Nadia Petrov, 4OVER4 customer education voice (illustration)
Nadia Petrov Customer Education Lead at 4OVER4.COM

Nadia is our customer education voice, built from the knowledge of our production team, with over 20 years in printing.

Question

Does a glossy finish cause problems with USPS mail processing?

Answer

A heavy gloss coating on the address side can interfere with the barcode and address scanning that USPS automated sorting equipment relies on. The fix is simple: keep the mailing side readable and save the shine for the design side.

  • Address side: use a matte or uncoated finish so scanners and inkjet address printing read cleanly.
  • Design side: gloss, UV, or any high-shine finish is fine here and helps the piece stand out.
  • Why it matters: a piece that fails automated sorting can be kicked to manual handling, which risks delays.

If you want gloss on both sides, ask about an uncoated address block or a mail-safe coating before committing the run.

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