Matte vs Gloss Finishes: Choose the Right One for Packaging

investing in high-quality packaging to make a difference. The customization allows you to choose from materials, sizes, styles, and finishes. To enhance the beauty of printed packaging, you must choose a suitable finish for your product packaging. 

The two most popular finishes are matte and gloss. They are created using different methods such as coating and lamination. In this blog, we will discuss a comparison of matt vs gloss finishes in terms of processes, pros, and cons. Read more to analyze which finishes you should choose for your product packaging.

Understand the Concept of Lamination and Coating 

Before digging into details, you must understand that lamination and coating are two different things. Some people have misconceptions about matte vs gloss lamination and coating and they consider them the same. Their pros and cons are also different. 

The main difference between lamination and coating is the process and material. In the laminating process, a plastic film is used over the paper sheet. On the other hand, the coating process involves a liquid coat that is cured by ultraviolet light and applied to the paper-based materials.

As a result of both processes, matte and gloss effects are created. Now let’s discuss the differences in effects, pros, and cons of both processes respectively.

Difference Between Matte and Glossy Finishing Effect

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

Moreover, the demand for both lamination and coating is increasing with every passing day due to the outstanding matte and gloss finish these processes produce. A report of Future Market Insights shows that sales of packaging laminates are anticipated to reach US$9,694.9 million by 2034.

On the other hand, the chart shows how rapidly the packaging coating market is also expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.14% during the forecast from 2023 to 2033.

Pros of Matte Finish

Whether you choose lamination or coating, the matte finish comes with the following benefits you should never ignore:

Advantages of Matte Lamination

The matte lamination involves the process of using a plastic film on printed packaging. The plastic film for matte finish has a non-reflective texture and appearance. Sometimes this process is done along with using matte paper. Wondering about what is matte paper? It is a paper that absorbs light instead of reflecting light. Matte paper is used to achieve the matte finish. 

The following are the benefits of matte lamination:

• Matte lamination is durable.
• It offers an aesthetically pleasing visual appeal.
• It offers protection against tears, scratches, and abrasions.
• This lamination improves the tactile experience of customers.
• The non-reflective properties enhance the readability of the printed packaging.

Advantages of Matte Coating

• It offers a velvety touch.
• It also looks visually appealing.
• It has more color stability than matte lamination
• Matte coating is a cost-effective packaging solution.
• Its application process is easier than matte lamination.

Cons of Matte Finish

Along with immense benefits, the matte finish also has a few cons mentioned below:

Disadvantages of Matte Lamination

• It shows smudges and marks over time.
• Its application process is quite complicated.
• Matte lamination is quite costly than matte coating.
• It has less color stability as compared to matte coating.

Disadvantages of Matte Coating

• It is less durable than matte lamination.
• Matte coating is more expensive than gloss coating.
• Its texture does not offer a soft touch feel than matter lamination.
• The matte coating can be less scratch-resistant than matte lamination.

Pros of Gloss Finish

The gloss finish looks shiny and reflective. Both coating and lamination create excellent glossy effects for product packaging. Following are a few benefits gloss finish offers:

Advantages of Gloss Lamination

• It is water resistant due to the use of plastic film.
• Gloss lamination offers great protection to product packaging.
• Gloss lamination enhances the vibrant colors due to the glossy effect.
• The reflective and shiny texture enhances the beauty of printed packaging.

Advantages of Gloss Coating

• Gloss coating offers a silky touch.
• It adds beauty to the printed packaging.
• Gloss coating has a quick application process.
• It proves to be a budget-friendly packaging solution.
• The enhanced tactile experience improves the perceived value of packaged products.

Cons of Gloss Finish

Considering a few cons of gloss finish in the form of lamination and coating will help you choose the suitable finish according to your preferences. Here are some disadvantages of a glossy finish:

Disadvantages of Gloss Lamination

• It has a higher cost than gloss coating.
• Gloss lamination reduces the readability due to the reflective effect.
• The glare of gloss lamination makes it difficult for customers to view images and texts on the packaging.

Disadvantages of Gloss Coating

• It is less durable than gloss lamination.
• Gloss coating offers less protection to product packaging.
• Proper cleaning of packaging with a glossy effect is required to reduce the fingerprints.

Conclusion

The above discussion shows the significance of matte vs gloss finishes in the packaging industry. While analyzing matte vs gloss finish, you must keep your business and product requirements in mind. 

Considering the pros and cons along with different types of finishes, this blog will help you choose a glossy or matte finish. If you still have confusion about choosing the right finish, reach out to us. We will get back to you ASAP!