Lamination — matte, gloss and soft-touch films for printed packaging
Lamination: matte, gloss or soft-touch over the print.
A thin film bonded over the printed sheet. Matte flattens glare and hides fingerprints; gloss saturates color; soft-touch gives a velvet feel that has become the premium standard. Applied to cartons, rigid box wraps and litho-laminated corrugated.
- Types
- Matte · gloss · soft-touch
- Applied to
- Cartons · wraps · litho-lam
- Effect
- Protection + feel
What lamination does
Protection you can feel.
Lamination bonds a clear film — polypropylene or similar — over the printed sheet before it is cut and folded. It protects the print from scuffing and moisture, it stiffens the board slightly, and it changes the surface: matte film takes the shine off and hides fingerprints, gloss film deepens color and reflects light, soft-touch film adds a velvet feel that reads as expensive before anything else is noticed.
Which one to specify depends on the product and how it is handled. Soft-touch is now the default for beauty, candles and gifting; matte suits supplements and food where a clean, clinical look matters; gloss suits bright color cosmetics and toys. Lamination also decides how other finishes behave — foil and spot UV sit on top of it.
- MatteFlat, no glare
- GlossSaturated, reflective
- Soft-touchVelvet feel
Materials & finishing
Three films, three surfaces.
All three protect the print. The choice is about how the box feels and photographs.
Materials & finishes- Matte laminationStandardFlat finish, hides marks, premium-neutral.
- Gloss laminationStandardDeep color, high reflectance.
- Soft-touch laminationPremiumVelvet surface, warm to the touch.
- Anti-scuffMatte variantResists marking on dark colors.
Combines with
- Foil stamping over lamination
- Spot UV over matte
- Embossing through lamination
- Window patching
- Interior print (unlaminated)
- Aqueous coating as alternative
Where lamination is used
Almost everywhere the print is touched.
Cosmetic cartons
Soft-touch is the sector default.
Candle & gift boxes
Soft-touch black with foil.
Supplement cartons
Matte for a clean, clinical read.
Rigid box wraps
Matte or soft-touch over the printed wrap.
Litho-laminated corrugated
Matte or gloss over the printed sheet.
Retail packaging
Anti-scuff matte on dark panels.
Compare
Matte, gloss or soft-touch?
| Matte / soft-touch | Gloss | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Flat, no glare; soft-touch adds velvet | Shiny, saturated |
| Fingerprints | Hidden (matte), mostly (soft-touch) | Visible |
| Photography | Photographs cleanly | Reflections need controlling |
| Feel | Smooth or velvet | Slick |
| Typical use | Beauty, gifting, supplements | Color cosmetics, toys, food |
Start a quote
Three answers is all it takes to open a job.
Structure, board and finishing come next — with our team, on the full quote form.
No account needed. Artwork and reference images can be attached on the next step.
Lamination questions
Before you ask.
Anything not covered here, put it in the notes on your quote and we will answer it directly.
Ask on your quoteWhat is soft-touch lamination?
A matte film with a velvet-like surface bonded over the print. It feels warm and slightly rubbery and has become the premium standard for beauty and gifting.
Does lamination affect recyclability?
Film lamination can affect local recyclability of paperboard. Aqueous coating is an alternative where that matters; we advise when specifying.
Can you foil stamp over lamination?
Yes. Foil is applied over the laminated sheet and reads especially well on matte and soft-touch.
Is lamination included as standard?
Yes. Lamination is included on every order at no extra charge. The lamination type is chosen with your proof.
Related packaging
Packaging that is laminated.
Start here
Send us your dimensions. We’ll send back a box.
Or talk to a packaging specialist: (209) 444-0744