Matte lamination
A fine film that takes the shine out. Colours read slightly deeper and slightly duller, edges look soft, and handling marks mostly do not show.
It is the safest specification for anything that will be handled repeatedly, which is why bags and reused boxes are usually matte.
Gloss lamination
Lifts colour and contrast noticeably, especially on dark printed areas. It also shows every fingerprint and every scuff, and it scratches in a way that catches the light.
Gloss suits a box that is seen new and then kept, and it works against a box that lives on a counter.
Soft-touch
A matte film with a velvety surface. It feels more expensive than either of the above and it is the finish clients most often ask for after handling a sample.
It also marks. Oils from hands show on soft-touch faster than on plain matte, and it scuffs at corners. On a box that is opened once it is superb; on a bag reused for a year it is the wrong choice.
Uncoated
No film at all. It takes a deboss beautifully, it feels like paper rather than plastic, and it is the honest choice where a brand is making a point about materials.
It marks with water and it scuffs. Where a box will meet a rainy street, that is the trade-off being accepted.
Choosing by where the box lives
Ask how many times it will be handled and by whom. Opened once as a gift, kept on a dresser, carried in a bag for a year and stacked on a shop counter are four different answers, and the finish should follow the answer rather than the sample that felt nicest in the meeting.
At a glance
| Finish | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Matte | Handling and reuse — the safe default |
| Gloss | Colour lift on a box seen new and then kept |
| Soft-touch | Feel, on a box opened once |
| Uncoated | Deboss and a materials-led brand, at the cost of marking |
Frequently asked questions
Which finish lasts longest in a shop?
Matte lamination. Gloss shows fingerprints and soft-touch marks from the oils on hands.
Why does soft-touch feel more expensive?
It is a matte film with a velvety surface, and it reads as texture rather than coating. It also marks faster, which is the trade-off.
Can I have gloss on the lid and matte on the base?
Yes, though it is two passes rather than one. It is a common specification where the lid is the brand surface.
Does the finish change the colour?
Yes. Gloss lifts colour and contrast; matte reads slightly deeper and duller. Approve on a physical sample in the finish you are actually buying.
Tell us what you need
Tell us the piece, your brand and the quantity you have in mind. We’ll send photos of our work and one clear, all-in quote.