Printing Terminology: Flood Coat

Surface of a coated printed piece with water droplets on it showing how the piece is protected from getting wet by the flood coat.

In a previous post, we discussed the process of encasing a printed piece in thin layers of plastic film otherwise known as lamination. Today, we’ll talk briefly about a somewhat related printing term: flood coat.

What is a Flood Coat?

A flood coat is a liquid coating applied to the entire surface of a printed piece. Varnishes, UV coatings, and aqueous coatings are examples of flood coats used to add protection or decoration to a printed piece. The term flood-coating is also used to reference a single color of ink applied to the entire surface of a printed piece; solid ink coverage is known as flood ink coverage.

Flood coats can be applied while the piece is still on the press (inline) or post-press (offline).

If you have any questions about flood coat, give us a call (330-597-8560). We’re happy to help you get the most out of your printing project.