Specialty papers — textured, metallic and leatherette wraps
Specialty papers: texture and surface for rigid box wraps and sleeves.
Linen, laid, felt-marked, metallic, pearlescent and leatherette papers for rigid box wraps, sleeves, bands and premium cartons. Chosen when the surface has to say something before the print does.
- Types
- Textured · metallic · leatherette
- Used as
- Wraps, sleeves, bands
- Best for
- Rigid & gift packaging
What specialty papers are
When the surface is the finish.
Most packaging print goes on a smooth coated board. Specialty papers start from a different place: the surface itself — a linen texture, a laid pattern, a metallic sheen, a leatherette grain — is the first thing the hand notices, and the print sits on top of it. They are used mainly as rigid box wraps, where the paper is laminated over greyboard, and as sleeves and bands over cartons.
They pair with finishes that work by relief rather than color: foil stamping and debossing read beautifully on a textured wrap, while full-color artwork is usually kept to a printed panel or a label. The result is packaging that feels finished before it is opened.
- TexturedLinen · laid · felt
- MetallicGold · silver · pearlescent
- LeatheretteGrained · soft-touch
Materials & finishing
Papers and what they suit.
Specialty wraps are chosen for the box's positioning: linen and laid for heritage and stationery, metallic for luxury and seasonal, leatherette for jewelry and spirits.
Materials & finishes- Linen & laid100 – 150gsmWoven and lined textures.
- Metallic & pearlescent120gsmSheen across the whole surface.
- LeatheretteGrainedEmbossed leather-look papers.
- Soft-touchLaminatedVelvet feel over print.
Finishes on specialty papers
- Foil stamping
- Debossing
- Blind embossing
- Printed panels
- Labels
- Ribbon and closures
What specialty papers are used for
Wraps, sleeves and bands that are felt first.
Rigid box wraps
Gift, jewelry, fragrance and spirits boxes.
Sleeves
Textured sleeves over carton trays.
Belly bands
Bands on soap, stationery and sets.
Premium cartons
Laminated to board for a textured carton.
Inner liners
Contrast textures inside a rigid box.
Seasonal editions
Metallic wraps on a standard structure.
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.
Specialty paper 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 quoteCan specialty papers be printed in full color?
Textured papers take print but soften it; metallic papers change the color underneath. Full-color artwork is usually placed on a printed panel or label, with foil or deboss carrying the mark.
Which paper suits a jewelry box?
Leatherette, linen or a soft-touch wrap, with a foil or debossed logo.
Are specialty wraps more expensive?
Usually, and mostly in the paper itself. On a rigid box the difference is small relative to the box.
Can I see samples?
Wrap swatches can be supplied with a quote. Standalone box samples are chargeable because a single box needs the same setup as a production run; on qualifying bulk orders a pre-production sample is made for approval at no extra sample charge once the order is placed.
Related packaging
Packaging that uses specialty papers.
Start here
Send us your dimensions. We’ll send back a box.
Or talk to a packaging specialist: (209) 444-0744