Process: metallized vacuum vaporisation involves coating plain paper with a microscopically thin layer of aluminium. Little or no unused raw materials are left over after the process, and those that are are simply recycled. In the transfer metallizing process, the desired metallic effect is coated onto PET film and then transferred to paper or board. Once the PET film can no longer be reused, it is thrown away. 

Recyclability: paper-based packaging products transformed through either process can be recycled. However, as mentioned above, metallized vacuum vaporisation has a lower waste ratio than transfer metallizing.  

Quality and aesthetics: transfer metallizing tends to give a glossier result than metallized paper. However, the end result is more dependent on the quality of the board surface structure than with metallized paper. Both processes are ideal for use with folding boxes, as they enable paper and board to bend without tearing or damage. 

Convertibility: metallized paper is compatible with most mainstream printing and converting processes, while transfer metallizing needs to be carried out by specialised convertors. 

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