Gloss vs. Matte: Which Finish is Best for Custom Printed Boxes?

Exquisite finishes are best to enhance the overall look and feel of custom printed boxes. Get your boxes coated with beautiful finishes that improve your customer's tactile experience while protecting the packaging design.

There are two popular finishes: gloss and matte. If you want to give your packaging a subtle and velvety look, go for a matte finish. On the other hand, gloss finishes have a shiny effect and a silky smooth feel.

Let’s compare both in terms of process, texture, effect, pros and cons to choose the right finish for your product packaging. Keep reading!

Matte & Gloss Finishing Effect on Custom Printed Boxes

Before getting into details, you should understand that coating and lamination are two different things. Some people have miscommunication about these terms and they think both of these terms are the same but that’s not the case.

The main difference between lamination and coating is material and process. In lamination, a plastic film is used over the paper sheet and the coating. It involves the procedure of a liquid coat that is cured by UV and applied to the paper-based materials.

Now, let’s discuss the differences, pros and cons of both.

Difference Between Matte & Gloss Finishing 

The main difference between matte vs. gloss finishes is their appearance and feel to the touch. The Matte finish comes with a non-shiny and subtle texture. On the other hand, the gloss finish has a bright reflective, and shiny appearance or texture.

According to one report by Future Market Insights, sales of packaging laminates are estimated to reach US$9,694.9 million by 2034. So, it is essential to know the major differences between these.

Matte Lamination Advantages

1. Matte lamination is a durable procedure.
2. It comes with an aesthetically visually appealing feel.
3. Provides protection against scratches, abrasions, and tears.
4. Improves the overall tactile experience.
5. Overall enhanced readability because of non-reflective properties.

Matte Coating Advantages

1. Velvety touch.
2. Comes with a visually appealing touch.
3. Provide better colour stability.
4. Cost-effective packaging solution.
5. The application process is quite easy and simple.

Matte Lamination Disadvantages

1. Shows smudges and marks with time.
2. The application process is quite difficult or complicated.
3. Quite expensive than matte coating.
4. Comes with less colour stability.

Matte Coating Disadvantages

1. Less durable as compared to matte lamination.
2. Matte coating is more expensive than gloss coating.
3. As compared to matte lamination, its texture doesn’t offer a soft touch.
4. Less scratch-resistant.

Gloss Lamination Advantages

1. Due to the use of plastic film, it is water resistant.
2. Offers great protection to product packaging.
3. Due to the glossy effect, it enhances the overall appeal and effect.
4. The shiny texture enhances the printed packaging's beauty.

Gloss Coating Advantages

1. Gloss coating features a silky touch.
2. Adds beauty to custom-printed packaging.
3. Quick application procedure.
4. Cost-effective packaging solution.
5. Improves perceived value due to increased tactile experience.

Gloss Lamination Disadvantages

1. Has a higher cost as compared to gloss coating.
2. Due to reflective effect. It decreases the readability effect.
3. Gloss lamination glare makes it difficult for customers to view images and printed text.

Gloss Coating Disadvantages

1. Less durable as compared to gloss lamination.
2. Comes with less protection.
3. Reduce the fingerprints.

Final Thoughts!

The above blog post highlighted the pros and cons of matte coating, matte lamination, gloss coating, and gloss lamination for custom-printed boxes. While analysing matte vs, gloss finish, you should consider your business and product requirements.

Both have their pros and cons and based on the above-mentioned pros and cons, you can go for one that you best think matches your product packaging needs. For this, you just need to understand your brand personality and product needs to pick the one.