Finishes and Materials

Card finishes, casing and what each one does

Four finishes, two casing options and a set of extras. This page describes how each one behaves so you can pick on merit rather than on the name. Where a specification has not been confirmed with our supplier, it is marked as provisional and you should read it that way.

The four finishes

Standard Gloss, included

A clear gloss coating over the printed surface. Colours stay close to what you see in the preview, blacks stay dark and skin tones stay natural. There is no pattern in the coating, so nothing competes with the photo.

Choose it when the photograph is the point. Detailed images, group shots, pet portraits with fine fur, and any photo with a lot going on all read better without a reflective layer over the top. It is also the safest choice if you are buying as a gift and do not know the recipient’s taste.

Cracked Ice Holographic, plus $10

A shattered, angular pattern under the print that catches light in fragments as the card tilts. The effect is sharp and busy rather than smooth.

It works best over simple, high-contrast photos with clear space around the subject. Sky, plain walls, open grass and studio-style backgrounds all give the pattern somewhere to show. Over a cluttered background it adds noise, and fine detail in the photo can get lost in the glitter.

Rainbow Prism Holographic, plus $10

A smoother, sweeping spectrum shift. Instead of fragments it moves in bands across the card as the angle changes. Softer than Cracked Ice and easier to live with over a wider range of photos.

Good for celebration cards, pet cards and anything where you want shine without the aggressive texture. It does lift the overall brightness slightly, so very pale photos can look washed out. A photo with strong colour or a dark background holds up better.

Liquid Metal Foil, plus $14

The heaviest treatment. Metallic foil is applied to selected areas of the design, typically the name plate, the border elements and the accent lines, giving a reflective surface with real depth against the matte print around it.

It is the most expensive finish because it is the most involved to apply. It suits a formal subject, a milestone, or a card that is meant to sit in a case on a shelf. Because the foil sits on the design rather than the photograph, it works with almost any image, including busy ones.

Comparing the finishes

Signature Holographic at $59 is a design in its own right rather than a finish, and it is built around the reflective treatment from the start. Premium Encased at $42 arrives already sealed. Youth Athlete, Pet Legend and Family MVP are $42, and Celebration Edition is $46. Any of them can take any of the four finishes.

Stock and construction

All specifications below are provisional, pending supplier confirmation. We publish them so you know what we are aiming for, not as a guarantee of the finished item.

• Card stock in the region of 350gsm, layered rather than single ply (provisional, pending supplier confirmation).
• Standard trading card format, approximately 2.5 by 3.5 inches (provisional, pending supplier confirmation).
• Full colour print on both faces, with a protective surface coating over the printed area (provisional, pending supplier confirmation).
• Holographic finishes applied as a layer beneath the print; foil applied to selected design areas (provisional, pending supplier confirmation).

Foilcrest does not claim the cards are made in any particular country. If a confirmed specification matters for your order, email support@foilcrest.com before you buy and we will tell you what we can confirm at that point.

Casing and extras

Sealed hard display case, plus $8

A rigid two-part case that closes around the card and is sealed shut. It protects the surface from handling, dust and moisture. It lies flat in a drawer or stacks with others. It does not stand up on its own.

Sealed case with display stand, plus $14

The same sealed case with a stand, so the card can sit upright on a shelf, a desk or a mantelpiece. This is the option most people want for a gift, because the card gets looked at rather than put away.

Matched printed topper, plus $6

A printed topper that matches the card design and sits above it in the case. It carries the name and accent colour, which makes a single card look like part of a considered set. Useful when a card is displayed on its own.

Rigid gift box and message card, plus $9

A structured box with a message card you write at checkout. Choose this when the card is being handed over rather than posted to yourself. It also protects the case in transit.

Casing dimensions, thickness and material are provisional, pending supplier confirmation.

Choosing honestly

A holographic finish will not rescue a weak photograph. If the source image is soft or badly lit, gloss is the kinder choice, because a reflective layer draws attention to the print surface and away from the subject. Spend the effort on the photo first. The Photo Guide covers what makes a difference.

If the card is going to be handled by a child, the sealed case is worth the $8 on its own. If it is going on a shelf, take the stand. If you are buying several for a team or a family, keeping the finish consistent across the set matters more than which finish you pick.

Care and durability

Keep cards out of direct sunlight and away from radiators. Sustained UV fades print over time, whatever the finish. Handle uncased cards by the edges, since fingerprints show more on gloss and holographic surfaces than on matte. Sealed cases can be wiped with a dry cloth. Do not use solvents or household cleaners on the case or the card.

If something is wrong with your card

Manufacturing defects and print errors are remade or refunded within 30 days of delivery. Personalised goods cannot be cancelled once production starts, and buyer’s-remorse returns are not accepted on personalised items. Email support@foilcrest.com with your order number and a photograph of the issue.

Questions about finishes and materials

Choose your finish Ask about specifications