
Open the template, then save the file to your device. Remove template guides from your print-ready artwork.
Use CMYK color at 300 dpi with 0.0625 inch of bleed on each edge. A horizontal file with bleed measures 3.625 × 2.125 inches; rotate those dimensions for a vertical design. Keep important details inside the safety guide. Match every mask to the same size and position as its printed artwork, then remove the template guides before export. PDF is recommended; JPG, EPS, and TIFF are also accepted for print-ready artwork. JPEG templates are available; PSD is not offered for this product.
FAQs
What is Akuafoil?
Akuafoil places a metallic base beneath CMYK printing to create multicolored reflective effects. Your printed colors determine the appearance of the metallic areas.
How do I prepare my Akuafoil artwork and mask?
Supply a CMYK print file plus a separate Akuafoil mask for each side receiving the metallic effect. Use solid 100% K black where Akuafoil should appear and white where it should not. Match the mask and artwork exactly in size and position. Vector artwork created in an application such as Illustrator or CorelDRAW is recommended for the mask.
Which colors work best with Akuafoil?
Lighter CMYK colors generally produce a more vibrant metallic effect. Darker colors reduce its visibility. Akuafoil beneath an unprinted white area has a plain silver appearance.
How do I get a high-quality plain silver effect?
For the best plain silver effect, include at least 15% K in the corresponding area of the CMYK artwork. Keep that area solid 100% K in the separate Akuafoil mask. The print file and mask serve different purposes.
Can I use small text or very thin artwork?
Avoid very fine details and small metallic text. Sans-serif fonts larger than 12 pt are recommended for the best results.
How can I reduce white halos around knockout areas?
A small white gap can appear where CMYK artwork meets an Akuafoil knockout. Expanding the Akuafoil mask area by 1 pt lets the metallic area extend slightly beneath the adjacent ink and can reduce the halo. Filling the knockout with a color can help further.
Do I need separate Spot UV files?
Yes. If you select Spot UV, provide a separate mask for each side receiving spot coating, in addition to the CMYK artwork and Akuafoil masks. Use solid 100% K black for the coated areas and white elsewhere, aligned to the artwork. The upload fields follow your selected finishes. A back Spot UV mask can be needed on a 5/0 job even though that back has no printed ink.
Which quantities and turnaround time are available?
Choose 500, 1,000, 2,500, or 5,000 cards. The minimum available run for these Akuafoil configurations is 500. KB Print Lab offers 5 Business Days after artwork approval; shipping transit time is additional.
Akuafoil Business Cards
Colorful metallic detail. A memorable first impression.