Laminations are not often covered in great detail. This can occasionally lead to risky decisions that are not always best for your packaging and products.
Lamination essentially makes the product "ready" for customer service. The laminate must combine with the artwork and colors for the desired packaging design.
Lamination always draws attention to the visual appeal and physical quality of the product, whether it is used on the surface of a paper bag, book cover, label, or product packaging. Even better, it is a shield against unexpected dents and scratches to your design.
The packaging industry has seen a lot of changes over the years. Many different types of laminations are available, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The types of packaging that have become very popular in recent years are matte and gloss lamination.
Let's see which one is better for you:
What is Matte Lamination?
Light bouncing off a surface is the simplest approach to identifying matte lamination. Matte lamination has a flat and burred appearance since it reflects little to nearly no light.
Matte lamination is a great choice for packaging that aims to be more interactive because it feels very soft to the touch.
For instance, it's crucial to pay attention to how the colors look when inspecting matte lamination on a sample or prototype. Colors may appear a little more faded and with a shallower depth when matte laminated. It frequently appears on luxury packaging to convey a trendy and sophisticated appearance.
Matte lamination is a type of lamination that gives a matte finish to the printed material. These laminations are commonly used in graphic arts, packaging, and other specialty applications where there is a need for an uneven surface. The matte finish provides better protection against wear and tear than gloss or semi-gloss finishes because it allows light to pass through it more easily than glossy film does.
Read More: Embossing Vs Debossing In Packaging Which One Is A Better Option
What is Gloss Lamination?
Gloss laminate film is the most common type of lamination. It's a thin film coated with a resin layer and then exposed to heat so it can be applied to your packaging. A gloss finish gives your package an eye-catching appearance but adds an extra layer of protection against damage from humidity or chemicals.
The gloss lamination offers a shiny appearance as light reflects off the surface, unlike matte lamination. The result is a more vibrant depth of color, improved visual contrast, and brightness.
Compared to their subdued matte counterparts, glossy laminated bags and magazines might appear shiny since they call attention to themselves.
Because of this, they might make good choices for brochures, book covers, perfume bottles, and bookshelves. When compared to matte lamination, gloss lamination can improve a product differently. Gloss lamination is best if your brand wants to convey a warmer and youthful vibe.
Your colors will appear more distinct and detailed after gloss lamination since it intensifies and brightens them.
What Are the Best Times to Use Matte and Gloss Lamination?
Matte lamination is best used when:
1. Your item will be exposed to direct light. This makes the box easier to see from a distance while preventing harsh glare.
2. There will be less handling of the retail packaging. Despite being able to resist some handling, matte laminate, in particular, is vulnerable to scuffs or scratches from moving about.
3. You want your product to have a polished, sophisticated appearance.
4. You're employing colors that are soft or muted.
Use gloss lamination in the following situations:
1. The packaging is handled carefully. Gloss laminated packaging is easy to clean and offers an extra layer of defense against smudges and scuffs. If preventing fingerprints is a top priority, you should consider your varnish alternatives during packaging. Different forms of aqueous coating are utilized for this purpose.
2. Glare is acceptable since you want the colors to make an impression on the customers.
3. You desire financial savings. Typically, gloss is less expensive than matte.
Matte VS Gloss: Benefits and Drawbacks
Matte Lamination:
Protection: Scuffs and scratches on the film lamination are less noticeable.
Appearance: Rich, gentle, discreet, higher perceived quality
Receptive to Ink: Matte laminated labels and menu cards allow for erasable writing.
Glare: The matte lamination prevents glare.
Gloss Lamination:
Protection: resists dirt, dust, and fingerprints
Appearance: Shiny, lively, high-impact, and believed to be of greater quality. A gloss laminate surface may be easily cleaned of dirt and smudges. Glossy surfaces make imperfections, indentations, and defects more obvious.
Receptive to Ink: A glossy surface is challenging to write over.
Glare: In research posters, the lamination's glare can be problematic. In contrast, glare is aimed toward the floor and doesn't interfere with readability if poster sessions are lighted by lights mounted well above the posters.
Which One is the Right Choice for Your Packaging?
Before choosing the right lamination, you must consider the question, "what will the lamination be used for?"
Each has advantages and disadvantages, as was already said, but depending on how you plan to use it, some advantages may be minimal or of no consequence.
In fact, you might want to think about the "best of both worlds" scenario.
For example, adding a matte laminate over a glossy label might facilitate barcode scanning and enable users to manually write over it if necessary.
Matte lamination could seem boring to some people. However, your container can have a rich finish and a more detailed appearance by placing gloss lamination over a matte label.
You'll need to make many crucial choices during the custom packaging process; it's far more than just "printing a package." But that doesn't mean you have done it alone. Regarding packaging types, goods, print requirements, and more, Half Price Packaging has years of experience dealing with matte and gloss lamination.
We'll assist you in finding the sweet spot between impressing your clients and grabbing users' attention, interest, and participation. While also offering a fantastic unboxing experience. Contact us now and grab high-quality packaging at wholesale prices!
