Raised Printing | Carbon8 Unique Printing Techniques

Raised printing builds layers of UV-cured ink or varnish to create a textured, three-dimensional surface directly from a digital file. No die or screen is required. We produce raised printing on our SwissQprint LED UV flatbed at our Marrickville production facility.

3D layered map display of Parramatta River and Wentworth Point with raised land sections and route markers
Multiple MESA property brochures fanned across a surface, featuring textured covers, foil branding, and vibrant full-bleed ph
Fairway property signage printed on white stock with mirror silver foil lettering, angled shot showing address detail.
Reya Cremorne finishes board laid flat, showing printed white cover with inline logo alongside carpet and timber material swa
Two framed finishes boards for Bila property development, showing 'Warm Sunny Days' and 'Cool Ocean Breeze' material palettes
Two framed Bila finishes boards side by side showing warm and cool colour palette samples on white boards with labels.
Azure finishes board close-up showing a timber veneer sample and a stone-look porcelain tile swatch on a white printed board.
Close-up of a white printed panel with navy blue text reading 'COASTAL – Home is where the ocean is,' resting on a timber edg
Close-up of a Christmas greeting card printed in red and black, reading 'Dearest Ashton, Our Warmest Greetings' with illustra
Close-up of black apparel with bold white screen-printed typography reading 'It Ain't Real, It Ain't Jack'
Meriton branded teal presentation folder with silver embossed logo and raised lettering on orange background
Round red Carbon8 beer tap stickers with white text and QR codes, shown in multiples on a white surface.
Carbon8 Star Wars 'May the Fourth Be With You' large-format dark sign with bold yellow outlined dimensional lettering
Carbon8 Chinese New Year 2018 gift box lid in deep red with gold foiling and white ink logo on textured surface.
Four uncut sheets of Ray's Flamin' Hot Sauce bottle labels printed on kraft-look stock, fanned out on a red surface.
Flamin' Hot Sauce label on kraft-stock printed piece featuring an embossed circular logo with a portrait illustration and red
Ray's Flamin' Hot Sauce wrap-around product labels displayed on clear stands against a red background, printed on kraft-style
Close-up of a dark charcoal wedding invitation showing raised white type reading '& Jason', with visible tactile lift on the
Black acrylic place card printed with 'Hannah & Jason' in white, displayed on a clear acrylic easel stand.
Black landscape card printed with white text reading 'Hannah & Jason', displayed upright on a clear acrylic stand.
Close-up of a white acrylic panel with raised brushed gold lettering reading 'Our Vision – Constructing for the future', moun
The Pearly Luxe Collection finishes board with gold foil text, die-cut apertures holding material swatches on white board.
Close-up of a white printed card for Kailani Batemans Bay with a gold script logo and smaller gold type.
Close-up of a hot-pink acrylic panel from the Deer Christmas project, showing raised white and gold decorative lettering.
Stack of die-cut Gage Roads Brew Co tap badge cards with rounded corners, printed in blue, orange and white, on a concrete su
Stack of Gage Roads Rock Dance IPA beer tap cards with rounded corners and full-colour illustrated print.
Four Gage Roads Brew Co tap badges — Little Dove, Side Track, Rock Dance and Single Fin — propped on a concrete ledge.
Audi Women of Style event invitation on pearl stock with blind embossing, red foiling on hashtag, and embossed Audi logo.
InStyle magazine event invitation on silver stock with blind embossing and copper foiling, photographed at an angle.
Audi Women of Style 2018 card printed on pale blue stock with large coral typography and Audi rings logo, showing raised prin
Close-up of a deep blue textured cover printed with the Victoria Cross Tower logo and wordmark in white raised print.
Close-up of the Mark Gowing Inside The Oblong Book cover showing blue geometric triangle pattern and bold dark typography on
Collection of die-cut printed beer coasters for various craft breweries spread on a grey surface, showing shaped and square f
Stack of custom-shaped printed drink coasters in various sizes and designs, including Matso's Ginger Beer, with die-cut edges
Carbon8 Star Wars-themed wide format sign with bold yellow outlined lettering reading 'May The Fourth Be With You'
Framed wide-format print featuring bold red script typography and comic-style cloud illustration on a halftone grey backgroun

What is raised printing

Raised printing lays down multiple passes of UV-cured clear or coloured ink to build height on the printed surface. Each pass adds approximately 0.1mm to 0.2mm of thickness. The result is a tactile, dimensional finish that can be felt with a fingertip.

The effect is similar to spot UV but with significantly more height. Where spot UV creates a thin gloss layer, raised printing builds a pronounced texture that is visible in profile.

When to use raised printing

Raised printing suits any application where tactile texture adds value. Common uses include business cards with raised logos, packaging with textured surfaces, book covers with dimensional titles, signage with raised lettering and accessibility applications such as Braille.

Because the process is digital, there is no die or screen cost. Every sheet can be different. This makes raised printing viable for short runs, personalised items and prototyping where traditional embossing would require tooling.

Raised printing versus embossing

Embossing presses the paper into shape from behind. Raised printing adds material on top. Embossing deforms the substrate; raised printing builds onto it. Both create dimensional effects, but the methods, costs and visual results differ.

Embossing requires a custom die and suits medium to long runs. Raised printing requires no tooling and is cost-effective from a single unit. For high-volume production, embossing is faster per unit.

Design considerations

Raised artwork is supplied as a separate layer, similar to spot UV artwork. The height, texture and pattern of the raised effect can be controlled in the file. Options include smooth gloss, rough texture, and structured patterns like linen or leather grain.

The raised layer can be clear (over a printed image) or opaque white (on dark substrates). Maximum build height is approximately 1mm in multiple passes.

How we produce raised printing

The sheet is positioned on our SwissQprint LED UV flatbed. The print head lays down the base image in CMYK, then applies multiple passes of clear or white UV ink to build the raised areas. Each layer is cured instantly by the UV lamp.

The process runs directly from the digital file. Changeovers between designs are immediate, with no tooling or setup delays.

Need a tactile, textured finish without tooling costs? Get in touch to discuss raised printing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How high can the raised effect be?

Approximately 1mm maximum in multiple passes. Most applications use 0.3mm to 0.5mm of build height, which is clearly tactile.

Can raised printing replicate Braille?

Yes. The UV flatbed can produce compliant Braille dots at the correct height and spacing. This is used on packaging, signage and public-facing materials.

Is there a minimum order quantity?

No. Single sheets are commercially viable because there is no tooling. Prototypes and short runs are straightforward.

Can I combine raised printing with foiling?

Raised printing is applied on the UV flatbed. Foiling is applied on a separate press. The two processes can be combined on the same sheet with careful production sequencing.

What substrates work with raised printing?

Paper, card, board, acrylic, wood, metal and synthetic substrates. The UV flatbed prints on rigid and semi-rigid materials up to approximately 50mm thick.

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