There are two main reasons for applying a coating to paper packaging: to provide resistance to grease, oil or water, and to enhance appearance. Between a lot of options for standard and specialty finishes, which type of coating would you choose for your paper packaging?
We hope with this article, you will be able to find the best option of coating and finishing of your packaging boxes with accordance to your packaging specifications.
Here are some types of coating for different types of packaging.
1. Laminate
In the printing industry, lamination is known as the process of bonding a clear plastic film onto printed matter to make it stronger and more durable. In most cases, the bonding is applied to both sides of the printed piece so that it is totally enclosed in the plastic film.
Lamination adds strength and rigidity to a printed piece and also makes the colors stand out more. Common types of laminate are gloss, matt and silk
1.1 Gloss Laminate
Gloss lamination produces a shiny, glass-like appearance that enhances the color and vibrancy of the ink on a page. It is commonly used for business applications such as marketing and promotional pieces.
Source image: Internet
1.2 Matt Laminate
Matte lamination brings an elegant, sophisticated finish for your packaging. It also provides a softer, more natural look that makes it easier to read the printed piece. It also softens the contrast of darker colors so that they don’t stand out quite as much.
Luxury products tend to choose matte lamination to achieve a simple yet mysterious look.
Source image: Internet
1.3 Silk Laminate
Silk lamination follows the same principles as traditional lamination by coating ordinary paper with a layer of plastic in order to make it stronger, more desirable, and more resilient. However, what differentiates the two is that silk lamination has a softer exterior and a superior quality due to the strength of the bond created between the paper and the plastic coating of the lamination.
Source image: Internet
The material is neither 100% matt nor shiny, but it reflects in certain lights in the same manner that silk does. The finish also means that the product will be more attractive and is deemed as being a ‘premium’ option, as the finish is smooth and natural-looking.
Silk lamination is an adaptable finish that gives a clean look to a wide range of paper packaging.
2. UV Coating
UV Coating is applied in liquid form, then exposed to Ultraviolet light which bonds and dries it instantly. It can be applied over the entire printed piece (called Flooding) or it can be used as a Spot coating to just highlight particular areas. In addition, UV Coating is available in a variety of sheen levels, with high gloss being the most popular.
UV Coating can protect against scratches, tears and fingerprints of paper packaging and enhance the brilliance of the ink colors.
Source image: Starprint Vietnam
3. Aqueous Coating
Aqueous coating is water-based. It features fast-drying capabilities when used during the printing process, which makes it possible to achieve different appearances.
Known for being environmentally friendly, aqueous coating is used in packaging for food, household products, and fast-moving consumer products.
Source image: Starprint Vietnam
AQ is broadly acknowledged as the default of all coatings because of its low price and high efficiency.
4. Specialty Coating
If you simply have more than enough budget to invest in your packaging design that requires more unique elements, you can also opt for special coatings.
These types of coating are recommended for long-run orders due to its extra costs. However, if budget isn’t a problem, why not!
Textured paper
Embossed and Debossed
Pearlized coating
Glittered
Reticulated
Scented
Foil Stamped
If you need more clarification on the different types of coating? Contact us at information@starprintvn.com