What would you prefer for your brand’s packaging design – matte finishing or glossy finishing? If your answer to this question is something like this – “Who cares! It doesn’t sound all that important to me!”, you are underestimating the power of an extremely potent branding tool.
Lamination of the packaging gives it its final touches, making it ready to be put into the hands of your customers. It makes the colors of the packaging design ‘pop’ in a very specific way that complements the artwork and texture of the design. Also, different kinds of finishing touches generate different kinds of emotional responses in the psyche of your customers as they hold your product in their hands for the first time. And this can greatly influence how your customers perceive the brand value of your products.
On the other hand, making a wrong decision regarding the choice of lamination can even ruin the advantages of using an otherwise beautiful packaging design. So, how to go about this whole thing? Allow us to help you out with this.
Here’s everything you need to know about matte and glossy finishings and how to decide which one is perfect for your products’ packaging needs.
What is Matte Finishing?
The easiest way to recognize a matte finish is to notice how light is reflecting off its surface. Matte lamination tends to reflect very little (to no) light, making the surface look blurred out and understated. It underplays the colors, making them appear more muted or subtle-looking. The texture of the matte surface finish feels soft and cushiony.
What is Glossy Finishing?
Contrary to matte lamination, glossy finishing has a shiny, lustrous quality to it. It bounces an ample amount of light off its surface, making the colors look vibrant and animated. Glossy finishing is more flamboyant as compared to matte finishing so it draws the attention of the onlookers much more easily. However, this same quality can be perceived as flashy or showy, if presented in front of the wrong set audience.
So, Matte vs Glossy, Which One’s Right For You?
Which of these finishing touches is best suitable for your product packaging entirely depends on the nature of the product, how you are planning to market it, and the kind of brand identity you want to create.
Since matte finishing looks soft, subdued, and sophisticated it is often prioritized by a number of luxury brands. It is also a better option to choose if you or your customers intend to write a note or something similar to that over the surface of the packaging itself. Compared to glossy finishing, writing a handwritten note over a matte surface is much easier and looks a lot more elegant.
Glossy finishing is usually preferred by brands with a younger target audience. It gives a more striking look since it produces crisp, high-contrast lines and colors. If you are using an image as a part of your packaging design, go for a glossy finish.
Glossy finishing is also considered to be safer and more durable. It can easily protect the packaging against minor scratches and smudges. It tends to repel dust & dirt and is also easier to clean. Matte finishing is also sturdy but not as sturdy as glossy lamination. Also, matte finishing is usually more expensive than glossy finishing.
We hope all these pros and cons will allow you to make an informed decision regarding which type of finishing is more suitable for your brand. If you are still not sure, consult your brand manager, or feel free to talk with our packaging experts.
Partnering with experts who make your brand POP!
At INNORHINO, we have a team of experienced product specialists, designers, and in-house engineers who are dedicated to elevating your brand to the next level. We provide innovative packaging solutions that cater to your needs. Interested in collaborating with us? Send us an email at hello@innorhino.com!
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