Matte vs. gloss finish: which is right for your packaging?
Packaging is often the first contact people will have with your product, whether it’s on a supermarket shelf, in their mailbox or on their phone screen via an Instagram story. While it may not seem obvious at first, the kind of finish you go for can say as much about your brand as your color palette, imagery or logo.
Matte finish
A matte finish can give boxes a soft and velvety texture that’s pleasant to the touch. What’s more, its all-round subtle and muted appearance can imply sophistication and hidden depths. Matte finish packaging is also less reflective than gloss, which has the advantage of making logos and imagery stand out on shelves. One word of caution however: when it’s not done right, matte can come across as plain or dull. Don’t hesitate to experiment with your colour palette and add bright accents using metallic inks.
Gloss finish
A gloss finish, on the other hand, is a great way to stand out from the competition. Gloss offers a vibrant, daring look with depth of colour and good image contrast. Traditionally associated with high-end, luxurious products, gloss finishes are often used to package perfume and cosmetics as well as chocolate and other indulgent treats. Foil or plastic lamination does come with one major downside though: it can be difficult to print over, giving you less flexibility to get your brand message across. Fortunately, metallized litho lamination top sheets offer the same vibrant looks as traditional lamination while being as easy to print and convert as plain paper. What’s more, they’re sustainably produced and 100% recyclable - and there’s nothing quite as glamorous as saving the planet.