Silver, Gold, or Full Color: Choosing Your Scratch Off Reveal
Compare Classic silver and gold scratch off reveals against full-color reveal printing: cost difference, when each wins, custom ink colors, and print specs.
What is a Classic silver or gold reveal?
A metallic scratch layer applied over your printed card, the format everyone recognizes on sight. It is the default for a reason: instant comprehension, high contrast against almost any brand palette, and the lowest cost per card, which matters when you are printing thousands. Technical detail sits on the classic silver latex ink page, and the product line is classic scratch off cards.
What is a full-color reveal?
A printed graphic under the scratch layer, so what appears is a photograph, a monogram, a logo lockup, a gender reveal, a product shot. The card stops being a coupon and becomes a moment. See full-color reveal printing for the process and full-color reveal cards for the line.
Which one should you choose?
| If your goal is | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Volume handouts and mailers | Classic silver or gold | Lowest cost per card, instantly readable |
| A discount, code, or prize tier | Classic silver or gold | Text under the panel is all you need |
| A photo, monogram, or announcement | Full color | The payoff is the image |
| A keepsake people photograph | Full color | Looks designed, not transactional |
| Brand-matched scratch layer | Custom scratch ink | See below |
How much more does full color cost?
Plan on 20% to 30% over the equivalent Classic card. As a concrete example, the 2.75" x 4" trim starts at $425 for 250 cards in small classic and $540 for 250 in small full color, about $1.70 versus $2.16 each. Across the whole catalog, per-card pricing runs from $0.08 on high-volume mini runs to $2.89 on low-quantity large full-color jobs. Current tiers are on the pricing page.
Can the scratch layer itself be a brand color?
Yes. Custom color scratch ink lets the scratch layer print in a brand color rather than silver or gold, which is how a card can look like part of a campaign rather than a lottery ticket. Details and limitations are on the custom color scratch ink page. Custom colors are worth discussing at quote time because coverage and opacity vary by pigment.
Does the reveal choice change the stock you need?
Sometimes. Both reveal styles print on our standard 12pt C2S. Two situations push you heavier or more opaque:
- The card is a keepsake and should feel substantial: 14pt or 16pt.
- The reveal must not be readable by holding the card to a light: 280gsm blue-core security stock.
Everything is compared on the cardstock weights page.
Does either option change turnaround?
No. Both Classic and full-color reveals run on standard production of 7 to 10 business days after proof approval, with 3 to 5 day rush available when the press schedule allows. Free digital proofs typically come back the same day, and quotes return within one business day through the quote tool.
What about foil, die cuts, and other finishing?
Finishing is independent of the reveal choice. Foil and metallic accents work with either family, and die cutting and perforations let a card become a shape, a tear-away stub, or a two-part piece. Custom dies carry a one-time die charge; standard rectangular trims do not.
Are there rules about what can go under the reveal?
Practical ones and legal ones. Practically, keep the hidden content short and high-contrast so it reads immediately after scratching. Legally, every card is a giveaway: nobody may buy a scratch off card or pay for a chance at a prize, since that would make it a lottery. Charitable programs use the scratch and donate model on the nonprofits and fundraisers page. You supply the prize legend and disclaimer language, and we print what you approve.
How do I see the difference before committing?
Ask at quote time. Because we print both families in-house in Orlando, our team can tell you exactly how a specific design will read under silver versus a printed reveal, and free digital proofs let you see the layout before anything goes on press. If you are still weighing formats entirely, our comparison library puts scratch off cards next to punch cards, QR mailers, digital spin-to-win, and more.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Classic reveal and a full-color reveal?
A Classic reveal is a silver or gold scratch layer over printed text or simple graphics. A full-color reveal prints full artwork under the scratch layer so the payoff is an image.
How much more does a full-color reveal cost?
Roughly 20% to 30% more than the same size in Classic silver or gold.
Can the scratch layer print in my brand color?
Yes, through custom color scratch ink. Coverage and opacity vary by pigment, so confirm the color at quote time.
Does full color take longer to produce?
No. Both run standard production of 7 to 10 business days after proof approval.
Which reveal is better for direct mail?
Classic silver or gold in most cases, because it reads instantly and keeps per-piece cost low at mailing volumes.
Related guides
Share your artwork or use our Design-It-Yourself tools. We proof every job before printing. Orders ship in 7-10 business days.